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Spotlight
Dr. John Tyson, Vice President for Development
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John Tyson

Tyson first worked at ACU as an admissions counselor and as summer school coordinator. He was the founding director of the Kadesh leadership camp. Tyson has also served as the assistant to the president, assistant professor of communications, and director of development.

Tyson has served several churches in different capacities; minister of Northside Church of Christ in New Braunfels, associate minister of Belton Church of Christ, campus minister of Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, and associate university minister of Hillcrest Church of Christ. Before coming to ACU Tyson served a year as an adjunct professor and chairman of Texas Tech University's Department of Biblical Literature.

Tyson is a 1977 honor graduate from L. D. Bell High School in Hurst. He graduated summa cum laude from ACU with a bachelor's degree in biblical studies. He received a master's of religious communication from ACU in 1982. Tyson completed his doctorate in communication from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. He was awarded research grants from the Shell Oil Company Foundation and the Graduate School of the University of Texas at Austin for excellence in his doctoral dissertation.

Tyson received numerous awards while he attended ACU. He served as president of the Students' Association and president of the Association of Independent Schools in Texas, an organization representing the student of the 40 private colleges and universities in the state. His honors include Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi Omega, Honor Man, Mr. ACU and the V. W. Kelly Award. He also was listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. In 1982 Tyson was selected as an Outstanding Young Man of America. He has spoken in several states and nations, including Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Madagascar, England and Uruguay. He also has been active in civic and professional organizations, serving as campaign chairman and chairman of the board of directors for United Way of Abilene; vice chairman of World Christian Broadcasting Corporation; chairman of Leadership Abilene; member of The ACU Foundation board of trustees; and member of the Abilene Christian Schools board of trustees. 

Tyson is married to the former Valinda Avey. They have a daughter, Victoria, and two sons, Trevor and Trey.