Dr. Jon Spence, a 1988 graduate of Evangel, serves as the Chief Academic Officer.
His childhood was spent on campus as his father, the late Dr. Robert H. Spence, served as president of the university from 1974 through 2014.
After graduation, Spence taught social science at Mt. Paran Christian School in Marietta, Georgia. He returned to work with Springfield Public Schools, where he taught and coached football at Pershing Jr. High, Carver Middle School and Kickapoo High School.
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 has been 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 served 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.
Jon and his wife, Danica, have four children and reside in Nixa, Missouri.