FALL 2011 L E TO U R N E AU U N I V E R S I T Y

8 | NOW Magazine | Fall 2011

Meet LETU's New Provost

Photographed by Randy Mallory, Tom Barnard and Janet Ragland

LeTourneau University | 9

LeTourneau University’s new Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Philip A. Coyle assumed his role on July 1 follow-ing a national search, but, he was actively

involved in the recruitment of two new academic deans last spring. As the university’s new chief academic officer and executive vice president, Coyle has execu-tive level responsibilities for planning, develop-ment and administration of the academic mission of the university. Coyle provides leadership to achieve initiatives of the university’s strategic plan and oversees the recruitment, development and performance of deans, academic administrators, faculty in the university’s six schools, and adminis-trators over accreditation, information technology, global initiatives, enrollment services, and student services. Coyle reports directly to Dr. Lunsford and serves as the chief executive officer in the presi-dent’s absence. Coyle earned his Ph.D. in psychology and counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he chaired the counseling and psychology department for 12 years and added new programs with significant growth in enroll-ment. He served as the Chief Academic Officer at Richmont Graduate University in Chattanooga,

Tenn., and Atlanta, Ga., for nine years, prior to joining LeTourneau. He also taught at William Carey College School of Nursing in New Orleans, La. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Coyle has a record of accomplishment in pasto-ral counseling, family counseling, and academic research in psychology. He also holds Doctor of Education in marriage and family therapy and two master’s degrees, one in religious education and one in marriage and family therapy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His under-graduate degree is in psychology from Memphis State University. Coyle was a commissioned Air Force officer, at-tending officer training school at Medina Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and jet pilot school at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. He served on staff at two churches, directed several large human services programs, and has served as a licensed counselor for 25 years. Coyle sat down for an interview with NOW as the Fall semester got under way.

What attracted you to LeTourneau University?

I was motivated by LeTourneau’s strategic vision regarding Every Workplace—Every Nation. I was impressed with our president’s leadership and per-sonal character. I was excited about the diversity of the degree programs including strong programs in fields such as engineering and aviation where inte-gration of Christian faith and practice is a challenge and a great opportunity. I was excited about the areas of needed improvement and believed I could effectively join those efforts and make a difference. At LETU, God has gathered an amazing group of faculty, administrators, trustees, staff, students, and alumni, all prepared with an intentional mis-sion and a rich tradition. I am honored to be among the many who embrace the LeTourneau vision. I thank God and the LeTourneau community for this invitation to contribute in the role of provost. I am honored to serve Dr. Lunsford in his clear vision to equip students for a meaningful life of service across the world.

Meet LETU's New Provost Dr. Philip A. Coyle

10 | NOW Magazine | Fall 2011

How have your past experiences prepared you for leader-ship at LETU?

One of the real discovered joys in a Christian’s life is that God wastes nothing as long as you do not discount the suf-ferings or the blessings. I never aspired to be a professor, my doctoral committee chairman had the vision for me. I never aspired to be a department chairman, my dean had the vision for me. I never aspired to be a dean, my univer-sity provost and president had the vision for me. I never aspired to be provost, a former student had the vision for me. I did, however, aspire to be a Christian psychologist, and after 40,000 hours of face-to-face counseling, I was inspired to seek the joint efforts of gifted educators at LeTourneau to produce graduates of Christ-like character and ingenuity.

What is your philosophy of work/life balance?

I love my work, and I love my life. I like to say my life space is bigger than my work space, although I am not so sure that is true. I have a wonderful wife of 30 years. Judi and I have been together since age 13—you know, “going steady,” and exchanging rings and such. We have two sons: Chris, 27, and Andrew, 23. Both are single; so LeTourneau girls give us a call. I tend to be all in—meaning that when I am attending to something like work, or neighborhood renewal, or research, or teaching— then that is my life in that moment. I love the moment of being lost in something important. My wife keeps me relatively balanced. I enjoy many things: evenings out with friends, renovation projects, college football, devotional life, almost anything outdoors, hearing of my boys’ life experiences. I have two great broth-ers and two lovely parents. I am never bored. My philoso-phy of life-work balance is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. This includes finding joy in your work and seeing work as worship.

