Mark Hanshaw Appointed as GBHEM’s Associate General Secretary of the Division of Higher Education

Published On: November 21, 2017

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) today announced the appointment of Rev. Mark Hanshaw, Ph.D., J.D., as associate general secretary of the Division of Higher Education, effective February 1, 2018. 

Hanshaw currently serves as the dean for the School of Arts and Letters at Texas Wesleyan University. He has held a range of positions with the university since 2007, including associate dean, director of the university quality enhancement plan, chair of the Department of Religion and Humanities and assistant professor of Comparative Religion and Ethics. 

“Mark’s accomplishments and experience in a variety of leadership roles will be an asset to our leadership team,” said Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, general secretary at GBHEM. “The associate general secretary of the Division of Higher Education plays a valuable role in GBHEM’s service to the church. After a prayerful, thoughtful and thorough search, we welcome Mark’s leadership and the great contributions he will undoubtedly bring to the agency.”

As associate general secretary, Hanshaw will provide the executive leadership for the Division of Higher Education’s three program areas: The Black College Fund, Collegiate Ministry, and Schools, Colleges and Universities. He will lead efforts to expand and enhance the church’s connection to the United Methodist-related higher education institutions as an expression of the ecology of call for the church, community, and civic leadership. He will also serve on a number of committees and associations that support and resource education in the Methodist tradition. 

Hanshaw is an ordained elder in the Central Texas Conference. He earned a Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee as well as a Master of Law from the University of Manchester in England. Hanshaw completed his Master of Theological Studies at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University and Doctor of Philosophy at Southern Methodist University. 

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.

Related Posts

  • Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Crain: A Life of Service as a Deacon
    Published On: August 21, 2026

    The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Crain helped define what it means to be a deacon, even before The United Methodist Church had the language. Crain, now among the first class of United Methodist deacons ordained following the 1996 General Conference, said her sense of call long predated the creation of the Order of Deacon.

  • Thirty Years On, United Methodist Deacons Continue to Bridge Church and World
    Published On: August 17, 2026

    Thirty years after The United Methodist Church established the Order of Deacons, the vocation continues to shape how the church serves beyond its walls through its estimated 1,100 ordained members. Approved by the 1996 General Conference, the order created a permanent ordained ministry centered on Word, service, compassion, and justice, affirming a lifelong calling distinct from elder ministry.

  • Monday Reflections: Always We Begin Again
    Published On: August 17, 2026

    I pray this summer you found time to relax and renew. When I was a chaplain, I served in the president’s cabinet. From that experience, I know summers are not entirely relaxing for staff and administration. ... Not only do we gain a realistic picture of what we will find in the next few months, but it is also a time for staff and faculty to begin again.