TRINITY - Key Persons

Kara Van Marion serves as Trinity's Dean of Student Life. After spending several years teaching in both public and charter schools, Kara felt called to leave her classroom teaching to work with college students. In 2011, she joined Trinity's live-in, Residence Life team and began cultivating student learning outside the classroom. She was drawn to work at Trinity because of the institution's deep commitments to faith formation, diversity & inclusion, and whole-person learning. In 2018, Kara became Trinity's Dean of Student Life. As Dean of Student Life, Kara has responsibility for the College's Residence Life & Housing program and Student Conduct Process. Kara also serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) for international students and a Deputy Title IX Coordinator for concerns related to discrimination. Other key areas of shared responsibility include crisis response, student health concerns, medical absences/withdrawals, and student leadership. "My role is both administrative and relational. I love that I get to work directly with students and I get to work with the systems and structures that help students flourish. The work we do at Trinity is a gift, and I love that I get to do it alongside a team of amazing people who all believe in this mission and the transformation that can happen in this environment." Outside of Trinity, Kara enjoys hiking, snorkeling, and snowboarding-all of which require travel, which Kara also enjoys. She also loves theatre, music, and museums-all of which are readily available in Chicagoland. Kara and her family live right next to the college, and they are frequently seen on campus attending events or walking their dog. Kara's favorite Trinity tradition happens every year on the evening before freshman move into the residence halls: All of the student leaders gather in one place to pray over each leadership team, the incoming students, and the schoolyear to come. "It's an amazing night of authentic community and shared hope-it's inspiring to see these students, who were once new themselves, step into leadership and become the shapers of a community that they themselves have been shaped in."

Katie Oomkes

ka..@trnty.edu

Job Titles:

Director
Area Director of South & West Halls

Kevin G. Toren

Job Titles:

Chief Information Officer and EVP Business Transformation

Linda Acosta

li..@trnty.edu

Job Titles:

Director of Accessibility and Accommodations

Linda graduated from Trinity Christian College in 2009 with a BA in Psychology. She received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College in 2011. She has worked as a Child and Family Therapist in the Chicago area. Before Trinity, she was the Program Director for a non-profit, overseeing social services, community programs, and pastoral work. Linda (and Luis) have three children. Andy, Genoveva, and Rafael. Rafael happens to have down syndrome. This extra chromosome has enriched her life and changed how she views the body of Christ. She loves to learn about advocacy and hopes to be part of the change in our society to implement inclusive practices. She was drawn back to Trinity because it allowed her to grow, learn, and develop as a Christian and student. She hopes to build genuine relationships with students and be part of their support system so they can succeed as students and flourish in the body of Christ.

Mabia Shadel

ma..@trnty.edu

Job Titles:

Director of International Student Services & off - Campus Programs

As the Director of International Student Services, Mabia Shadel's responsibilities will include providing transitional support to new international students, supporting and connecting international students to existing structures of support, and managing official documentation for our 40+ international students. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mabia is fluent in Portuguese and loves traveling. She decided to come to study Public Relations and Advertising at Lee University in the United States to expand her worldview. While in college she won awards as the Outstanding International Student and the ADDY award. She also completed a summer semester in the heart of Scotland in Edinburg. During her journey, she married Andrew and now lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son Lucas. "Trinity feels like Narnia, a secret and exciting place in the midst of a big city ready to be explored," she says.