University President: 2006 – Present Dr. Robert B. Sloan is the president of Houston Christian University and has served in this capacity since September 1, 2006. Under Dr. Sloan’s visionary leadership, the University has experienced unprecedented growth as he and his administrative team continue to implement the goals, or pillars, that began with HCU’s twelve-year vision, The Ten Pillars: Faith and Reason in a Great City, which brought the University through 2020 and continues with The Ten Pillars 2030. In the fall of 2025, the University welcomed 954 first-time freshmen, representing a dramatic 36 percent increase over last year’s incoming class, and enrolled a record-breaking 4,693 students across all residential and online programs, the highest total enrollment in HCU’s history. Overall, the University’s enrollment has increased 119 percent under Dr. Sloan’s leadership. As reported by Dr. Sloan, many factors are responsible for this growth, but the most important are the University’s faithfulness to its historic Christian mission—preparing students for lives of purpose and service in the name of Christ—and HCU’s rigorous pursuit of the goals in its Institutional Strategic Plan, as aligned with the Christian worldview and the Ten Core Convictions in the current vision document. As a result of a multi-year study regarding its name, in September of 2022 the institution announced a well-received change from Houston Baptist University to Houston Christian University. In conjunction with the name change, the branding initiative underway on the campus and beyond is designed to clarify and define the identity of the institution and provide opportunities for growth in enrollment, awareness, and reputation. HCU’s emphasis on providing a Christian education of the highest quality has become increasingly visible through numerous recent developments, including the University’s ranking among the Best Colleges in Texas by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. In addition, the institution continues to experience significant growth in its faculty of acclaimed Christian scholars, as well as in its academic programming. In the fall of 2016, HCU founded the Houston Theological Seminary and also launched its first doctoral program, the EdD in Executive Educational Leadership, thus moving to the next level as a national, comprehensive university. Other graduate degree programs implemented during Dr. Sloan’s tenure include the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Apologetics, Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Human Services, Master of Science in Nursing, Professional Sciences Master’s in Health Professions, Master of Science in Kinesiology-Sports Management, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Master of Science in Leadership, and numerous others. Graduate programs launched this fall include the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, the Professional Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance, Professional Master of Business Administration in Business Data Analytics, Professional Master of Business Administration in Management, Master of Science in Human Resources Management-People Analytics, Master of International Business, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, and Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences. Programs for undergraduates implemented during Dr. Sloan’s tenure include the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Video Game Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, Bachelor of Science in Learning, Technology and Design, and Bachelor of Social Work, as well as many others. Two new programs for this fall include the Bachelor of Arts in Classical Christian Education and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science. Other significant changes include the formation of the College of Science and Engineering in 2019 via a merger of the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Engineering; the addition of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin), HCU’s fourth doctoral program, in the fall of 2022; and the ongoing expansion of offerings in HCU’s Pampell Online Division, which continues to grow in enrollment. Additional changes to the undergraduate academic program include the launching of an Honors College and the implementation of a strong interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Core Curriculum designed to engage undergraduates with the greatest thinkers, authors, and artists in Western Civilization. As its visibility increases, the Honors College continues to attract outstanding students interested in a quality education that promotes a Christian worldview. During Dr. Sloan’s tenure, the University has announced major gifts from HCU’s dedicated friends and supporters. Well-known Christian business executive Archie W. Dunham and his wife, Linda, have made historic gifts to the University to recognize the outstanding impact of Dr. Sloan’s leadership. These gifts have been designated for funding scholarships, providing assistance to the Dunham Bible Museum, and the naming of the Archie W. Dunham College of Business and the Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing. In addition, the Dunham Family Nursing Center has been created as a tribute to Linda R. Dunham and the nursing community. A generous gift