When Anderson University’s presidential search committee first reached out to Scott Moats, who has a doctorate in educational policy and administration, he had little interest in even taking the call. After more than three decades in higher education, Moats was prepared to remain at his previous institution until retirement, content to close the chapter on a long and accomplished career.
“I thought I had done everything I was supposed to do,” Moats recalled. “I was planning to ride out the next few years and then just slip quietly into retirement.”
But a colleague named Brian was persistent. He called once, then again, urging Moats to at least consider the opportunity in Anderson. “At first, I said no,” Moats admitted with a laugh. “Then Brian asked me just to take a look, maybe send in a résumé and have a conversation with the committee.”
That reluctant “yes” opened the door to something unexpected. The search committee explained the challenges Anderson University faced, from enrollment pressures to deferred maintenance on campus. The more he listened, the more he realized that his background might match what the school needed.
His wife, Cheryl, joined him for a visit to Anderson, and when they boarded the plane home, she looked at him and said words he didn’t expect: “I think God is calling us here.”
Moats’ response was almost instinctive. “You’ve got to be joking with me,” he told her. Before the trip, the couple had made a pact — even if a job offer were made, they would not feel pressured to accept. But as they prayed about it, what once seemed unlikely began to feel inevitable. Doors opened, obstacles fell away, and within months, Scott Moats, who once resisted the idea, was installed as Anderson University’s sixth president.
A Mission to “Rise Up and Build”
From the very beginning, Moats has described his work at Anderson in one phrase: “rise up and build,” a phrase taken from the Bible verse Nehemiah 2:18. For him, leadership is about more than overseeing budgets or approving curriculum. It is about renewing the university’s original vision — to create a Christ-centered environment where faith and education intersect, and where the Holy Spirit transforms lives.
This mission, he explained, will not be confined to a single academic year but will shape the entirety of his presidency. At the center of his approach is what he calls the “Faithful Campus” model — seven building blocks that together spell out the word CAMPUS.
- Faith Foundation (F): “We’re returning to the rock,” Moats told faculty and staff during the opening session of the academic year. “This institution was built on prayer and dedication to the service of the Lord. That’s our bedrock.”
- Clear, Compelling Communication (C): Transparency, he emphasized, is essential. Students, faculty, staff, and alums must know where the university is headed and how it plans to get there.
- Aligned Programming (A): Programs must be responsive to cultural and market realities. Some outdated majors may be retired, while new programs will be developed to meet the evolving needs of students.
- Mission-Driven Stewardship (M): “I am tired of saying what we don’t have,” Moats said. “We need to steward what we do have.” That means aligning expenses with revenue and practicing fiscal discipline.
- Partnerships and Collaboration (P): Moats is seeking alliances with public and private institutions, faith-based schools, local businesses, and the city of Anderson itself. He cited the Ball State–Ivy Tech agreement as a model for the type of partnerships AU is exploring.
- Updated Facilities (U): With aging infrastructure and deferred maintenance, the university must invest in its current buildings, from academic halls to the football stadium, before considering expansion.
- Student Recruitment and Retention (S): Growing enrollment and keeping students through graduation — and even into master’s programs — is a top priority. Moats envisions bridge programs that allow undergraduates to seamlessly continue into graduate studies, shortening time-to-degree while increasing value.
Together, these pillars form the foundation of what Moats hopes will be a revitalized Anderson University — faithful to its heritage yet forward-looking in its mission.
Partnerships that Go Beyond the Classroom
Building a “Faithful Campus” also means looking outward. Moats has already begun meeting with leaders from the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, city officials, local high schools, and neighboring universities. His vision is for Anderson to be a hub of collaboration, encompassing educational, civic, and spiritual aspects.
One key area of outreach is the Church of God, the denomination historically connected with Anderson University. “If in any way, shape, or form the university has lost trust, I want to give people the chance to see that we are here to listen and to partner,” Moats explained.
His visits to local congregations, as well as churches in Indianapolis and beyond, are part of what he views as a “home team” approach — one that starts locally and expands outward. However, his philosophy on partnership is even broader: “We will say yes until we absolutely have to say no.”
That openness extends beyond denominational lines. Recently, Moats reached out to district superintendents of other Christian traditions, signaling his willingness to collaborate. “If ten relationships are formed, maybe six will work out,” he said. “But I’ll never know which six unless I try.”
A Leadership Style of Direction and Care
Asked to describe his leadership style, Moats smiled and admitted he sometimes calls himself a “benevolent dictator.” While the phrase may raise eyebrows, he quickly explained what he meant.
“I care deeply about people,” he said. “But sometimes you need a strong leader to say, ‘Here’s where we’re going.’ People at different levels of the institution may only see a slice of the picture. My role is to help them see the bigger vision.”
That vision comes with a dose of humor. Moats often illustrates his philosophy with a metaphor: “We’re going to Milwaukee. There’s no shame if you don’t want to go to Milwaukee — get off the bus. The shame comes if you stay on the bus and complain the whole way.”
His latest rallying cry — “AU&U” — captures the collaborative spirit he hopes to foster. “The leadership team can’t do this alone,” he said. “But with AU and you — our students, faculty, staff, and alumni — we can.”
Investing in People and Campus Life
For all the talk of financial stewardship and facility upgrades, Moats is clear about Anderson’s greatest asset: its people.
“Hands down, it’s our people,” he said without hesitation. “The gifts God has given them and the way they’ve chosen to use those gifts at Anderson University — that’s our strength.”
He and his wife are determined to be visible, approachable leaders. Just this fall, they welcomed more than 100 students to their home for cookies — 160 in all, baked the day before and handed out on the front porch of Boies House, the president’s home on University Boulevard. Students walking to class were greeted with warm hospitality, and some even pulled their cars over to grab a cookie through the window.
He affectionately refers to Cheryl as “Tigger” — the front porch presence who brings energy and joy to every interaction with his students. “She connects with students in a way that makes our house feel like their home,” he added.
The couple also makes it a priority to attend campus events. From women’s soccer and football games to choir concerts, theater productions, and the Anderson Symphony, they can be found cheering alongside students and faculty. “After 35 years in higher education, there’s not an event we really don’t enjoy,” Moats said.
Shaped by Students, Inspired by Alumni
As much as Moats emphasizes leadership, he is equally clear that students are the heart of Anderson University’s mission. “This whole enterprise rises and falls on our students,” he said. “We have to be responsive to their needs. A static institution that doesn’t change will eventually work itself out of business.”
He also draws inspiration from the thousands of alums who have passed through Anderson’s halls — pastors, lawyers, doctors, business leaders, and especially the vocalists who have left a mark on Christian music.
“From the Gaithers to Steven Curtis Chapman to Sandi Patty, the number of transformational artists who came out of this university is unbelievable,” Moats said. “The alumni of this institution are nothing short of mind-boggling.”
For him, alumni achievements demonstrate what is possible when faith and education intersect — a legacy he is determined to build upon for the next generation of students.
Looking Ahead
As the academic year unfolds, Anderson University’s new president is not content to maintain the status quo. From strategic partnerships to new educational programs, from updated facilities to strengthening ties with local churches, Moats’ agenda is ambitious.
But at its core, his leadership is rooted in a simple conviction: that Anderson University must remain a place where lives are transformed.
“We rise up and build,” Moats said, returning to the phrase that has become his guiding theme. “We continue the legacy of Anderson University, where faith and education intersect — and where the Holy Spirit changes lives.”