SERVING
THE CHURCH
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U N I V E R S I T Y
Equipping students to discover and develop their divine design to serve Christ and the world through Spirit-empowered life, learning and leadership.
OUR MISSION
Left to right: Nick Wallsteadt, Pastor Tommy Barnett and President Kent Ingle
Training Students for Ministry Reflections from Tommy Barnett As we put together this year’s President’s Report, we wanted to share a message from our chancellor, Pastor Tommy Barnett, about the missional mandate of serving the local church. The Barnett College of Ministry and Theology — our largest college at Southeastern University — was renamed for our chancellor in 2017. Similar to Pastor Barnett’s life, SEU is committed to equipping and raising up the next generation of leaders to live out their divine destinies in order to serve Christ and the world around them. Serving the local church is the heartbeat of SEU. SEU President Dr. Kent Ingle and the dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology, Nick Wallsteadt, recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Pastor Barnett about his life in ministry and how ministering has changed over the past decades.
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Q President Kent Ingle / While we look to the future of the
A Pastor Tommy Barnett / Ministry is more specialized
Barnett College of Ministry and Theology, and what it looks
today than it was when I first went into the ministry. I was the
like to equip the next generation of leaders to serve Christ and
only staff member, and we ran an attendance of 1,000 people. I
the church, we would love to hear from you, Pastor Tommy,
was the children’s director, youth director, music director and
on your own personal ministry journey and what serving the
director of hospital visitations. Today, when students enter
local church means to you. Can you tell us about when you
and graduate from college, they’re being trained in specialized
first entered the ministry field and the calling God placed on
ministry. These students come out with knowledge beyond
your life?
anything that I knew.
A Pastor Tommy Barnett / I was an evangelist for 16 years.
Q Dean Nick Wallsteadt / On the other side of that
The first position I held in a church was as an associate pastor
question, what hasn’t changed? And, what shouldn’t change as
alongside my father in Kansas City. And then, at the age of
our students are stepping into God’s calling?
33, I went to pastor a small church in Davenport, Iowa. The
A Pastor Tommy Barnett / Of course, a lot of things have
attendance averaged about 76, but it was an opportunity to step out and do something for God. Q President Kent Ingle / What were some of the challenges
you faced in the first church that you pastored? A Pastor Tommy Barnett / The challenge I faced in
Davenport was getting this little inward-looking church to look outward. I would get a vision, and I would say, “We’re going to go for this,” and the church said, “But we can’t afford it.” And so I said to them, “Money follows ministry. You don’t get the money and do the ministry. You do the ministry, and God sees if you’re serious, and then the money will come.” The next thing they would say was, “Well, we’ve never done it that way before.” I said to them, “Change is not bad if change will enhance the ministry and help us win souls for Christ more than ever before.” So we bought a bus to pick people up and bring them to church on Sundays. I got the entire church working on the bus route. On the first Sunday, we ran the bus and we doubled our attendance. In the course of the next eight years, we bought 47 buses and brought more than 3,000 people to church. Our church became the fastest-growing church in America. Q Dean Nick Wallsteadt / For students who are entering
changed. I’ll give you an example. In my day, we had contests that drew people to church; we had giveaway gifts. Today, we have technology. We have a better way of reaching people than ever before. So I’ve often said that the method may change, but the message can never change. The message must still be a love for God, a love for people and a love for the Great Commission. And by the way, that’s what Southeastern is about. I’m amazed when I hear the reports of how SEU has young people that have a passion to reach the world for the glory of God. Q President Kent Ingle / What excites you most about what
you see happening in the development of today’s leaders? A Pastor Tommy Barnett / I’m excited about the heart of
young people today. I’ve never seen a generation more hungry to help causes. Today, when we bring people to the Dream Center, they all come wanting to know how to reach out to hurting people. It used to be that you had to convince them. And that’s what I love about young people. They are socially conscious. They want to reach the hurting, the outcast and the lepers of our city. I’ve often said, “We need to find a need and fill it.” People are realizing today that the main purpose of the church is to seek and to save that which is lost.
ministry today, what has changed since you began?
