VP for Academic Administration Announced

The King’s College announces the appointment of Dr. Mark D. Hijleh as Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the Faculty. Hijleh has served for 21 years as a faculty member and academic leader at Houghton College.

Mark Hijleh
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NEW YORK – March 31, 2014 – The King’s College announces the appointment of Dr. Mark D. Hijleh as Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the Faculty. Hijleh has served for 21 years as a faculty member and academic leader at Houghton College. He will begin his role on July 1, 2014.

President Gregory Alan Thornbury said of the selection, “We searched for a world-class, roll-up-your-sleeves administrator, and today I’m honored to announce we have found that person in Dr. Hijleh. He cares deeply about Christian liberal arts and is committed to helping King’s achieve its academic vision.”

“At King’s, our mission is both to prepare students for careers in strategic institutions and to support faculty members as they directly engage culture,” President Thornbury continued. “Dr. Hijleh has an identifiable skillset and an unmistakable calling to both participate in scholarship, and to facilitate and support that process for our faculty.”

Dr. Mark Hijleh holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Sheffield (UK), Ithaca College, and William Jewell College.

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At Houghton, Hijleh’s roles included Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of Integrative Studies (general education) and member of the Integrative Studies Collegium, member of the First Year Honors Program faculty (a semester-long interdisciplinary humanities studies program in London), and member of the music faculty.

“What an incredible privilege it is for me to join The King’s College leadership team,” said Hijleh. “The vision that President Thornbury is casting for King’s in the name of Jesus Christ is a bold and energizing one, and I am delighted to be called to it with my new colleagues here.”

Hijleh also served as task force chair for a number of regional educational initiatives in the Western New York area. As an author in the field of music and cultural studies, his published books include The Music of Jesus: From Composition to Koinonia and Towards a Global Music Theory, and he has also written book reviews for the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. An accomplished composer and conductor, Hijleh has worked with the Rochester and Buffalo Philharmonic orchestras, won national prizes in composition, and has written two feature length film scores.

As Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Hijleh will be a member of the President’s Cabinet and will bring his extensive experience in honors programs, online education, and initiatives in the arts and western civilization. He will work closely with the president, admissions, and the faculty as the College looks to expand its academic offerings.

“King’s has a distinctive focus on core areas that have immense societal impact — philosophical, political and economic acumen, coupled with a deep understanding of human culture and creativity, all in the context of a profoundly and historically Biblical worldview — and it brings one quickly to the heart of the professions and activities that truly shape our world,” said Hijleh. “From the moment I became aware of this opportunity, I knew I wanted to be part of facilitating that work.”

In the heart of New York City, The King’s College is an accredited, Christian liberal arts college. Through the truths of Christianity and great works in politics, philosophy, and economics, we are educating the next generation of principled leaders for America.


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