Dr. Ben Bruce as New Senior Vice President of Advancement
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Christian University (ACU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ben Bruce as its new Senior Vice President of Advancement. Bringing nearly three decades of transformative leadership experience in higher education advancement, fundraising, alumni engagement, and strategic communications, Dr. Bruce will spearhead the university’s philanthropic initiatives and community-backed growth.
“My family and I are deeply grateful for the opportunity to join the ACU family, knowing this role is not just another professional milestone, but a response to God’s distinct calling on our lives,” said Dr. Ben Bruce. “Arizona Christian University stands as a unique beacon of unwavering commitment to biblical truth, worldview development, and conservative values. It is a profound honor to step into this position, and I look forward to walking alongside the alumni, friends, families, and supporters who love this university to advance our shared mission and help equip our students to transform the culture for the glory of God.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Bruce has focused on strengthening Christian universities by building enduring, mission-focused relationships with alumni, donors, and organizational stakeholders. Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, he has successfully directed multiple high-impact fundraising campaigns, expanded major donor bases, and elevated university development, public relations, and planned giving initiatives across several institutions.
“Dr. Bruce has an extraordinary track record and we are thrilled with his alignment and passion for ACU’s unique vision to transform culture with biblical truth,” said ACU President Len Munsil. “He has the right experience and is coming to ACU at the right time to help fuel our next stage of extraordinary growth and Kingdom influence.”
Most recently, Dr. Bruce served as Vice President for University Advancement at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. Prior to his time at Shorter, Dr. Bruce was Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the AIDB Foundation for the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Dr. Bruce also served as Vice President for University Advancement at Faulkner University.
Dr. Bruce’s leadership philosophy is heavily backed by an exceptional academic foundation. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organizational Leadership from Johnson University, where his doctoral research focused explicitly on philanthropic leadership and strengthening mission-driven organizations. He also earned both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Liberty University, a Master of Ministry and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Freed-Hardeman University, and an Associate of Arts from Western Oklahoma State College.
In his new role as Senior Vice President of Advancement, Dr. Bruce will provide strategic oversight for ACU’s comprehensive fundraising operations, donor relations, alumni engagement, and advancement services. These combined efforts are designed to strategically support Arizona Christian University’s continued physical and academic expansion, reinforcing its core mission of equipping students to transform culture with truth.
Dr. Bruce and his wife, Dr. Shelly Bruce, who holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Chemistry Education from the University of Memphis, are the proud parents of six children. Together, they look forward to fully integrating into the vibrant Arizona Christian University and greater Phoenix communities.