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At a Glance Since our founding in 1935, Southeastern University (SEU) has been committed to providing premier Christian education
What’s Inside
while partnering with the local church. It is our dedication to innovation that propels us to provide affordable and
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At a Glance
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Pioneering the Way Forward
accessible programs that meet the growing demands of the workforce. To meet those needs, SEU offers more than 100
Key initiatives of the
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degree programs from the associate to the doctoral levels. The university is able to award these degrees due to our
Barnett College
accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges
Serving the Local Church
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Equipping the next generation
of leaders
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What’s New at SEU
A review of 2021
SEU Highlights
9,365
Total enrollment as of fall 2021
1,204
Fall 2021 entering freshman class
100+
26:1
3.51
123
Student to faculty ratio
Average GPA for incoming freshmen
4th
Fastest-growing private, master’s-level institution in the nation
Degree programs
Instructional faculty members
71%
Percentage of instructional faculty with terminal degrees
The Chronicle of Higher Education
In December of 2021, SEU’s accreditation with SACSCOC was reaffirmed through 2031.
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“We believe SEU will be the flagship institution in our nation for training ministerial leaders. We want to be the university students want to attend because they know that they will be equipped with the knowledge and the tools they need to impact the kingdom of God. And we aim to be the university that churches and nonprofits look to when it comes to recruiting their ministry leaders.” —President Kent Ingle
Barnett College of Ministry and Theology
PIONEERING THE WAY FORWARD The new academic year brought many exciting changes within the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology. As the university’s largest college, the Barnett College announced new partnerships, mergers and initiatives that will enhance the educational experience and better prepare students for ministry and to live out their callings.
Barnett College Merges with the Global Ministry Network To better position the university for service to the local
The merger of the college and the ministry network allows
church, the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology merged
the university to provide even more experiential learning
with SEU’s Global Ministry Network in the fall of 2021. The
opportunities for students as they are placed within churches
network houses the university’s educational partner sites.
— offering hands-on experience, learning from leading pastors
Previously, the network operated independently under the
in the nation and providing students with the opportunity to
College of Unrestricted Education.
be placed in a church staff position upon graduation.
“As a university, we are always evaluating every aspect of
The Global Ministry Network started with six partner sites in
what we do and how it plays into our mission,” said President
2012 and currently has over 200 sites with more than 2,173
Kent Ingle. “At our core, SEU’s heart is to train the next
undergraduate students enrolled in 40 states. The merger
generation of ministerial leaders to serve Christ and the
enables SEU to train students for ministry at our Lakeland
world around them.”
campus, online or at a partner site.
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“The goals for the Barnett College and SEU Global Ministry Network are informed by the needs of the local church. SEU strives to understand these needs and to then create educational solutions to meet them. In this way, both the academic content and its delivery help students to be faithful and fruitful in the work of the ministry.” — Dean Nick Wallsteadt
The Vision of the Dean With a fresh vision for the Barnett College of Ministry and
In the coming years, Wallsteadt’s vision for the college is
Theology, SEU introduced a new dean, Nick Wallsteadt, to
that it would serve as a cutting-edge academic and research
lead the college. Previously, Wallsteadt served as the vice
center by offering students the opportunity to learn from
president for network development and advancement. Since
world-class faculty, guest lecturers and other students. In
first starting at the university in 2014, Wallsteadt has served
this environment, students will be able to participate in and
in various roles including vice president of unrestricted
contribute to Spirit-empowered research and formation.
education, which encompassed extension site partnerships, regional campuses, the online learning platform and certificate programs. “SEU is already leading the way in the innovation, quality and
students within the college are female, and 40% are
experiential components in developing and deploying the
ethnic minorities.
vision for the college is that it would become the premier platform for preparing women and men for vocational ministry. Barnett College will be an essential piece of SEU’s Global Ministry Network, offering the academic foundation for ministry students.”
