After more than 35 years of serving Biola University as the dean of Talbot School of Theology, Dennis Dirks celebrated his retirement in the East Talbot banquet room on Wednesday, May 9.

“Dennis Dirks was one of the first people I knew before coming here … I just knew that if this is the kind of school that has these kinds of leaders, that’s the kind of place where I feel like I’d love to be, and I haven’t been let down at all,” president Barry Corey said.

Corey expressed that he has turned to Dirks for advice and wisdom on many occasions — describing him as a man who exudes a priceless godly sense of wisdom.

“Biola is in some wonderful hands from the  president and board on down. God has blessed this school with very godly leaders who are deeply committed to the things that this school was founded on and I step aside from this position with incredible confidence and with incredible confidence in the next dean that is going to be appointed to take my position. I am so delighted. I couldn’t be more blessed,” Dirks said.