Leadership

John Thornton, PhD, Transitional Dean

Message from the Dean

For most of my adult life, I have been fascinated with one question. “I’m saved. Now what?” What is the good work God has prepared in advance for me to do? 

Life is a gift from God. What will you do with it? 

The key to living and loving well is through humble service. Jesus said, “whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” I have been blessed to serve as a professor for the last 30 years across a range of universities—from the U.S. Air Force Academy to Washington State University to Azusa Pacific University—and the thing I love most about my job is helping students find their calling, and then working with them to build a path to get from where they are now, to where they need to be. 

At Vanguard University, I am surrounded by a team of faculty and staff who feel the same way. In Vanguard’s School of Business and Management, we equip you for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service, by offering a unique range of business and communication courses that lets you customize your degree for a truly transformative education—surrounded by professors, staff and students who genuinely care. 

What will you do with your life? I look forward to joining with you in your “now what” journey.

Departments Housed within the Patty Arvielo School of Business and Management 

(See right hand navigation for majors/programs within each department)

• Department of Business and Management
• Department of Communication
• Graduate Department of Organizational Psychology