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academic offerings and deliveries in order to increase the diversity of faculty and students. Currently, 53% of the
next generation of ministry leaders,” said Wallsteadt. “The
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One of the goals of the college is to continue to diversify
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“This diversity is so encouraging,” said Wallsteadt. “SEU’s ministry development reflects the Kingdom of God — people from different ethnic, sociodemographic and geographic backgrounds — all coming together to play a role in God’s story of redemption.”
Training the Next Generation of Ministers Serving the local church is at the heart of SEU. Although we have grown and added new career paths in the past eight decades, our commitment to equipping the next generation of students to make a difference in the world for Christ has not changed. The Barnett College of Ministry and Theology has the largest enrollment of any college at the university.
Barnett College of Ministry and Theology by the Numbers
6,776
ministry graduates since 1935
2,058
ministry graduates in the past 5 years
4,390
ministry graduates in the past 25 years
519
ministry graduates in the 2020–2021 academic year
2,772
ministry graduates in the past 10 years
2,173
students currently enrolled in ministry programs
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Key Initiatives for the Barnett College Partnering with the local church has enabled the university to provide educational access for ministry students across vast socioeconomic tiers and allows us to fulfill our mission of preparing students for effective vocational ministry. Through six key initiatives, the Barnett College plans to increase opportunities for students and practicing ministers.
Ministry Deployment Hiring Platform Providing a digital hiring network to assist students with
SEU Lead Institute: Becoming the Leader in Cohorted Graduate Education
ministry placement and to create a hiring platform for partner
Continuing the success of the Master of Arts in Ministerial
churches to hire SEU graduates from other sites, campuses or
Leadership cohorts, both in Lakeland and around the country,
learning deliveries.
by creating graduate learning platforms consisting of SEU cohorts around the country and also in partnership with other
Center for Pastoral Health and Sustainability
learning communities.
Gathering current and future pastors from throughout the reflection and health.
SEU Lat-Am: Building a Network of High-Impact Churches for Ministry Development in Latin America
Scaling the SEU Ministry Network
Expanding SEU’s international partnerships, specifically
SEU Global Ministry Network and creating opportunities for
Creating a model for larger format churches (as regional campuses of the university) to onboard their own network of partner churches, learning together with their distinct
focusing on beginning a ministry network at high-impact churches throughout Latin America, centered on developing and deploying leaders for a lifetime of effective ministry.
ministry DNA.
Youth Pastor U: Developing, Deploying and Sustaining the Next Generation of Youth Pastors Continuing to build SEU’s youth ministry programs (both in for-credit and not-for-credit deliveries) by utilizing some of the leading voices in student ministry today, including current partners and SEU staff.
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Bob and Hazel Hoskins School of Mission With the Great Commission in mind, SEU announced the Bob and Hazel Hoskins School of Mission in the fall of 2021. Through a partnership with OneHope, an international ministry founded by Bob that reaches children and youth across the globe, the school aims to provide interdisciplinary degree programs with a combination of ministry and marketplace skills. The school was named after the couple who served as missionaries in Africa, South America, Lebanon, France and Asia. Bob and Hazel Hoskins
“Students will be equipped to live out a missional life in any sphere and to serve the global church around the world in new and innovative ways,” said Bob Hoskins. “The School of Mission provides students with interdisciplinary degree programs, and combines ministry and marketplace skills for roles of Spirit-empowered leadership.” Programs within the school will blend missions courses with hard skills, such as business, digital media and TESOL, to help students graduate with degrees that are more marketable and versatile. In addition to this, the school also seeks to develop students within every college on campus to live with a missional mindset upon graduation. Finally, the school plans to collaborate with local churches around the globe to provide educational opportunities for
Bob Hoskins speaks at SEU’s chapel service
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students to pursue certificates, undergraduate or graduate degrees from SEU.
