SALEM, OR (March 14, 2023) – On Tuesday, March 14, the Corban University Board of Trustees officially announced that it has named Dr. John Mark Yeats as the University’s 11th president.

His appointment follows a 7-month search conducted by the Presidential Search Committee comprised of select Corban University trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and students. Dr. Yeats will step into this new role as president after having previously served in a multifaceted role as Vice President of Student Services, Dean of Students and Student Success, Title IX Coordinator, and Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Missouri.

“The Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Dr. John Mark Yeats as the next president of Corban University,” said Chair of the Board of Trustees, Rod Hoff. “Dr. Yeats brings a passion for Christian education and a commitment to Corban’s mission and vision that excites us about the future of the University. Our unwavering desire is for Corban to achieve its mission to educate Christians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ. We believe that Dr. Yeats has the experience and capabilities to advance that mission, growing Corban’s influence for God’s glory. We enthusiastically welcome John Mark, his wife, Angie, and their four children to the Corban family.”

On June 1, 2023, Dr. Yeats will assume the presidency of one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading Christian institutions of higher education, stretching back to its founding in 1935. Since then, Corban University has sought to achieve its mission of educating Christians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ through a holistic approach to education that values well-rounded academic rigor through the liberal arts, personalized student-to-faculty relationships, hands-on career preparation, and a commitment to biblical truth.

“It’s very humbling,” said President-Elect, Dr. John Mark Yeats. “We are excited about the future. We are excited about who Corban is and maintaining faithfulness to the Gospel, to the Word of God, while training the next generation to make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.” 

Dr. Yeats brings with him an extensive background in Christian university administration and biblical scholarship. Having earned his Ph.D. in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Yeats also holds degrees from Southern Seminary, Oxford University, Criswell College, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author of three books: Franchising McChurch: Feeding our Obsession with Easy Christianity; The Time is Come: The Rise of British Missions to the Jews, 1808-1818; and Worldviews: Think for Yourself about How We See God.

While he has worked in Christian higher education for nearly two decades in administrative and faculty roles, Yeats also brings significant experience as a lead pastor and church consultant. Dr. Yeats is married to his wife, Angie, and together they have four children: Briley, Sean, Cadie, and Jackson.

“Corban University is fortunate to welcome Dr. John Mark Yeats—a warm, relatable, and highly capable leader,” said Interim President, Dr. Tom Cornman. “Having served with distinction in university and church settings, he is both a gifted scholar and a recognized Christian thought leader. I am confident that Dr. Yeats will lead and represent Corban well, continuing to enthusiastically advance its mission.”