Share something about your faith that is currently rel-evant in your daily work at LeTourneau as Provost.

These words of Martin Luther are appealing: “The Christian community is not an ideal we have to realize, but rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.” An abiding philosophy is that LeTourneau was created in God’s providence, therefore we students, staff, faculty and administrators have been invited to participate in a reality of God’s design. We then should remember the words of Paul: “That you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the Gospel.” We are called to unity though not for the sake of unity, but for the sake of creative advancement of God’s good work among us. So, every voice should be valued, a collaborative spirit should permeate every corridor of the university, and each person must experience a genuine sense of influence toward fulfilling our collective mission. LeTourneau University is a Christian University that emphasizes faith and work, faith and learning; what are some of your thoughts about this position?

We recognize our foundation as a university is special revelation, the Word of God, the Bible. Here we become acquainted with the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is our rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit is Christ within us who continues to reveal God’s will within our lives. We recognize that we serve a God who has spo-ken. We therefore understand our academic discourse in the context of revealed truth not simply discovered truth. Hence, for a Christian, integration of faith and learning is a central aspect of our call and world-view. Matthew 4:4 states, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” From this perspective, even the word integration loses its bifurcated

Meet LETU's New Provost Dr. Philip A. Coyle

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Photos above left show Dr. Coyle entertaining LeTourneau University's deans and faculty leadership at his home with his wife Judi. Photos above right show Dr. Coyle teaching a psychology class in his office.

edges because our faculty and students are not charged with joining together two disparate sources of truth. Instead they are asked to recognize that all truth is from God. As we gain knowledge within a discipline we are also gaining revealed glimpses into the mind of God. He is fully integrated into all. Discovered truth may lead to revealed truth depending upon the hearts of the student and teach-er. This remains a primary objective and distinctive of the LeTourneau academic community. We must remain atten-tive and intentional to integration of faith and learning.

What goals have you set to accomplish in your first year?

First, I believe worship is central to our shared purpose as a Christian university. Second, outstanding teaching and scholarship are primary. Third, the professor-student re-lationship is the central institution for significant transfor-mation of a student’s life into meaningful service. Though I am new to LeTourneau University, at this point I have identified six distinctive areas of focus of my relationships here. I believe these areas of strategic influence are opportunities for relational and institutional advancement. They represent significant promise for improvements in students’ character and learning. They all fit with the Mission and the Strategic Plan of the university and include:

• Integrating faith and learning• Developing high-impact, high-value professional

degree programs and related initiatives• Shaping a holistic personality of Christian influence

within LETU’s residential community• Advancing a student, staff, faculty and administrative

culture of creative collaboration and influence• Expanding focus on student learning outcomes• Creating meaningful, long-standing relationships with

our local and global communities

Is there anything else on your mind that you’d like to share?

LeTourneau is blessed to be placed in the southern district of Longview. The median income for households in this section of town is far below $33,858, which is the median income for Longview households. While 16% of the population of Longview is below the poverty line, on this south side of town, the percentage of those living in poverty is far larger. LETU is blessed to have this call of Christian service on a daily basis; unfortunately, we Chris-tians need such reminders. Our neighborhood is a reminder of Micah’s words: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Meaningful engagements with our local community are essential to a Christian university. Universities like LeTourneau and Christian higher edu-cation at large must establish a Christian presence locally and around the globe as a precursor to evangelism for the purpose of pre-evangelism. When students are meaning-fully engaged and connected through service to others, they see real changes in people’s lives. Those students are changed. Those students gain a vision of being a global Christian. All humans are called by God to exercise their gifts of service to others through specific roles. Christian-ity is more than intellectual. We would hope students’ experiences in meaningful local and global services would become their ethos, their way of life. n

Meet LETU's New Provost Dr. Philip A. Coyle