Carrión Hispanic Leadership Center A recent partnership with the National Latino Evangelical
The Carrión Hispanic Leadership Center was named in honor
Coalition (NaLEC) will enable SEU to equip more Hispanic
of Adolfo Carrión, Sr., who was the superintendent of the
and Latino students for leadership positions in ministry.
Spanish Eastern District of the Assemblies of God for nearly
NaLEC, a national coalition of several thousand Hispanic
40 years.
evangelical congregations in the United States, was founded by Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero.
The center will encourage and create educational opportunities for Hispanic students, build relationships
“The launch of the Carrión Hispanic Leadership Center,
across the nation through partnerships with the local church,
coupled with the agreement with NaLEC, is an exciting and
and fulfill the university’s mission of equipping students to
promising collaboration that will equip and empower Latino
discover and develop their divine design. This partnership will
students and congregations, who are the fastest-growing
enable SEU to better serve NaLEC pastors and congregations
segment of Pentecostalism,” said Salguero. “Through this
by providing affordable, accessible education. This education
agreement, the local church will be enriched by educating,
will be delivered at the local church level and in collaboration
equipping and empowering students to serve and lead within
with the Lakeland campus.
their local context.”
Adolfo Carrion, Jr., speaks at the center’s naming ceremony
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Equipping the next generation of leaders
SERVING THE LOCAL CHURCH For the past 86 years, SEU has been educating the next generation of leaders to serve Christ and the world around them — stemming from the university’s missional mandate to serve the church. Many of these leaders have gone on to make an incredible impact for the kingdom. As the university approaches our 100-year anniversary, SEU strives to continue to realign and reimagine how to provide relevant ministry training in the 21st century through partnerships with local churches.
SEU’s Impact on the Local Church Aaron Burke Serving in Tampa In 2013, Aaron ’05, ’20 (D.Min.) and Katie (Whittenton) ’06 Burke felt called to plant a church in Tampa — which was, at the time, the third most unchurched city in the United States. They moved to Tampa in January of 2013 with their six-month-old daughter. After nine months of preparation, they held the first Sunday service for Radiant Church on September 15, 2013, with 348 attendees. Now, eight years since its founding, Radiant Church has been named the fifth fastest-growing church in the United States by Outreach magazine. With six locations in the Tampa area, Radiant Church has an average weekly attendance of 4,000.
“The D.Min. program was instrumental in the growth of my local church. I have been able to research subjects that are necessary to see my church become healthier and reach more people.” —Aaron Burke, Founder and Lead Pastor of Radiant Church
Partner Site Student Lanee Seymour At the age of 15, Lanee Seymour felt called into ministry. After high school, she enrolled in Radiant College, a partner site of SEU at Radiant Church, where she had been attending services for four years. As a ministerial leadership major, Seymour plans to work at her local church in student ministry in a creative position upon graduation. When Seymour heard about Radiant Church starting an SEU partner site, she knew she wanted to keep learning from her pastors and mentors who played an integral role in her life.
“I have the opportunity to learn ministry through Southeastern while doing ministry at the church where I feel at home at the same time. I feel like I will be fully equipped for the calling God has for me.” —Lanee Seymour, SEU Student at Radiant College
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The Global Ministry Network: Reinventing Higher Education In 2012, SEU opened our first partner site with the desire to partner alongside a local church to create affordable educational opportunities for students in ministry and other professions. SEU’s rapid growth is a direct reflection of our efforts to reinvent education, making a college degree affordable and accessible for all students.
