From August 2005 till July 2009 he was the rector of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

In 2005, he won the elections for new rector in the third round on Tuesday 24 May 2005 by beating Rik Torfs with 50.81% to 49.19%.

Born in Ypres, Belgium, Vervenne first went to the seminary to become a priest, but quit in 1973.

He is visiting scholar at the universities of Lille (France) and Kinshasa (Congo).

Marc Vervenne is married to Christine De Roo and they have three children: Hannes (1978), Hilke (1980) and Bastiaan (1983).