By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Editor in Chief

Various administrative departments throughout ACU hired new staff and saw old staff members take new positions, update their titles to better fit their duties or re-jiggered their responsibilities during this school year.

“We think all of these transitions, even though they are always difficult, overall in the end we are strengthened by our new people that are coming in,” said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university.

Kevin Roberts left his role as chief information officer to take the job as associate vice president for operations for the university. In his new position Roberts will oversee Information Services, Physical Resources, Retail Operations and The Depot.

Money said Roberts was promoted after Kevin Watson, former associate vice president for Administrative Services, announced he was leaving ACU to take a job as vice president of Operations at Texan Healthcare, LLP, a company based in San Antonio that constructs retirement homes.

Jim Trietsch, who worked with Roberts as the associate chief information officer, now works with Roberts as chief operations planning officer.

Roberts began working at ACU in 1999 when he was hired as director of re-engineering and was promoted to chief information officer in 2007.

Roberts, who works under Phil Schubert, executive vice president, helped in the planning, launch and oversight of the university’s Mobile Learning Initiative in which more than 950 students received either an Apple iPhone or iPod touch for use inside and outside of the classroom. Roberts will continue his work on the initiative and work closely with whoever is hired as the new CIO.

“We don’t plan to take a back seat on that at all,” Money said.

University officials hired fifth-generation alumnus Jason Groves as associate vice president for marketing, a job that oversees the areas of strategic marketing, public relations, creative services and Web communication. Groves left his post as vice president of marketing for First Financial Bank, the only publicly traded company in Abilene. Groves said he was happy to join the ACU staff and looks forward to using his skills to contribute to his alma mater.

“I see a lot of positive things taking place right now,” Groves said. “There are a lot of exciting things on the pipeline for the university.”

Suzanne Allmon, former Director of Human Resources, assumed the role of associate vice president of Human Resources, while Wendy Jones now serves as the director of HR.

In the Student Life realm, Jan Meyer, former director of leadership education is now the Assistant Dean for Student Leadership Development and executive director of leadership camps.

In the Development office, Craig Smith was hired as director of development in the early months of the fall semester. Smith oversees the 21st Century Campaign, major gifts, the stewardship office and research. Phil Boone, who worked in the past as director of the Centennial campaign, returned to ACU and is serving as assistant vice president for development. Renhi Hahn, who Money said has served in numerous roles for the university, now works as director of annual giving, where she oversees annual fund efforts at the university.

Lawrence Rugar was hired to work under Slade Sullivan, general counsel, as the university’s Risk Manager.

Money said the organizational changes would help carry out the vision and promise of the university.

“We see all this as a move forward,” Money said.