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Practical Training
Affordability
Students at partner sites graduate with practical experience
The partner site model was designed to provide a high-quality
in local church ministries. This is accomplished through
learning experience at an affordable price. Students have
practicums, which are created within the church to provide
the benefit of earning degrees from an accredited institution
hands-on training for students as they become seasoned in a
at a discounted cost and the opportunity to study where
specific area of ministry. Students graduate with at least 1,200
they live and work. The cost to study at one of SEU’s partner
hours of documented experience in their practicum. They gain
sites is one-fourth the cost of the average price of attending
experience by learning from church staff members and growing
a traditional, private four-year institution. Additionally,
in their specific areas through leadership opportunities. This
students have access to federal financial aid, including grants
mentoring and ministry experience sets SEU partner sites
and loans.
apart from the traditional college experience. TOTAL ENROLLMENT
2.5 million +
Service hours have been completed in local churches around the country in the past 10 years by partner site students.
Top 3
Programs students are enrolled in at partner sites: Ministerial Leadership Psychology Business & Professional Leadership
2012–2013
Partner Site Growth
2013–2014
(Total sites established)
2014–2015 2015–2016 2016–2017 2017–2018 2018–2019 2019–2020 2020–2021 2021–2022 0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
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Spiritual Formation on Campus Spiritual formation is fundamental in enabling each student
society and churches. It’s our passion to see them carry Jesus
to live out the divine design God has placed on their lives.
into that place. It’s also our hope that as we throw our lives
At the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year, the university announced new campus pastors, James and Brittany Powell, who are instrumental in shaping the spiritual culture at SEU and teaching students to recognize the value of involvement with the local church.
when the storms of life hit, they won’t drift from their faith.” The Department of Spiritual Formation offers a variety of chapel opportunities for students, including Monday night chapel,
tomorrow’s leaders, today,” said
Tuesday community chapel and
an impact on our culture starts by investing in these leaders. They will be leading and impacting every sector in our
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have an anchor of hope drilled down deep and
“We believe that SEU is forming Brittany. “Our divine call to have
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into pastoring these amazing students that they will
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Thursday morning and evening services. Serving globally and locally, the department also houses SEU Missions and SEU Worship.
SEU Worship SEU Worship, the university’s worship movement, continues to reach new heights with its music. One of their recently released songs gained 1 million streams on Spotify and had a global reach of 250,000 monthly listeners. SEU Worship is represented by Sony’s Provident Label Group.
SEU Missions Despite the pandemic’s limits on international travel, the university’s missions movement, SEU Missions, was still able to make an incredible impact domestically and globally. Over the past year, SEU Missions sent out 300 students on 33 trips within the United States. The department also raised $253,000 for global missions and $35,000 for domestic missions within the academic year. INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
$5,000 Moldova to purchase land for a church
$15,000 Underground persecuted church in Afghanistan
$10,000
$10,000 Underground persecuted church in Central Asia
$7,000 Beirut to help with the aftermath of a church explosion
Medical missions supply boat in Congo
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A review of 2021
WHAT’S NEW AT SEU Reflecting on the 2021 year, the university introduced several key changes to leadership positions on campus that will greatly propel the university going forward. SEU also experienced incredible successes within the classroom, on campus and in competitive arenas.
Leadership Changes on Campus New Members of the Leadership Team
Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Meghan Griffin was appointed the new provost and chief
academic officer in the spring of 2021. Griffin previously served as the associate provost and dean of unrestricted education at SEU. In her new role, Griffin is taking the lead in consolidating the university’s academic activities in a manner that extends the agility of the unrestricted education operation to an expanded university-wide network, while ensuring the quality of academic credentials across sites, campuses and delivery models.
Vice President for Institutional Research and Effectiveness Dr. Cody Lloyd was appointed the new vice president for institutional
research and effectiveness in the summer of 2021. Lloyd also serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and previously served as associate vice president for information management. In his current role, he is responsible for leading and managing the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Office of Research and Strategic Projects, Office of Accreditation and Compliance, Office of the Registrar, Instructional Design and Technology, and Information Technology.
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New Academic Deans With the introduction of a new provost, the university also announced the appointment of four college deans and a dean of student success.
