Coba Canales, Dean of Students Azusa Pacific University

Coba Canales has served in college or campus ministry and student development for 19 years, mostly at Azusa Pacific University. While finishing seminary and preparing for a career in academic theology, Coba stepped into a role as a part-time campus pastor. That experience of sitting with students in pastoral counseling changed his life and confirmed a call to join God in the work of healing and transforming students into change agents in God’s Kingdom. During his time in higher ed, he has had the privilege of leading in campus ministry, diversity programs, and currently serves as Dean of Students.. 

Coba was a student-athlete and completed a B.A. in Biblical Studies at Azusa Pacific University, M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and Ed.D. from the University of Southern California where he studied the career exploration processes of first-generation college students. 

He loves to paddleboard, run, lift, and recently discovered a passion for outdoor cycling. He and his wife, Drea, are very active in their local community and church through supporting kids, youth, and college ministries and coaching youth sports. Coba and Drea were high school sweethearts and have been married 18 years (before you say,  “ahh, how cute!!”, the story is very long and very complicated They find themselves so fulfilled and completely exhausted being mom and dad to Joseph (12), Ruthie (10), and Micaiah (6 and a half).

Scott Hwang
Associate Dean of Student Engagement, Gordon College

Scott Hwang has worked in higher education for 19 years. He has served at several colleges and universities both in and out of the CCCU. His roles include working as a Resident Director, Director of Student Leadership, and Director of Multicultural Affairs, as well as teaching Intergroup Dialogue as a faculty member at the University of Michigan. 

He currently serves as the Associate Dean of Student Engagement at his alma mater Gordon College where he received his B.A. in Business Administration. He went on to earn his M.A. in Higher Education from Geneva College and earned his Ed.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in Social and Comparative Analysis of Education.  

Scott is passionate about social justice and advancing this work through his faith and academic discipline. He loves to develop and learn with students inside and outside of the classroom and collaborate with colleagues to create environments of belonging. 

Scott and his wife Marti met while working as Resident Directors at Geneva College. They have two children Hope (5) and Theo (4) and love spending time outside, especially at the beach. He is an avid sports fan and almost pursued a career as a football coach. He loves food, cooking and is in a lifelong pursuit to make the perfect pizza in his Ooni oven.

Becky Starkenburg, Vice President for Student Formation & Dean of Students, Hope College

Becky Starkenburg has served in student affairs for 29 years. She began as an RD/Coordinator of Student Activities at Dordt University, and then as RD at Calvin University. After receiving an MA in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University, she worked at the University of Virginia for six years in residence life. These first 12 formative professional years were spent living in/on campus in community with students. 

In 2008, Becky and Keith moved to Chicago from Virginia to pursue Keith’s calling to become a faculty member at Trinity Christian College. Becky quickly got plugged in as Director of the First Year Experience there, a position that straddled academic and student affairs divisions. Five years later, Becky responded to a call to become the vice president for student life. From 2013-2022, Becky served Trinity as vice president, adding Title IX Coordinator and multiple other roles throughout those years. Becky now serves as Vice President for Student Formation and Dean of Students at Hope College. In this role, Becky oversees counseling, health, residential life, conduct, care, student life (activities, greek life), and integrative learning, athletics, and serves as a senior leader at the college. Becky really enjoys both the institutional and team development aspects of her work as much as the walk-alongside-students aspects of her role, as she leads from her strengths: strategic, learner, positivity, relator and achiever. 

Becky and Keith have been married since 1995 and they have three amazing kids: Sam (21) a junior at Valparaiso University, Mia (19) a freshman at Hope College and Clara (14). Becky loves living in the Michigan woods (year round!), loves coffee, and loves investing in people. She is grateful to be exploring – through writing, leadership development and her work at Hope – ways that leaders can lean into a deeply Christian vision of abundance and generosity, while challenging the ways that we too often lead from scarcity and competition.

Kara Wenger
Associate Vice President for Student Life, Palm Beach Atlantic University

Kara Wenger has served and worked with college students for 17 years. Her passion for the formative collegiate experience stemmed from her involvement as both a student-athlete and her service as a Resident Assistant. After completing her B.A. in Educational Ministries from Malone University, Kara started her professional career as the Director of Small Groups and College Ministry at her home church in Ohio.

After finishing her M.A. in Clinical Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary and serving as a therapist for 5 years, she felt called to combine her passion of caring for people with helping them grow in their spiritual journey. Kara took a leap of faith and jumped into a full-time career in higher education by joining the staff at Palm Beach Atlantic University. At PBA, Kara has served in various roles including Resident Director, Assistant Director for Residence Life, Director for Residence Life, as well as Dean of Students. She is currently serving as the Associate Vice President for Student Life, which is a newly formed department that is working to increase collaborative efforts in forming and cultivating the holistic Christ-first student experience.

Kara enjoys living and working in sunny South Florida. Outside of hurricane season, she loves going to the beach, exploring local culture, and traveling with friends. She is active in her church and loves learning about and practicing spiritual disciplines within her community.  Kara makes sure to get back to Ohio to spend time with family and friends. She savors the fall season and has a passion for both Ohio and Pennsylvania sports teams!

Sarah Jobson, Dean of Students, Simpson University

Sarah Jobson has lived, worked, and journeyed alongside college students for 20 years. She is now serving as the Dean of Students at her alma mater, Simpson University. Simpson is located in Northern California, Sarah’s hometown – the second sunniest city in the US! Holding different roles within higher education, she has worked at Malone University in Ohio, George Fox University in Oregon, and Northwest University outside of Seattle Washington. 

With master’s degrees in Spiritual Formation and Christian Ministries, she values developing whole persons, finding creative pathways for connection, and building authentic leaders. She has the market on developing teams, cultivating belonging and living wholeheartedly. 

Sarah is an author, preacher, mentor and leadership coach, trying to offer others the grace to be and the room to become. She is a mom of two boys, Cale (17) and Elias (12) and has been married for almost 25 years to Brian. Sarah loves organizing and rearranging (especially the living room or her office at random hours of the day); she loves books and writing, but also football and has even jumped on the bandwagon of playing pickleball. Favorite travel destinations include the Oregon coast, downtown Portland, and as of recently, the beautiful country of Norway.