LA MIRADA, CALIF – After more than a year of extensive nationwide searching, Biola University President Barry H. Corey announced on July 14 the appointment of David P. Nystrom to the position of Provost and Senior Vice President, effective Aug. 16.

“David Nystrom is a rising presence in the world of Christian higher education, and his role as an administrator and thought leader will be significant as Biola University continues to move forward as a comprehensive university,” said Corey. “So much about Dr. Nystrom’s character and aptitudes are congruent with who we are and where we are going. He will be joining a strong academic team and an outstanding faculty to take Biola even farther as a university that cultivates in students the mind and character to impact the world for Christ.”

Nystrom, 51, succeeds Interim Provost Patricia Pike, who has served in the position since June 2009.

Nystrom currently serves as vice president for academic affairs at William Jessup University in Rocklin, Calif., where he has served since 2005. Before that, he spent 12 years at North Park University and North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, where he served as professor and chair of biblical and theological studies and director of the Institute for Christian Studies. He has also taught at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he received his M.Div., and the University of California at Davis, where he received his B.A. and Ph.D.

Nystrom’s academic background includes expertise in Roman history and the history of Christianity. An award-winning teacher, sought-after speaker, published scholar and effective administrator, Nystrom was viewed as highly qualified to meet the diverse array of challenges that come with the top academic post at a nationally ranked Christianity university.

“Biola is a richly complex university with an admirable history, a longstanding commitment to its mission and exemplary staff and faculty,” Nystrom said. “I am honored and frankly quite excited to be asked to join with so many others who are committed to serving the cause of Christ at Biola. Paul wrote of God calling into being that which is not yet. I hope to help us imagine the future for Biola that God has in mind, and then to foster a culture where that future can come to fruition.”

Nystrom will occupy the pivotal second ranking position at Biola University in his role as Provost and Senior Vice President. As Biola’s chief academic officer, Nystrom will work closely with President Corey in the envisioning and the leadership of all academic programs and work to strengthen Biola’s position as a global presence in Christian higher education. In addition, he will work with the academic administrators, deans and faculty on day-to-day academic issues including faculty recruitment, promotion and tenure; budget requests and needs; academic programming initiatives; and faculty concerns.