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dr. Nathaniel Pearson was appointed to the role of dean of
Jannetides College of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership
the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Before joining
Dr. Jeffery Paul stepped in as the new dean for the
SEU, Pearson was the inaugural Elvin and Fleta Patterson
Jannetides College of Business and Entrepreneurial
Sims Director of the Berry Center for Integrity in Leadership
Leadership. Paul served as the chair of the Fenimore Fisher
at Berry College in Rome, Ga. In addition, Pearson has worked
Graduate School of Business at Oral Roberts University
as a counselor, family therapist and site director for many
in Tulsa, Okla., and he has held faculty positions at the
family counseling centers, as well as the executive director
University of Tulsa, Illinois State University and Oklahoma
and pastor of Bellevue Foursquare Church.
State University. With wide-ranging industry experience, Paul has also served as the vice president of strategy and planning for a public oil and gas exploration company.
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College of Education Dr. James Shuls serves as the new dean for the College of Education.
Prior to this role, Shuls was an associate professor and the chair of the Educator Preparation and Leadership Department at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He is currently a distinguished fellow of education policy at the Show-Me Institute in St. Louis, Mo., where he previously worked as the director of education policy. Shuls also has experience in the classroom teaching kindergarten, first, second and fifth grades.
College of Natural and Health Sciences Dr. Aimee Franklin became the new dean for the College of Natural and Health
Sciences. An alumna of SEU, Franklin returned to the university in 2014 as a full-time faculty member. Franklin received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and during that time, completed research on Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most commonly inherited form of autism. Franklin received numerous institutional awards and funding as well as grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke for her research.
Student Success Dr. Ben Gomez was appointed the dean of student success in the
fall of 2021. In this new role, Gomez oversees Academic Advising, the Academic Center for Enrichment, Career Services (COMPASS), ADA Services, Title IX, Student Government and Student Conduct. Previously, Gomez served as one of the university’s campus pastors. He is also an assistant professor with a background in legal work and church ministry.
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Fall 2021 Enrollment BY DELIVERY
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
2,166
1,247
Undergraduate Dual Enrollment
Graduate
8,118
703
2,929
Online
Undergraduate
Total
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BY COUNTRY
248
3%
Florida
Ohio
337
211
International Enrollment
California
Georgia
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P R E S I D E N T ’ S
59% 974
Master’s
Female
41% Male
2,164
Hispanic of any Race
273
Ethnic Minority Total
Texas
24
Black or African American
Doctoral
5,625
322
BY ETHNICITY
1,143
2,320
Traditional Undergraduate
Extension Site & Partnership
9,365
BY STATE: TOP 5
BY GENDER
R E P O R T
43%
Student Financial Aid 95%
of students receive financial aid
$64 million
All types of financial aid awarded to traditional undergraduate students in 2020–2021
$5,366
Average federal grant
$27,213
Average award amount for traditional undergraduate students in 2020–2021
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University Athletics SEU is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in The Sun Conference and the Mid-South Conference.
ATHLETIC AWARDS FOR 2020–2021
4 192 9
National Championships All Conference Awards Conference Championships
54 96 5
NAIA All-Americans All Conference Academic Honors Conference Champions of Character
MEN’S SPORTS Baseball | Basketball | Cheerleading | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Soccer | Tennis | Track & Field | Wrestling
WOMEN’S SPORTS Basketball | Beach Volleyball | Cheerleading | Cross Country | Golf Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & Field | Volleyball
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Kyle Kirkham celebrates winning the 165-pound NAIA Championship with Coach Brandon Jorge
Jaqual Bush (490) pulls away from the field in the final stretch to win the Women’s 200 Meter Championship
Championships and Honors Fire Athletics had the most success to date on the national
individual title in the Women’s 200 Meters in a time of 23.5.
scene during the 2020–2021 academic year. In addition to
Both the men’s and women’s teams posted fifth-place finishes
winning The Sun Conference Commissioner’s Cup for the
in the team standings.
second time in program history and becoming the first to do so with a perfect score, SEU also posted its highest IMG Learfield Director’s Cup finish at sixth.
