Blair Schroeder named vice president for advancement and external affairs at ACU

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Blair Schroeder has been named vice president for advancement and external affairs at Abilene Christian University, with the appointment taking effect October 13.

Since joining ACU in 2021, Schroeder has held key leadership roles, first as Chief Planning Officer and later as Chief Strategy Officer. During the 2022-23 academic year, he also served as interim vice president for marketing and communications.

With this leadership transition, the university’s Advancement division is expanding its scope. In addition to overseeing fundraising, alumni relations, and university events, the division will now include strategic communications as well as government and community relations.

“This role represents an important step forward,” said ACU President Dr. Phil Schubert. “This expanded model will allow us to tell our story with greater impact, strengthen alumni and donor engagement, and build even stronger relationships with community and government partners.”

Schroeder brings close to two decades of experience spanning higher education, business, public affairs, and communications. Before his time at ACU, he held leadership positions at Duke Energy and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio. He was also named one of Cincinnati’s “Great Leaders in Business Under 40.” Earlier in his career, he worked as a district director in the U.S. Congress, overseeing district operations and constituent services.

An alumnus of Lipscomb University and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Schroeder has played a significant role in ACU’s recent initiatives.

“Since joining ACU in 2021, Blair has provided invaluable leadership in advancing our strategic plan and strengthening university partnerships,” Schubert said. “His efforts were instrumental in ACU’s success during the last Texas legislative session, helping secure more than $100 million in support of the NEXT Lab research initiative. I’m thrilled to see him step into this expanded role where he will help advance our mission and continue building relationships.”