Dean’s Message

Welcome to the School of Business at Howard Payne University.

My name is Dr. Matthew Earnhardt, and I am honored to serve as Dean of the School of Business.

I am grateful you are taking time to learn more about our school, our faculty, our programs, and the students we are blessed to serve. Whether you are a prospective student exploring HPU for the first time, a current student working toward your goals, a parent praying over your child’s future, an employer looking for capable graduates, or an alumnus who continues to care deeply about this university, I am glad you are here.
On my first day on campus, I walked through the HPU bookstore and saw a shirt that said, “Howard Payne University: where everybody is somebody.” That phrase stayed with me. It says something important about this university. It also says something important about the kind of School of Business we want to be.

At Howard Payne, students are not just numbers, majors, or names on a roster. Each student is a person with a story, a calling, individual goals, and a future that matters. In the School of Business, we want students to be known personally, encouraged along the way, and prepared to take meaningful next steps after graduation.

Our mission is to prepare career-ready, faith-formed business graduates who are known personally, grounded ethically, prepared professionally, and connected to employer and community needs. That mission is not just a statement on a page. It shapes the way we think about teaching, advising, mentoring, and preparing students for the opportunities ahead of them.

We want our students to be ready for the workplace. We want them to graduate with the knowledge, confidence, communication skills, practical ability, and professional judgment to step into a job and contribute from day one. That kind of preparation does not happen by accident. It happens through strong teaching, real-world examples, applied projects, meaningful conversations, internships, professional connections, and faculty who take the time to know and guide their students.

But business education at Howard Payne is about more than preparing students for a first job. It is about preparing students for a life of purpose. We want our graduates to think clearly, ask good questions, evaluate information carefully, solve problems wisely, and make decisions with integrity. We want them to understand that business can be a way to serve others, strengthen organizations, support families, create opportunity, care for communities, and contribute to society in powerful and lasting ways.

That is one of the reasons I believe the School of Business fits so naturally within the mission of Howard Payne University. As a Christ-centered academic community, HPU is committed to developing the whole person. In the School of Business, that means we care about what students know, what they can do, and who they are becoming. We want students to grow academically, professionally, personally, and spiritually.

Our faculty make that possible. Students in the School of Business learn from an experienced and dedicated group of faculty members who bring professional knowledge and practical insight into the classroom. They understand business beyond the textbook, and they care deeply about helping students connect what they learn in class to the decisions, challenges, and opportunities they will face after graduation. Just as important, they invest in students as people. They teach, mentor, challenge, encourage, and walk alongside students as they prepare for what comes next.
We are also working to deepen our relationships with alumni, employers, entrepreneurs, and community partners. We want students to encounter the business world while they are still at HPU, not only after they leave. We want them to see what is possible, build meaningful relationships, gain experience, and graduate with a clearer sense of where they can go next, whether that means a career, graduate school, entrepreneurship, service, or another calling.

Howard Payne has a unique opportunity to serve rural and regional communities across Texas and beyond. Our students may go anywhere, but we want them to understand the needs of small businesses, family businesses, nonprofits, public organizations, and growing employers in the communities they serve. We believe students can receive an education that is both professionally relevant and deeply connected to people and place.

Whether you are just beginning to consider Howard Payne or already feel this is where you belong, we would be honored to help you take the next step.

With Gratitude,
Matthew

Matthew P. Earnhardt, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Business
Howard Payne University
mearnhardt@hputx.edu