Baseball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and both cross country teams competed in the NAIA National Championships with SEU playing host to opening rounds for
In March, history was made at the NAIA Indoor Track and
all but cross country. The Fire advanced to the final site in
Field National Championships as well as at the Wrestling
each tournament.
National Championships with the Fire winning three individual titles. The Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay team of Yuriah Bigos, Miyah Ford, Namiah Simpson and Courtney Gales cruised to victory in a time of 3:53 to earn the program’s first individual national championship. Meanwhile, in Wichita, Kan., SEU wrestlers Andreus Bond and Kyle Kirkham became the first two Fire wrestlers to advance and secure title matches.
Additionally, Drew Watson, BJ Geasa and Donnie Smith all won Sun Conference awards as the league’s Athletic Director, Athletic Trainer and Sports Information Director of the Year, respectively. Geasa and Smith also won NAIA National Athletic
The track and field success continued into the outdoor season
Trainer and Sports Information
with sophomore Jaqual Bush winning the program’s first
Director of the Year awards.
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Students Making a Difference “It’s important to have people of color as attorneys,
“I think autism
doctors, politicians and
is my superpower and that it has a
in law enforcement;
talent within it.
if you want change,
I think God has
you have to step
given me talent
into the roles
through my autism.”
that can make change.”
Aarushi Pratap
Devon Ford
With a love for the arts, Aarushi Pratap has used her talents
Devon Ford, a center on the men’s basketball team, wanted
to design clothes for a fashion show and assisted in the
to make a difference on the university’s campus. His impact
development of the new Special Olympics logo for the
started within his team after realizing that the majority
2022 games. At a young age, Pratap was diagnosed with
of his teammates were not registered to vote. Before the
autism and started to use art to express her thoughts and
November 2021 election, all 16 members of the team were
emotions. Pratap designed her first fashion show at the age of
not only registered, but Ford made it a point to try to get
13, which propelled her to continue to design and sew clothes.
those outside of the team registered to vote as well. They had
Some of her creations have been auctioned at fundraisers to
a QR code on hand to assist other students with the voter
benefit the Special Olympics. Pratap is also passionate about
registration process. Ford also volunteered with an outreach
sports, having competed in many different categories at the
at Crystal Lake Middle School feeding the community and
Special Olympics. She had the opportunity to combine her
interacting with children. Ford will graduate with his master
love of art with the Special Olympics when she was selected
of business administration degree in the spring of 2022 and
to contribute to the 2022 game logo. She was also chosen as
intends on going to law school afterward with plans to be a
a spokesperson for the logo and traveled to New York to do a
corporate attorney.
live interview with Fox News. Pratap is a part of SEU Link, our comprehensive postsecondary transition program.
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Brian Seeley A year after he graduated from SEU, Brian Seeley ’10, ’13 (MSPC) started Gospel Inc., a community of believers ministering to the homeless. The ministry provides permanent supportive housing and work opportunities for men and women experiencing chronic homelessness. Through an arts and crafts program called RePurpose Studio, they teach women skills such as sewing, painting, repurposing furniture and jewelry making. More recently, through a $1 million grant and $400,000 in private donations, the nonprofit was able to purchase land for Gospel Village, a 1.7-acre complex that includes small homes, trailers, vegetable gardens and a shared food pantry. Gospel Village currently offers affordable housing for 40 people in Lakeland, Fla.
Alumni Impacting the Kingdom
Holly Short Since 2013, Holly Short ’03 has been serving the Marines and the Coast Guard as a Navy chaplain. Short was most recently deployed as the First Battalion Chaplain at the United States Naval Academy, where she also served as the football chaplain for the Navy Midshipmen football team. She is a Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer and has received the Navy Commendation Medal for her honorable contributions, as well as other campaign and service awards. Short has been deployed twice to Rota, Spain.
