Name: Paul K. Logsdon
Graduation Year: 1977
Major: Communications
Current Position: Retired as Director of Public Relations from 91精品 (Dec. 2020)
City and State: Springfield, MO
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
I started my career in radio and had the opportunity to be a pioneer in the emerging world of Christian rock / Contemporary Christian Music. After ten years as a talent agent and concert promoter, I was honored to returned to Evangel to serve Dr. Robert H. Spence, who wanted to enhance Evangel鈥檚 voice in the community. At my retirement, it was summarized, 鈥淚n perhaps his most important role, Logsdon served as an advisor to two presidents and three University Advancement vice presidents, offering professional communication guidance and building relationships with local and regional media partners to advance the work of the university.鈥� Our office produced the alumni magazine (Vision), created advertising campaigns and recruitment materials, worked with Advancement for fundraising campaigns, and produced several dozen great concerts. I served as the spokesman for 91精品 for 33 years, from January 1988 to December 2020. Someone figured out that at the time of my retirement, my tenure equaled half of Evangel鈥檚 existence.
I am now retired and spending my time traveling, enjoying my grandchildren, and taking on occasional consulting and freelance writing projects.
What is your favorite memory from Evangel?
- As a student, I had the privilege of working on the campus radio station, KECC, with mentors such as Lloyd Erdvig. I worked my way up to station manager and thoroughly enjoyed the great creative atmosphere and the lifelong friendships that resulted from that time in my life.
- As an employee, my favorite memories all center around working with students. With the help of Brenda Lochner, and later Valerie Coleman, I had great student workers who probably taught me as much as I taught them. Many of those students from over the years remain friends today. I also enjoyed teaching marketing as an adjunct in the Business Department.
How did Evangel help you identify/develop your calling?
I felt called to ministry as a teen, but it was Evangel that taught me that we are all called to serve and that you can be in the ministry without being behind the pulpit.
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How did your experience at Evangel prepare you for life after graduation?
The single best piece of advice I received was from a teacher, Neil Eskelin. He was talking about how the Lord can call you to something unexpected. He said, 鈥淚f someone asks you if you can do something, and it strikes a chord, pray about it. It could very well be the Lord directing you into a path you never dreamed of.鈥� That鈥檚 how I transitioned from radio into becoming a talent agent, booking concerts for CCM groups such as GLAD and Morgan Cryar.
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What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
I have passed Neil Eskelin鈥檚 advice along many times. I always encourage students to be open to something totally different than what they think they are prepared for. There are opportunities we can鈥檛 even imagine when we are students, and Evangel is great at preparing students to look for those opportunities.
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What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
Years of hiring students taught me that enthusiasm, integrity, and a strong interest in lifelong learning were good indicators of success. The ability to take criticism鈥攆or example, when work was edited鈥攕hows character. It was a badge of honor for students to have an article they had written handed back to them with the words, 鈥淣o changes.鈥