Meet the ACU Team

The people who lead, teach, and serve at Austin Christian University.

Two ACU team members standing back to back and smiling

Leadership

Connor Champion

Connor Champion

President & Chief Executive Officer

Connor Champion is the founding president of Austin Christian University. With a background in coaching college football and leadership development, Connor brings deep vision, strategic insight, and spiritual conviction.

Seeing the need for deeper development of Christian leaders for the marketplace, he followed God’s calling to establish a Christian business university in 2023 built on Christ, Craft, and Culture. Today, Connor leads Austin Christian University with the passion to develop Kingdom Builders. Connor and his wife, Rheagan, live in Georgetown, Texas.

Board of Trustees

  • Jacob Williamson

    Jacob Williamson

    Executive Pastor of Celebration Church

  • Garrett Booth

    Garrett Booth

    Senior Pastor of Grace Church

  • Vance Roush

    Vance Roush

    CEO & Founder of Overflow

  • Roger Bringmann

    Roger Bringmann

    VP of Software at NVIDIA

  • Melissa Peak

    Melissa Peak

    Vice President of Growth, Servant

  • Brad Lomenick

    Brad Lomenick

    Leadership Consultant, Speaker, Founder of BLINC

  • Gabe Lyons

    Gabe Lyons

    Founder and President, THINQ Media

ACU Staff & Team

  • Joe Champion

    Joe Champion

    Chancellor

  • Lori Champion

    Lori Champion

    Co-Chancellor

  • Dr. Erin Hill

    Dr. Erin Hill

    Provost

  • Laura Beth Shufelt

    Laura Beth Shufelt

    Chief of Staff

  • Stephen Milani

    Stephen Milani

    Vice President of Advancement

  • Dr. Lars Ostervold

    Dr. Lars Ostervold

    Chief Technology Officer

  • Steven Anderson

    Steven Anderson

    Director of Finance and Operations

  • Rheagan Champion

    Rheagan Champion

    Women's Dean

  • Erik Halley

    Erik Halley

    Director of Student Success

  • Avery Montgomery

    Avery Montgomery

    Campus Pastor

  • Preston Morter

    Preston Morter

    Academic Coordinator

  • Rachel Ostervold

    Rachel Ostervold

    Operations Lead

  • Jake Oswald

    Jake Oswald

    Director of Innovation and Growth

  • Trent Sikute

    Trent Sikute

    Director of Assessment

  • Dr. Judd Staples

    Dr. Judd Staples

    University Advisor

  • Kiersten Stockton

    Kiersten Stockton

    Marketing Manager

  • Suzanne Tarlton

    Suzanne Tarlton

    Legacy Advancement Coordinator

  • Christy Watkins

    Christy Watkins

    Executive Assistant

Faculty

  • Dr. Judd Staples

    Adjunct Professor and University Advisor

    Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University; M.P.A., Pepperdine University; B.A., Pepperdine University

  • Dr. Daniela Castiblanco

    Adjunct Professor; Chair, Faculty Senate

    Ed.D., Argosy University; M.S., Palm Beach Atlantic University; B.S., Palm Beach Atlantic University

  • Dr. Bob Chin

    Adjunct Professor

    Ph.D., Rice University; M.A., Rice University; B.A., Cornell University

  • Mitzi Ellison

    Adjunct Professor

    M.A., West Texas A&M University; M.B.A., West Texas A&M University; B.S., West Texas A&M University

  • Pastor Dan Hicks

    Adjunct Professor

    M.A., Oral Roberts University; B.A., B.Th., LIFE Pacific University

  • Keturah Johnson

    Adjunct Professor

    B.A., M.S., Texas A&M University

  • Dr. Jim Meador

    Adjunct Professor

    Ph.D., International Seminary; Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; B.A., Southeastern Bible College

  • Preston Morter

    Adjunct Professor

    Ph.D. Candidate, Bangor University; M.Div., Southeastern University; B.A., Southeastern University

  • Dr. Lars Ostervold

    Adjunct Professor

    Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University; M.S., The University of Arkansas; B.S., The University of Oklahoma

  • Hillary Skaff

    Adjunct Professor

    M.F.A., Columbia College Chicago; B.A., Iowa State University

  • Kyle Smith

    Adjunct Professor

    Ed.D., Capella University; J.D., University of Texas School of Law; M.A., Sam Houston State University; B.A., Magnolia Bible College; B.S., Jackson State University

  • Lee Varian

    Adjunct Professor

    M.T.S., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; M.A., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; B.A., Howard Payne University

  • Kandis Eberle

    Adjunct Professor

    M.C.M., Oral Roberts University; B.A. in Ministry and Theology, Oral Roberts University

  • Matt Maples

    Adjunct Professor

    M.B.A., West Texas A&M University; M.A. in Theology, Wheaton College; B.A. in Political Science, West Texas A&M University

  • Johnathan P. Winston

    Adjunct Professor

    Ph.D. (ABD) in Education: Organizational Leadership, Southeastern University; M.A. in Public Administration, University of Houston; B.A. in Political Science, Texas State University

  • Dr. Lee Holcombe

    Adjunct Professor

    Ed.D. in Administration, Planning and Social Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Ed.M. in Administration, Planning and Social Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education; B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Rice University