from Dr. Stewart Morris and The Joella and Stewart Morris Foundation established The Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty and funded construction of a complex of buildings, including the centerpiece modeled after Independence Hall. With this gift, Founding Father Stewart Morris and The Morris Foundation are recognized as the largest lifetime donor to the University. This new complex officially opened with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on September 15, 2022, with Dr. Morris and his family, as well as community leaders and other guests, in attendance. Construction of the final building in the Center, Founders Hall II, was completed in the spring of 2025, representing another exciting development for the University this year. Another major gift, from Advisory Trustee Jim Smith Sr. and his wife, Sherry, is funding the construction of new classroom space and laboratory facilities to be used by the College of Science and Engineering and the School of Nursing. The new building will be named in honor of the Smiths, who have a long family history of supporting HCU and its mission. This is the largest single gift in the history of the University. The University celebrated the groundbreaking for the Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building on April 8, 2025, with Sherry and Jim Smith, members of the Dunham family, community leaders, and other guests in attendance. Houston Mayor John Whitmire delivered special remarks. With completion slated for the fall of 2026, this new building will provide much-needed space for HCU’s growing population of students preparing for careers in high-demand STEM fields—students who will benefit the Houston community and its workforce needs for years to come. Beginning in the fall of 2024, a generous gift from an anonymous donor is funding full-tuition Grace Hopper Scholarships for new qualifying freshman and transfer students pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Cyber Engineering, Cybersecurity, Electrical Engineering, Information Systems, or Mathematics. This financial support is dramatically increasing the growth of HCU’s College of Science and Engineering, which this fall saw a doubling of enrollment for the second year in a row. Other factors contributing to the University’s growth and increasing visibility during Dr. Sloan’s tenure include HCU’s return to full membership status in Division I of the NCAA; the decision to join the Southland Conference and play football; the construction of Dunham Field and Husky Stadium; ongoing implementation of HCU’s master plan through its US Highway 59 and Fondren project involving the construction of Belin Tower and Belin Drive, as well as a retail development called The Pillars at HCU; the acquisition of the Bradshaw Fitness Center and the construction of the University Academic Center and the imposing six-story residence facility called the Sadie and Doug Hodo Residence College; the steady growth of HCU’s on-campus residential population; and the implementation of various student life initiatives to promote student success, including the creation of the Doris and Terry Looper Learning Commons. Most recently, Dr. Sloan announced the acquisition of University Place, a residential complex adjacent to the campus, which will serve as additional student housing. All these developments—and many still to come, including plans for new doctoral programs and the expansion of campus facilities—reflect the work of Dr. Sloan and his administrative team in implementing HCU’s vision goals. Dr. Sloan serves on the Board of Directors of the Houston Symphony, the Greater Houston Partnership, and the Cullen Trust for Higher Education. He also serves on the Community Relations Committee of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. Dr. Sloan has pastored churches throughout Texas and beyond. He is the author of numerous articles, reviews, and other published works, including the first four volumes of a young adult fantasy series (the Hamelin Stoop books), 2016-2023. He has received many prestigious awards and has held membership in a number of professional societies, including the Society of Biblical Literature, the Southwest Biblical Seminar, the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, and Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. Dr. Sloan previously served as the president and chancellor of Baylor University, where he was a member of the faculty and the founding dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in 1970; earned the Master of Divinity degree magna cum laude from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1973; conducted post-baccalaureate research at the University of Bristol, England, from 1973 to 1974; and earned the Doktor der Theologie insigni cum laude from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1978. Dr. Robert B. Sloan was born in Coleman, Texas, and grew up in Abilene. He is married to the former Sue Collier of Cisco, Texas. The Sloans have seven children, three daughters-in-law, and four sons-in-law: Charissa and Derrick; Bryan and Amy; Eraina and Bryan; Michael and Ali; Alathea and Justin; Sophie and Mac; and Paul and Meghan. They also have twenty-five grandchildren. Dr. Sloan blogs regularly about a variety of topics, including the Christian worldview and higher education. Visit Dr. Sloan’s website.
