Family and Friends

To truly get to know Biola’s new president, you’ve got to know the people who have made the greatest impact on his life, Barry H. Corey says. “My life is really made up of people who have poured themselves into me,” Corey says. “Whoever I am, it’s because of them.” Here, in his words, are some of those individuals.

Paula Corey, wife of 16 years

“I met Paula in college, and she really stood out as a sharp, beautiful Texan. Five years later, after she moved up to Boston, we reconnected and fell in love. Paula has an incredibly adventuresome spirit, loves life, has a zeal for new experiences and demonstrates incredible loyalty in her friendships. She has a great capacity to understand me, to love me, to keep me humble and to keep me focused on what’s real. I love Paula today more than ever!”

Anders Corey, 14-year-old son

“Anders was voted the most likely to laugh at his middle school this past year. He has this joy of life, and with almost anything he’s involved in, he’s able to make it a fun experience. Of our three kids, he’s the athletic comedian and a zealous Red Sox fan.”

Ella Corey, 12-year-old daughter

“Two-thirds of the time the phone rings at our home, it’s for Ella. She’s a socialite who knows how to live a full, fun life. From her, I’ve learned what it means to give in a relationship. She’s just a real giver — she spends time, she listens, she cares.”

Sam Corey, 8-year-old son

“Sam is our youngest, and he’s also the most pensive and thoughtful. He thinks a lot about people and why they do what they do. Sam is content being around the family, making the California move easiest for him. Sam plays the violin.”

Hugh Corey, father and “spiritual mentor”

“No one shaped my faith more than my father, a humble Canadian preacher who honed the tools of ministry through prayer, who knew no strangers and who spent countless hours pouring his life into his two children, both of whom now live for Christ while he lives with Christ.”

Esther M. Corey, mother

“My mother grew up with a profound faith and has been a servant leader in many capacities. To this day, she has a passion for God’s Word and pours herself into her children and grandchildren, praying for us daily. She has been like a rock for me, especially since my father died.”

Bonnie Mills, sister

“Bonnie has been the ideal big sister for a younger brother. It was just the two of us as Corey children growing up. I always looked up to her and watched how she interacted with people, how she got things done with zeal and energy, how she cared about me and how deeply she loved Jesus. Her husband, Ossie, and sons, Nick and Alex, are loving supporters of me.”

Robert Cooley, “strategic mentor” and former Gordon-Conwell president

“Bob understood how the coming generation of Christian higher education was unfolding and was in many ways a futurist in his thinking. Since he retired in 1997, we have become closer in how we think about the strategies, structures and processes of Christian higher education and higher education’s emerging significance in the evangelical world and the national higher education discourse.”

Walter Kaiser, “scriptural mentor” and former Gordon-Conwell president

“As one of evangelicalism’s leading Old Testament scholars, we would talk at length about the wonders of God’s Word and understanding its true meaning. Walt modeled for me the importance in presidential leadership of nurturing relationships that are respectful, affirming and community-centered.”

Dan Munkittrick, close childhood friend

“Dan and I have been through heartaches together, with our fathers dying, and we’ve shared joys, climbing in the Canadian Rockies. He has been like a soul mate to me. He holds me accountable. There’s not much about my life that Dan, one of Canada’s funniest guys, doesn’t know.”

Doug Green and Mike Leahy, close college friends

“Despite the span of miles, our relationships have continued to grow in the past 25 years since we met. It’s an amazing testimony of the value of relationships forged in college. We’ve been in each other’s weddings. We were there after our children’s births. Both Doug and Mike caught red-eyes to my father’s funeral two days after he died. It’s that kind of loyalty that to me means everything.”

Meirwyn Walters, prayer partner

“Six years ago we covenanted that we would pray together on a regular basis. He’s really almost my one exclusively ‘spiritual friend.’ He’s a really important person in my life, and even today, we’ve kept that prayer relationship vibrant through the phone.”

Jerry Fiske, close cousin

“Jerry was born five years to the day before me. Over the years we have grown quite close as I watched my father disciple Jerry after he came to Christ in college. He frequently reminds me of the role my father had in loving his children and loving others. Jerry does both like my dad.”

George Deligiannides, friend

“George is one of several friends who we grew close to while serving as a pastor at the Greek Evangelical Church of Boston. George's friendship to me has carried me through some difficult days with his and his wife, Angie’s, deep care for our family.”

Steve Macchia, friend

“Steve Macchia, a leader in spiritual formation, has come alongside me in recent years to encourage me to walk more closely with Jesus. Steve believes in me and loves me, never missing an opportunity to spend extensive time listening before he speaks godly wisdom into my life.”

RC and Robbie Wilson, father- and mother-in-law

“Never has a son-in-law been loved and accepted as much as I have by Paula's parents, RC and Robbie Wilson. They have a deep sense of care for their family, and I am honored to be a part of their lives.”

Jeane Corey and Mabel Schroder, aunts

“Two special aunts have been by my side through every stage of my life. Jeane Corey, my father's sister, and Mabel Schroder, my mother's sister, have never stopped caring about my sister and me and have shown their love through many selfless acts of kindness.”