Vice President of University Advancement Steve Seaton announced his plans to retire this summer after more than 19 years of service to Mid-America Christian University (MACU).
Seaton came to MACU in 2004 to teach in the School of Ministry. In 2012, he transitioned to his current position as Vice President of University Advancement.
“God has blessed me with a deeply rewarding career,” Seaton said. “I have had the opportunity to meet, develop relationships with and even disciple many of the young men and women at MACU. It has been a privilege to help these students attend and stay in school through scholarships, and to have played a role in shaping the campus’s growth over the years to give them the best possible experience at MACU.”
Throughout his nearly 20-year career at MACU, Seaton has spearheaded a number of successful initiatives and projects, including:
- Helped to create the “Greater Campus Experience” campaign, resulting in the completion of four new buildings and various campus improvements. The buildings include:
- Kennedy Hall, which houses classrooms, a biology lab, a library, storm shelter, and administrative offices
- Southwest Hall and McCutcheon Hall, two multi-story residence halls fitted with state-of-the-art amenities for resident students
- O’Brien Training Center, a 18,600-foot athletic facility holding wellness and weight training rooms, locker rooms, batting cages and coaches’ offices
- The establishment of the Evangel Fund, which helps fund MACU’s general scholarship fund
- The “Dream” Scholarship Gala, which has raised more than $860,000 in student scholarships since its inception in 2016
- The Practicum in Pastoral Care course, which has seen 284 students trained and more than 30,000 caring contacts made since its inception in 2004
- The purchase of an additional five acres of land contiguous to the MACU campus. The O’Brien Training Center now sits on that parcel of land.
- The President’s Roundtable, a monthly breakfast inviting local business and professional leaders to learn more about the unique aspects of MACU
“The leadership of Rev. Seaton has helped transform MACU into the thriving campus it is today through raising scholarship dollars and funding capital campaigns,” said MACU President Phil Greenwald. “His commitment to this campus, our students and most importantly to the calling God has placed on his life are admirable and have left a lasting impression on our University. I am deeply grateful to Rev. Seaton and his many years of service to Mid-America Christian University.”
Seaton will remain at MACU through July 2023. A national search will soon begin for his replacement.