Professor Kari Brodin Named Interim
Vice President for Student Development
December 15, 2004
Dr. Kari Brodin, Assistant Professor of Bible and Biblical Languages, has accepted the invitation to serve as Interim
Vice President for Student Development at Northwest University. The announcement was made by Dr. Don Argue, the
University’s President. The transition is now in progress and will be fully effective on January 1, 2005.
The position became open when Christian Lindbeck, a Northwest University alum who had filled this position for two
years, felt that the Lord was opening doors for him to return to graduate school and pursue his Th.D. Christian,
his wife Jen, and their two boys, Josiah and Samuel, will be moving to New England at the end of December. He will
return to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in January to earn his Master of Divinity Degree. He will then be
prepared to enter the Th.D. program at Boston University.
“Although I was certainly sad when Christian alerted me of his intentions several weeks ago, this came as
no surprise,” stated Dr. Argue. “I have observed, and benefited from, his gifts of teaching and preaching.
I have no doubt that this next step of preparation will launch an even more significant teaching and preaching ministry.
Christian has served Northwest well as our chief student development officer, and for this we are grateful.”
The process of filling the vacancy created by Christian’s announcement involved extensive prayers and interviews,
with members of the Board, Faculty, and Administration serving as advisors.
“As the process unfolded, it became more and more apparent to me that the best solution for all concerned
might be an interim solution,” noted Dr. Argue. “In the light of a mid-year transition, as well as the
work that we are doing in shared governance and reshaping of the University’s leadership structures, I began
to believe a two-step process might best suit our circumstances.”
In conversations with Kari Brodin, the President discovered what he termed “a perfect fit” for these
circumstances.
“Professor Brodin shared with me that she senses a definite calling to Christian higher education administration,
and specifically wants to continue to pursue her calling at Northwest,” noted Dr. Argue. “She also felt
that the Interim step best suited her circumstances. This step not only gives the University an opportunity to learn
more about Kari in this leadership position, it also gives Kari a unique opportunity to thoroughly investigate this
leadership position.”
In additional comments, the President stated, “I believe Kari’s gifts, preparation and calling are
well suited for this opportunity. Her experience in Student Development, success in the classroom, leadership of
the recent Self Study, academic preparation, and demonstrated love of our students all indicate that she will serve
Northwest well in this new responsibility.”
A Long-Standing History
Dr. Kari Brodin has a long and deep history at Northwest. She has been connected, in one way or another, since
she was eight years old and her older sister Kristi became a coach and part-time instructor at the University. Kristi
founded the women’s volleyball and basketball programs at Northwest, and now serves as the University’s
Athletic Director.
Kari graduated from high school in Tumwater, then majored in Biblical Studies at Seattle Pacific University. She
had originally intended to major in mathematics and economics en route to entering law school, but her experience
in Bible Quiz, and the joy she found in the study of the New Testament, led her to change her major.
While at SPU, she also studied at Northwest for a year, “mostly so I could take classes with professors like
Darrel Hobson, Dan Pecota, Francis Thee, and Dwaine Braddy,” states Kari.
After a couple years away from college, Kari joined the Northwest community as a Resident Counselor. She served
in this capacity from 1986 to 1989, then became the Financial Aid Administrator from 1989 to 1990.
Feeling a call to more teaching, she began to help in the classroom, first as an assistant to Dan Pecota.
“He gradually allowed me to take on more and more responsibility in his classes,” Kari recalled.
I was able to teach various subjects in Bible and Theology.
In 1992, she completed her Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and returned to Northwest
as the Resident Dean of Women. She went back to Fuller in 1995 to pursue her doctorate and was there for 18 months
of full-time study.
Upon returning to Northwest in 1997, she was able to help pick up the teaching load as Dan Pecota’s health
began to fail.
“I helped him finish the semesters” she remembers. “He would sit in class and make the comments
that he felt were needed.”
Kari finished her Ph.D. in Theology in 2000, and joined the faculty at Northwest as an Assistant Professor in the
School of Ministry.
Her hobbies include running and coaching in Bible Quiz competition.
“I like running for the solitude and reflection, and for the general health and stress-reduction benefits,”
she notes. On Dec. 5, she competed in the California International Marathon in Sacramento. Her time of 3:48:43 qualified
her for next spring’s Boston Marathon.
She continues her involvement in Bible Quiz competition that began when she was a child.
Between competing and coaching, she has memorized “a number” of books in the New Testament.
She also loves to sing, play the guitar, and play the piano.
“I am energized by the opportunity to serve the students of Northwest University in this new capacity,”
comments Kari. “Christian Lindbeck and his predecessors have served with great distinction, and he leaves
a wonderful legacy and trajectory for continued advances in all areas associated with student development.
“The professional personnel providing leadership in student life are gifted, capable people, and I know that
I am blessed to be joining a first-class team,” Kari continues. “I hope, with God’s help, to further
the vision we all share for the Northwest community to continually be giving fresh, timely, and holistic expression
to the Christian worldview in all its dimensions.”
On Jan. 1, 2005, Northwest University officially becomes Northwest University.
