Bethel University Magazine Fall 2021

6PLWK 1DPHG 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW IRU $FDGHPLF 6HUYLFHV Bradley Smith, Ph.D., was named Vice President for Academic 6HUYLFHV DW %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG EHJDQ KLV QHZ UROH -XQH 6PLWK has served the university for 27 years, most recently as Dean of +XPDQLWLHV 6RFLDO 6FLHQFH DQG $VVRFLDWH 3URIHVVRU RI (FRQRPLFV During his tenure, he also served as Interim Vice President for Academic Services. Smith earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from the University RI 1RWUH 'DPH DQG KLV 0 6 LQ HFRQRPLFV IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 1RUWK &DUROLQD ŝ &KDSHO +LOO +H LV D PHPEHU RI WKH $PHULFDQ Economic Association and a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. Some of his top accomplishments at Bethel include obtaining and PDLQWDLQLQJ DFFUHGLWDWLRQ IRU QHZ DQG H[LVWLQJ SURJUDPV UHYLVLQJ and instituting academic policies, redesigning and implementing a system for tracking academic performance, and supervising over IDFXOW\ DQG VWDƂ &XUUHQWO\ KH VHUYHV RQ WKH $FDGHPLF 3ROLF\ and Curriculum Committee and the General Education Committee, as chair. Additionally, Smith has a heart for Christian higher education, believing that revival starts with faculty. He hopes to provide them the space and autonomy to grow spiritually. “I have spent much of my professional career at Bethel and have VHHQ ƃUVWKDQG KRZ D %HWKHO HGXFDWLRQ FDQ WUDQVIRUP OLYHV , DP committed to investing in and advocating for the faculty and SURJUDPV WKDW PDNH WKH %HWKHO H[SHULHQFH VR LPSDFWIXO ţ 6PLWK says. /D9LJQH 1DPHG 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW IRU ,QVWLWXWLRQDO $GYDQFHPHQW Brent LaVigne, Ph.D., began as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Bethel University Sept. 6. He brings more than a GHFDGH RI H[SHULHQFH LQ &KULVWLDQ KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ KDYLQJ VHUYHG DW 6RXWKHUQ 1D]DUHQH 8QLYHUVLW\ 618 LQ %HWKDQ\ 2NOD VLQFH +LV SRVLWLRQV WKHUH UDQJHG IURP VWDƂ PHPEHU WR IDFXOW\ member to administrator. In his most recent role as Vice President for University Relations at 618 KH RYHUVDZ DGYDQFHPHQW DOXPQL DQG IRXQGDWLRQ DFWLYLWLHV During his tenure, he and his team increased purposeful and strategic donor interactions by 600%, reached record highs in annual giving and endowment giving, and this spring led D IXQGUDLVLQJ LQLWLDWLYH WKDW UDLVHG PLOOLRQ GROODUV LQ QHZ XQUHVWULFWHG JL̃V DPRQJ RWKHU DFFRODGHV /D9LJQH LV D JUDGXDWH RI 618 ZLWK D % 6 LQ %XVLQHVV Administration. He earned his master’s degree in Management IURP 0RXQW 9HUQRQ 1D]DUHQH 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG KLV 3K ' LQ +LJKHU Education Policy and Administration from Oklahoma State 8QLYHUVLW\ +H DOVR KDV PLVVLRQDU\ H[SHULHQFH KDYLQJ VHUYHG LQ Swaziland, Africa, as an on-site coordinator. He and his wife Michaele have been married 16 years and have two young children, Austin and Galilee. “It is evident that Bethel University is built on faith in God, H[FHOOHQFH LQ WHDFKLQJ DQG VHUYLFH WR RXU ZRUOG , ORRN IRUZDUG WR working with alumni, donors and the Institutional Advancement team to enable the education and vocational calling of Bethel students,” LaVigne says. BETHELWELCOMES NEW CABINET LEADERSHIP %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ŠV FDELQHW KDV D FRPELQHG \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH LQ KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ 7KH\ DUH OH̃ WR ULJKW %UHQW /D9LJQH 3K ' 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW IRU ,QVWLWXWLRQDO $GYDQFHPHQW -HUU\ :KLWH &3$ Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO; Bradley Smith, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Services; Barb Bellefeuille, Ed.D., Interim President; Shawn Holtgren, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Development; and Terry Elam, Ph.D., Vice President of Enrollment Management. Bradley Smith Brent LaVigne 9 FALL 2021 BY -*44" ƹ(3"4)03/ƺ %*": d