Dale A. Lunsford

Dr. Dale A. Lunsford is the sixth president of LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. He assumed that title on July 1, 2007, succeeding Alvin O. Austin, following a national search. Lunsford's inauguration was held on November 1, 2007 in the newly opened S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center.

Prior to his appointment at LeTourneau University, Lunsford served as vice president for student affairs and external relations at the University of Texas at Tyler. He worked at UT Tyler for a total of eight years. Before that, he worked for 12 years as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Tulsa.

As president of LeTourneau University, he led strategic planning and rebranding and has strengthened the university’s financial condition through cutting costs and increasing donations, tripling the university’s endowment. Growth in programs include launching a new School of Nursing and expanding graduate programs in business, engineering and psychology and undergraduate programs in healthcare management, criminal justice and others. Under his leadership, more than $54 million in capital improvements have added more than 177,000 square feet to the university facilities, including a new student center, residence hall, faculty offices, dining hall and aviation center.

He has served on local boards and mayor-appointed task force committees, moderating a citywide election forum, as well as providing leadership on boards promoting higher education and NCAA athletics.

Prior to his presidency at LETU, he served as vice president at University of Texas at Tyler, leading the state in enrollment growth during his years there.

At University of Tulsa, he served as associate dean and director of undergraduate programs for the College of Business Administration. He also was an award-winning business professor, receiving four awards for teaching excellence, including the university’s professor of the year award. He published numerous research studies and served as editor of a marketing education journal. He also co-hosted a popular “Business World” radio program for seven years on a National Public Radio affiliate in Tulsa.

An Oklahoma native, he is a first-generation college graduate, having earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Tulsa. He earned his doctorate in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and did post-doctoral work as a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin.

Lunsford has made numerous presentations on education to organizations including “Closing the Gaps: Achieving Excellence,” an invited presentation to the Texas Higher Education Board (2005) and others, including presenting to new presidents of Christian universities for the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Lunsford has written op-eds for the following publications:

• “Headlines Highlight Need for Mental Health Services” Longview News-Journal, 2015

• “Good Thoughts for Hard Times From R.G. LeTourneau,” Christian Post, Oct. 3, 2013

• “Missing Your College Freshman? Maybe This Helps,” Christian Post, Sept. 11, 2013.

He has provided in-depth interviews for the following:

• He was interviewed by Warren Smith of World Media’s “Listening In” Radio Program, March 6, 2015.

• He was interviewed for “The Complete Story” with Dick Bott on BOTT Radio Network, March 2015

• He was interviewed for “Faith Can Work” Two Ten Magazine, 2Q, 2013

• He was interviewed for “Medical Mission from Longview Serves Hundreds in Ethiopia” Longview News-Journal, April 30, 2011