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Pastoral Accelerator Program SEU received a $2.1 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to develop an innovative degree program in the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology. The new Pastoral Accelerator Program will help students achieve their bachelor’s degree in ministry and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) in as few as five years, rather than the typical seven.
New Programming SEU Tech Bootcamps Our new SEU Tech Bootcamps provide flexible and affordable options to level up in one’s career. These bootcamps include Cybersecurity, Data Science and Software Development (Back End, Front End and Full Stack). These accelerated, fullyonline education programs teach individuals to become software developers, data scientists or cybersecurity professionals in a span of just a few months.
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Faculty Accomplishments Dr. Cameron McNabb Dr. Cameron McNabb, associate professor of English, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant for her book project, “Dramatic Prosthesis: Disability Studies and Drama.” McNabb’s award, one of only eight granted in all of Florida, allowed her time to research and write the book, which focuses on the representation of disability in theatrical performances. The NEH grants for 2021 totaled $224 million for 225 diverse humanities projects.
Dr. Kevin Weaver Aligning with the university’s mission of making an impact in local communities, Dr. Kevin Weaver, associate professor in the College of Education, received a grant from Harvard University to develop and teach a seminar at Harvard on the impact of constitutional law on education policy. Weaver started as a research assistant at Harvard in 2019, while still teaching full time at SEU. Weaver has led six seminars so far and will lead a new one in the spring called “Law, Education and Faith.” In the seminars, Weaver discusses how students can effectively bring their faith into public sectors. SEU students, staff and faculty have also been able to be a part of the seminars.
Dr. Ralph Salvatore Since starting the chemistry program at SEU in 2017, Dr. Ralph Salvatore, professor of chemistry, has helped champion research opportunities for students. Four of his students are currently being mentored under his direction on research in the synthesis of therapeutics in order to combat HIV-AIDS, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer. They will present their findings at the 263rd American Chemical National Meeting and at the University of South Florida’s Department of Chemistry Endowed Lecture Series. Salvatore has established a robust science seminar series held annually on campus and has also formed a collaborative partnership with the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Florida.
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Additional Highlights Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Task Force In the fall of 2020, SEU launched a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to advance racial diversity on campus and to work toward racial reconciliation. One of the first initiatives was the implementation of a cultural awareness program for the whole campus. Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, associate vice president of community relations, oversees the task force, and in 2021 her role was also expanded to include Chief Diversity Officer. In her position, she works with the task force in the development of inclusivity strategies, provides guidance to executive Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts
leadership in policy development, and supports faculty and staff in translating SEU’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity commitment into daily lived experiences that contribute to student success.
SEU Hosts Renowned Speakers and Artists
SEU Conference
The Forum
Every year, SEU holds a multiple-day conference, known as
The Forum at SEU brings some of the nation’s most
SEU Conference, to help students grow in their faith. The
respected and inspirational leaders to campus to help leaders
conference is open to the public and consists of messages
in Central Florida and around the United States develop
intended to inspire, teach, challenge and encourage all
and make an impact within their sphere of influence. The
attendees. The 2021 event featured:
2021 SEU Forum was a free virtual event attended by 2,370
Chris Durso | Senior Pastor of Saints Church in New York Ryan Leak | CEO of the Ryan Leak Group Hollyn | Recording Artist Elevation Rhythm | New Expression of Worship from
Elevation Church Mo Isom | Former Soccer Player, Bestselling Author
participants from around the world in addition to a live audience on the university’s campus. Speakers at the March 2021 event included: Bob Goff | Bestselling Author, Honorary Consul to the
Republic of Uganda, Attorney and Founder of Love Does Tony Dungy | Pro Football Hall of Fame Member, Sports
Analyst, Former NFL Coach and Bestselling Author Nona Jones | Head of Faith Partnerships at Facebook,
Bestselling Author and Host of “The Nona Jones Show” 32
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