HBU Welcomes Leadership for Digital Online Expansion

President Robert B. Sloan is delighted to welcome to the staff Dr. Steven Peterson as the new Vice President for Online/Digital Learning and Dr. Bobby “Jay” Spencer as the Associate Vice President for Digital/Online Operations in the HBU Pinky Pampell Online Division, a significant expansion of HBU’s online education.

Steven D. Peterson, Ed.D., served Liberty University for 22 years in a variety of roles, including Executive Director for University Advancement overseeing all marketing for Liberty’s residential and online programs, as well as development efforts. His most recent position was Vice President of Admissions. Under his leadership, Liberty University expanded its online enrollment to nearly 100,000 students. Dr. Peterson and his wife Faith of 22 years have five children. In his new position at HBU, Dr. Peterson will be the Vice President for Online/Digital Learning and will be a member of the Executive Council.

Jay Spencer, D.Min., has spent the majority of his career involved in higher education leadership, both in residential and distance/online education. In March 2007, Dr. Spencer was tasked with developing the Liberty University Online Academy, a K-12 online program, which has grown to over 5,000 students nationwide and into more than 25 foreign countries. His most recent position at Liberty University was Vice Provost over this online program. Dr. Spencer and his wife Freda of 36 years have four adult children and eight grandchildren. At HBU, Dr. Spencer will serve as Associate Vice President for Digital/ Online Operations.

In 2014, Dr. Robert B. Sloan appointed a task force with the sole purpose of exploring HBU’s potential in the digital realm. Though HBU had multiple courses and degrees online, this task force developed a business plan outlining how HBU could duplicate all of its more than 1,000 residential courses and design new academic programs into online courses, enrolling thousands of students. In fall 2016, Mrs. Pinky Pampell donated $5 million to HBU for the digital online expansion. With the help of other generous donors, Houston Baptist University has the funds to fully expand our digital online presence. Welcoming Dr. Steven Peterson and Dr. Jay Spencer is a monumental step toward fulfilling the Ten Pillars and achieving the visionary goal of the University’s national and international branding and recruitment, which will result in increasing the number of students who benefit from HBU’s notable academia.

For more information, contact Clay Porter.