Andy Denton is used to being the youngster in the room. There aren’t, after all, very many 36-year-old vice presidents in higher education.
“Most of the networking that I do with other universities and most of the committee work that I am involved in usually involves individuals over 40,” says Denton, vice president for enrollment management at Evangel University.
He was hired six years ago to establish the enrollment division, one of five divisions on campus.
“My division started with two departments and 19 employees,” Denton says. “Our responsibilities have increased to now include five departments and 38 employees.
“We have in place systems and strategies developed to position Evangel University for enrollment success for years to come.”
Denton will be busy.
He is one of five administrative leaders working on the consolidation of Evangel with Central Bible College and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, a move that was approved by the Assemblies of God in 2011 and is still awaiting approval from the Higher Learning Commission.
“This involves working with the Evangel Board of Trustees as well as members of the faculty and staff to develop systems that will make this a successful venture,” Denton says.
He has been involved in the process from the beginning, having served on the steering committee that prepared the 6,000-page application for the Higher Learning Commission.
When Denton began his tenure at Evangel in spring 2007, the university’s enrollment was 1,733. By last fall, enrollment had grown to 2,079, increasing university revenues by $38 million.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment during a difficult economic time in our country where many schools experienced a decline in enrollment,” Denton says. “My team has done an outstanding job, and I am very proud of them.”
In addition to leading his division, Denton serves on the board of administration, which provides an overall direction for the university. And as a leader at Evangel, he seeks opportunities to mentor employees in both one-on-one meetings and team gatherings.
“It brings me great satisfaction to mentor individuals and assist in their growth as leaders. I count it a joy to mentor all of my directors, specifically those who are newest in their leadership roles,” Denton says.
His mentoring extends outside of the university, too. Last May, Denton finished his doctorate in higher education administration from Saint Louis University, one of two students in a cohort of 10 to have done so thus far. Now, he is sharing his experience with those who haven’t finished as they work toward completion.
“The program normally takes four years, and on average, approximately only 50 percent of students finish their dissertation,” he says.
When Denton isn’t leading at Evangel, he is a preschool teacher, along with his wife, at James River Assembly in Ozark. A former associate pastor in Springfield’s Timbercreek Community Church, Denton also is a member of Rotary Club of Springfield Downtown, where he serves on the scholarship committee helping raise funds through events such as Rock n’ Ribs.
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