John Brown University announced today the appointment of Mark Irving as University Chaplain, Dean of Christian Formation. Irving will begin the new role on July 1.

“Mark has a heart for college student discipleship, and we look forward to seeing how God will use him to give direction and support to the chapel and ministry programs of JBU’s Office of Christian Formation,” said Steve Beers, vice president for student development.

Irving serves as the executive pastor at Fellowship Nashville in Tennessee and leads a citywide young professional’s ministry through Navigators. Irving is a graduate of Cedarville University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He served in youth ministry on the West Coast and collegiate ministry in the Midwest before moving to Tennessee in 2014. 

“I look forward to serving as the JBU chaplain and walking alongside students in the great adventure of following Jesus,” Irving said. 

Irving and his wife Meredith have three daughters ages 11, 14 and 16.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. As Arkansas’ top-ranked university (Wall Street Journal, 2020), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 36 states and 59 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 40 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.