In a significant administrative shift, Biola University has announced plans to dissolve its centralized communications and marketing division, redistributing its functions across other departments as part of a broader strategy to strengthen enrollment efforts.
The decision, communicated internally by University President Barry Corey in mid-April, will eliminate the division as a standalone entity and remove a vice president-level position from the university’s executive cabinet. Responsibilities previously housed under marketing and communications will be reassigned primarily to enrollment management and university advancement teams.
As part of the transition, three senior administrators will depart from their roles: Vice President of Communications and Brand Marketing Tracey Harrison, Associate Vice President of University Marketing Brian Miller, and Senior Director of University Communications Brenda Velasco.
Miller and Velasco, in particular, represent decades of institutional experience, having served the university for 30 and 20 years respectively. In his message to faculty and staff, Corey acknowledged their long-standing contributions and expressed appreciation for their service.
“I am committed to ensuring these transitions are handled with care and dignity,” Corey wrote. “I am deeply grateful for Tracey, Brian, and Brenda and their many contributions to Biola over the years.”
According to the university, the restructuring is driven by a strategic need to unify marketing and enrollment functions under a single leadership structure. By consolidating these efforts, Biola aims to respond more effectively to shifting trends in higher education—particularly the nationwide challenge of declining college enrollment.
The move aligns with the university’s multi-year strategic initiative, known as “The Biola Way,” which emphasizes strengthening academic distinctives while maintaining a stable and sustainable student body.
University officials noted that the decision was not financially motivated, but rather a proactive step toward long-term institutional positioning. “This decision is not a cost-cutting measure,” Corey stated. “It is necessary as the landscape of our sector experiences enrollment challenges.”
As colleges and universities across the country continue to adapt to changing demographics and increased competition, Biola’s restructuring reflects a growing trend within higher education: prioritizing enrollment strategy as a central operational focus.
For the La Mirada community, where Biola remains a key educational and cultural presence, the transition marks a notable moment in the university’s ongoing evolution.
