The couple fell in love as California college students on a church trip to Israel. When the pastor asked for a volunteer who would sit next to a nervous Andrea on her first plane flight, Mark, ever the gentleman, volunteered. By the time the plane touched down, the two had become inseparable.

In 2025, the Stroms celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary and their 39th year as faithful financial supporters of Biola. Mark, who earned a business degree from Biola, retired in 2018 as a partner with PwC, one of the world’s largest professional services and consulting firms. Andrea, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, worked as a teacher and stay-at-home mother. The Stroms’ three children, Melissa (B.A. ’15), Megan (B.S. ’17), and Andrew (B.S. ’19), are Biola alumni.

“Personally, Biola was life-changing for me and for our children. How could I not give back?” Mark says. “The broader view is that Biola is a critical ministry. Precious few schools have remained steadfast in the faith and upheld God’s Word. Much of higher education has unfortunately become a one-sided, relentless push to the humanist viewpoint that marks this current age. Biola has kept the compass set to ‘true north.’ The university prepares students to be a light in an increasingly dark world.”

Andrea fell in love with Biola when the Stroms’ children were students, but she also has a personal reason for supporting the university. Andrea was accepted to Biola out of high school, but her family could not afford the tuition.

“I had a desire to make it possible for other kids like me, who wanted a Christian higher education, but couldn’t afford it, to have the opportunity to experience Biola,” Andrea says.

Mark also donates his time and expertise as a mentor to current Biola students through the Crowell School of Business. Mark, who earned an MBA from Stanford, co-led efforts to expand Crowell’s successful mentoring program for MBA candidates to include undergraduates. Students are matched with Christian businesspeople who encourage them as they navigate their career paths.

“In being a mentor, you become a friend first,” Mark says. “Every student I’ve mentored I now consider a lifelong friend.” One of those lifelong friends is Cody Cain (B.A. ’11, MBA ’21), director of administration and corporate operations at Isuzu North America.

“Mark has given me different perspectives, helped with introductions and connections, and been a consistent, reassuring presence reminding me there is always a path forward,” Cain says. “I work hard at what I do, and God, by his Spirit, is enabling that. As it relates to my work, Mark is the next most important factor in my life. He’s more than just a career mentor. Mark is an older brother in Christ.”

THE WRITING ON THE WALL
One of Mark and Andrea’s fondest memories is of taking their children to the Biola library, where the Stroms sponsored the placement of a plaque honoring Mark’s parents. The plaque is inscribed with Colossians 1:9, a verse Mark’s father read to his children during major life events, including when Mark left for college.

To join the Stroms in making Biola accessible to students, consider a gift to the Biola Fund at biola.edu/biola-fund.