Ms. Linda Allen
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Linda Allen, C.P.A., M.B.A, serves as vice president for business and finance. A 1983 Evangel graduate, Allen served on the board of of trustees from 2008 until 2014 when she accepted her current position. While on the board of trustees Allen served as the chair of its finance committee. Linda Allen’s career has included serving as director of finance for Northwest Airlines, chief accounting officer with Nextel Partners, vice president of finance for Sprint-Nextel and CFO for Telesphere Networks.
- B.B.A. Evangel University
- M.B.A. University of St. Thomas
Mr. Chris Belcher
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Chris Belcher joined Evangel in October 2014 as vice president for enrollment management. He brings strength and expertise to Evangel’s enrollment management efforts and to the strategic work of its leadership team. Chris Belcher came to Evangel from Oral Roberts University, where he served 24 years working with financial aid, as seminary registrar, and senior director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment.
- B.Mu. Oral Roberts University
- M.Mgt. Oral Roberts University
Dr. Michael Kolstad
Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff
Michael Kolstad serves as executive vice president, chief of staff. Kolstad provides leadership for staff, supports the funding of Evangel’s mission and programs, and oversees the university’s marketing and communication efforts. In 2020, in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, Kolstad took the helm as chair of the university’s pandemic task force, coordinating mitigation and response measures to keep the Evangel community operational and safe. His collaboration with local city and county officials and area university presidents was a key contributor to the university’s successful navigation through those months. Kolstad has received numerous awards, including being named a “40 Under 40” by Springfield Business Journal and the prestigious Orville and Jewel Mills Young Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service from Evangel, and is a member of the SE Springfield Rotary Club.
- B.A. Evangel University
- M.M.A. University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- D.M.A. University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Dr. Jon Spence
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Jon Spence serves as the University Provost and Executive Vice President. Spence has been a member of the Evangel faculty since 1998 and has served in a variety of campus leadership roles. In addition to overseeing the Center for Student Success, Spence is an instructor in Leadership Studies, a faculty advisor for the EU Scholars honors program, an academic consultant for the EU football team, advisor to Social Science student teachers, and serves on various university committees. He is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and a Younique Life Design Certified Coach. He is also a Missouri certified teacher in Secondary Education. In 2020, Spence was named a 2020 Icon of Education by Ingram’s Magazine for his servant leadership mindset and focus on educating the next generation of workforce leaders. Spence holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from University of Missouri at Columbia, a Master of Science in Education Administration from Missouri State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Evangel.
Rev. Mark Entzminger
Vice President for Student Development
Mark Entzminger transitioned to Evangel from the Assemblies of God (AG) National Office where he served as the AG ministries and resources administrator since 2017, providing strategic oversight of church ministries for the offices of children, youth, adult, and family ministries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible, Theology, and Youth Ministry from Central Bible College and a Master of Leadership and Ministry from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Entzminger is also an ordained AG minister.
- B.S. Central Bible College
- M.O.L. AGTS
Destiny Duron Deas
Vice President for Advancement
Destiny Duron Deas holds a Juris Doctorate from Duke University Law School, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies from Southern Methodist University, and a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Duke. She is a renowned communicator, attorney, author, and entrepreneur. She is also an ordained minister affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
