When Wyatt Henry first arrived at Houston Christian University (HCU) in 2020, his trajectory seemed clear: international business degree, law school, corporate ladder, corner office. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find him in rural northwest Ohio, splitting his time between running an intensive entrepreneurship program and traveling to 31 states a year for one of the country’s fastest-growing billboard companies.
It’s not the path he expected. But it’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.
A homeschooled kid from Houston, Wyatt describes his younger self as independent, analytical and curious about the world beyond his immediate surroundings. Those traits led him to HCU’s Honors College, where the promise of “small class sizes, rigorous core coursework and meaningful mentorship” aligned perfectly with what he was seeking.
As a commuter who worked all four years, Wyatt’s campus experience was grounded in the essentials: classes, coffee with professors, study sessions with friends in Atwood I or soaking in the Houston weather in front of Hinton Center.
“I really appreciated the pace and scale of the campus,” he reflects. “It was small enough to foster genuine relationships and constant familiarity, yet large enough that I was always running into people.”
That balance became the backdrop for transformative education. Wyatt lights up when discussing some of his favorite courses, Honors College Socratic Seminars, Managing the Global Enterprise, Power and Negotiation and the Legal Environment of Business.
“Each of them challenged the way I thought and pushed me to engage deeply with complex ideas,” shared Wyatt.
But beyond courses, the HCU alum credits Dunham College of Business and a long list of faculty members, including Dr. Ewest, Dr. Keiffer, Dr. Brooks and Dean Rome, for defining his HCU experience.
“Their investment in students and commitment to teaching are what made my time at HCU so meaningful.”
Wyatt graduated from HCU with a BBA in International Business in 2024.
Today, he serves as Chief of Staff at Atlas Institute, an entrepreneurship and executive leadership training program. Through the program, residents participate in intensive reading and writing, travel across the country, meet business owners, shadow executive leadership and pitch new business ideas on a weekly basis.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Christian business leaders,” Wyatt shares.
The HCU alum handles everything from recruiting residents to curriculum planning to fundraising—classic generalist work that suits him perfectly.
Simultaneously, he’s the Administrative Manager at Huntington Billboards, a role that keeps him perpetually in motion. Last year, he spent 119 days on the road, traveling with the executive team and assisting with acquisition due diligence.
“It has been an incredible opportunity early in my career, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust and responsibility I’ve been given.”
Instead of the conventional route, he opted for something far less structured and more ambiguous early on, a decision that required risk, adaptability and a willingness to learn quickly, but has proven incredibly rewarding.
“I always knew I would pursue work that demanded significant effort and responsibility,” he admits. “What I didn’t expect was how that work would take shape.”
In addition to the Dunham College of Business, Wyatt credits The Honors College, Dr. Gary Hartenburg and Dr. Chris Hammons for preparing him for this unconventional journey.
“The literature, mentorship and friendships fundamentally influenced how I think and approach the world. Their generosity with time, wisdom and honest guidance helped me learn how to think carefully through decisions and long-term trajectories, a skill I continue to rely on.”
For someone juggling two high-intensity roles, Wyatt’s definition of success is to faithfully follow the will of the Lord, a metric that hasn’t changed since his student days and shows no signs of shifting.
“Success is less about external markers and more about finishing the race in front of me with faithfulness and integrity.”