Only a few higher education presidents nationwide are on even ground with Robert Spence.
The 76-year-old Evangel University president of 38 years this spring is behind only Norman Frances at Xavier University in Louisiana for length of tenure at a single institution, according to Evangel University research and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
“In today’s environment, that is unusual,” admits Spence. “Historically, it’s not that uncommon for college presidents to be presidents for 30, 40 or 50 years.”
He recalls upon his arrival in 1974 – after a 20-year preaching career in Alabama – Evangel’s enrollment was 1,100 and rows of World War II barracks covered the campus.
Spence led the transition from barracks to buildings. “I have never lacked opportunity to address needs and projects. We’ve seen a lot of changes,” he says.
Perhaps the school’s biggest change is just around the corner. Spence is orchestrating the efforts to merge Evangel with other Assemblies of God institutions in town, Central Bible College and the AG Theological Seminary. As chairman of the consolidation steering committee, Spence says the move could be finalized in late 2013 or 2014 – the year he’s scheduled to retire.
“My role is making sure the right foundation is in place for the consolidated institution to go forward,” he notes.
Spence and his team have organized capital campaigns generating roughly $58 million during the last 20 years. The capstone project of the Together We Can campaign in 2009 was the $11.5 million Riggs Administration Building, home to Spence’s second-floor presidential office.
Spence makes a point to have daily interaction with the student body by speaking to classes, in weekly chapel services or one-on-one chats.
He enjoys seeing graduates land jobs in town, pointing to former Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Bud Greve, who came to Springfield from Chicago to attend Evangel.
The school, which employs roughly 395 and has an annual payroll of $16.5 million, also counts among its alumni Navy Adm. Vern Clark, New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis and federal Judge Sam Der-Yeghiayan. Spence works to stay connected with graduates. “I’ve had the opportunity to see those early graduates reach their optimum years of business and professional experience,” he says. “We’ve been able to benefit from the support that comes from a maturing alumni base.”
Noting his role extends beyond the campus, Spence has served on the bank boards for Empire and Village, and on the boards of CoxHealth, City Utilities, Springfield-Branson National Airport and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. [[In-content Ad]]
A safe room and classroom addition at Willard Central Elementary School will be used by the music, arts and athletic programs for a district that had 4,536 students last year, according to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education figures, but school officials say enrollment is projected to grow.
