LaVeda Carter's Leadership, Long Tenure Celebrated at Retirement

CUI’s longest-serving employee retired last fall and was given the 2021 Servant Leadership Award. LaVeda Carter, who held many positions and was the quiet, driving engine behind events such as the 群星晚会, 基督学院/肯考迪娅 University Irvine for more than 40 years, as one of its first employees.

“LaVeda was t在这里 when I came in 1978,” says longtime 校董会 成员，保罗·施罗德. “One of our favorite stories was when a friend of our family, 雷格林, popped by my office in 1978 and said, “保罗, we’ve been looking for some younger guys for the 校董会. Would you consider going on our board?’ I said, ‘Let me think about it.那是在一个星期一. 在周五, I got a letter in the mail from LaVeda saying, ‘Thank you for joining the 校董会. 你的第一次会议是……”

42年后, Schroeder continues to serve on the board and has been the chairman of the Investment committee for many years.

“LaVeda is an inspirational person,” he says. “She took on lots of problems, developed support for the college, and fundraisers. She started as the secretary for Dr. Manske, the first president, and she was always very faithful and hardworking.”

基督学院 “founding five” member Dale Hartmann recalls that LaVeda “was working for the [LCMS Pacific Southwest] district when Charles Manske went up t在这里 and stole her out of that position. She had so many jobs at Irvine. 雷茎, 肯考迪娅’s second president, 过去常说, “给拉维达一份工作, 不管是什么, 她能做到.’”

蒂姆Jaeger, 肯考迪娅 Vice President for University Advancement, Marketing and Communications, worked with LaVeda for 22 years.

“Her tireless commitment to the mission of 肯考迪娅 University Irvine was driven by her commitment to God’s calling in her life,” he said at a recent ceremony to honor her. “LaVeda served in many ways, from her early roles with the Foundation, to serving as a resident counselor with her husband, 特里, to director of public relations, and a host of other titles. She has been the foundation of the Foundation.”

Her vision for many special events she led throughout the years, including the 群星晚会, 草地音乐会, and Women’s 信仰 and 朋友hip 连接ions, “inspired the countless volunteers, 捐助者, friends and staff who delighted in her presence and her leadership,耶格说。. “Many marvel at how well-organized the events are. So much of that has been due to one person — LaVeda.”

Her motivation was the knowledge that her efforts assisted students to find their vocation and receive a Christ-centered education.

Schroeder agrees that Carter has been “the power behind the Gala each year, 协调每个人, getting people to make contributions.”

琳达的朋友, in video remarks shown at the award ceremony, 说,, “在拉维达的指导下, 晚会很有创意, musical and successful for many years. Her heartfelt generosity enriches the lives of all those who know her. She gives so much but asks for so little, and I’m proud to call her my friend.”

在领奖时, LaVeda说, “For those of you who know me well, you know that my being up 在这里 is out of my comfort zone. I enjoy being in the back of the room, or behind the stage telling Tim it’s time to start, or in the kitchen checking on the food. I am humbled and honored by this award.”

She recalled working with CUI’s first four presidents, and being part of the 就职活动 for the fifth president, Dr. 迈克尔·托马斯。.

“Not everyone in life has had a wonderful staff to work with like I have,” she said. “God has blessed me beyond measure.”

Over the years, Carter also served as a church organist. “When my daughter was five years old, LaVeda was the organist at our church in Irvine,施罗德回忆道. “My daughter would sit on the bench with her and watch her play.”

Jaeger said Carter “cherishes her role as wife, daughter, sister and aunt. For me, she has been a wise mentor, a trusted confidant, a tremendous example and a dear friend.”

在崔, 对于four-plus-decades, she has been “a true servant- leader… Her motivation was not praise or recognition, but the knowledge that her efforts assisted students to find their vocation and receive a Christ-centered education.”