Trinity Welcomes New Trustee and New President to Alumni Board

Trinity University has appointed John Tobola ’94 to its Board of Trustees and Paul Hensley ’87 as president of the Trinity University Alumni Association Board (TUAAB).

“Trinity University advances for our students because of those who answer the call to lead. We appreciate the experience, skills, and dedication John and Paul will bring to these important roles,” says Vanessa B. Beasley, Ph.D., Trinity president.

Tobola joins a roster of 35 Trinity University Board members. He is president of Freeport LNG in Houston, the second-largest producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas in the United States. He began his tenure at Freeport LNG in 2006 as vice president and general counsel. In 2013, he was named chief legal officer, and in 2024, he was appointed president. Tobola has extensive experience in the LNG (liquified natural gas) industry and large-scale U.S. infrastructure projects. He also serves as chairman of the board of Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), a Houston nonprofit that delivers musical theatre productions, education, and community engagement. 

Tobola earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in international business and a minor in French from Trinity in 1994, followed by his law degree with honors from the University of Houston Law Center. While at Trinity, he was on the Tiger football team, serving as team captain, and was a two-time All-American defensive lineman who was inducted into the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

“I am thrilled to become a member of the Trinity Board at such an exciting time for the University,” Tobola says. “I look forward to contributing to Trinity’s continued success and its commitment to delivering academic and professional excellence to its students.”

Hensley is senior vice president and chief financial officer for HOLT CAT and its affiliates, including the accounting, treasury, tax, internal controls and planning, and budgeting and forecasting functions. Hensley is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas and a Texas Society of CPAs member. He is also an executive board member of several charitable organizations, including Junior Achievement of South Texas, Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio, and the St. Mary’s University Greehey School of Business Advisory Council of Executives. Hensley earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Trinity University in 1987.

“Part of a vibrant University is connecting the current student population to the alumni and making both sides feel like they are part of the University community,” Hensley says. “My hope is that TUAAB can continue to promote that and strengthen that bond, and we hope to do that through things like internships, a Young Alumni Leadership Summit, and strengthening of the Greek community connections.”