In Monday’s inauguration, Dr. Barry D. Packer, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the Board of Trustees has prayerfully considered who to choose as president of ACU since 1906.
“God has always blessed us with the right one to serve at the right time, and we believe it is true today,” Packer said.
We agree.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU’s 11th president, challenged the ACU community to outlive their lives, seeking causes bigger than ourselves. He spoke of students, past and present, who have changed lives while glorifying God. He urged the audience to take action and get their hands dirty.
“We make a promise that ACU will be a vibrant, innovative, Christ-centered environment that engages students in authentic, spiritual, intellectual growth, equipping them to make a real difference in the world,” Schubert said.
Schubert’s goals and vision for the future of ACU are inspiring and right on track with the mission of ACU.
In Tuesday’s Chapel, Schubert wore TOMS shoes to express his support of Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS, and the work his company does to provide shoes to children in need.
He also spoke about Connecting Caring Communities, an organization that partnered with ACU design students to create high-performance and energy efficient homes in the Abilene community.
Brad Carter, executive director of CCC, spoke to the Chapel audience about projects they are working on and ways everyone can help.
Schubert is encouraging a faith accompanied by action. He is pushing ACU not only to study Christianity, but also to live it. As he said in his inaugural address, there is no room for mediocrity. He calls students, faculty, staff and alumni to continue being men and women who have a heart for Jesus, interacting with the world and making a difference.
Schubert’s vision, if it becomes a reality, will take the university to the next level. As he said in his speech, however, the legacy is not in A.B. Barrett’s hands or Schubert’s hands, but in our hands – and he has no doubt we’ll rise to the challenge. Under Schubert’s leadership, we don’t have doubts either.
