Vanguard names new president

Vanguard University has named a new president, appointing its dean of spiritual formation, Michael Beals, to fill the position that had been vacant since June.

Beals will be the university’s 10th president, following Carol Taylor who left the college to take a job as president-elect of Evangel University, another Christian college, in Springfield, Mo.

Vanguard formed a presidential search committee in March and announced Wednesday that it had settled on Beals, according to a news release from the Costa Mesa college.

“The journey of identifying the 10th president of Vanguard University was one that required the entire Vanguard University community to exercise patience and trust in each other and in the process itself,” David Oddo, board of trustees chairman and head of the search committee, said in a prepared statement.

Beals earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in church leadership from Vanguard in 1981 and 1994, respectively.

He earned a second master’s degree in biblical studies and theology and a PhD in Christian ethics, both from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1994 and 2002, respectively.

Beals started teaching at Vanguard as an adjunct faculty member in 1991 and advanced to assistant professor of philosophical theology and Christian ethics in 2005.

“Dr. Beal’s rich journey with Vanguard is evidence of his ability and willingness to serve its constituents in the highest capacity,” Oddo said. “Under Dr. Beal’s leadership, I have no doubt that Vanguard University will continue to grow as a leader in Christian higher education.”