Established in Lakeland, Florida in 1935 as the Alabama Shield of Faith Institute, Southeastern University became a liberal arts college in 1970 and was accredited as a university in 2005.
A private, Christian university, Southeastern is the largest of the education institutions attached to the US Pentecostal church group, Assemblies of God. It operates at over 80 extension sites across the US.
With a roll of around 7,000 students, Southeastern’s main site offers undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees over departments of: arts and media, behavioral and social sciences, business and entrepreneurial leadership; education; ministry and theology; natural health and sciences.
Among some of the notable facilities offered by Southeastern is the Buena Vida, a 125,000 sqft Live/Learn facility that includes classrooms, faculty offices, student housing, a Choral and Rehearsal Hall and a food court.
Another notable fact about the Southeastern campus is that it houses the annual National Leadership Forum. The forum provides leadership training across the academic, business, and church communities, and has hosted speakers including: George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Joyce Meyer, Colin L. Powell, Jeb Bush, Sarah Palin, and Condoleezza Rice.
Meanwhile, students can participate in leadership programmes too, as well as a debate programme, spiritual activities, intramural sports and college athletics, arts pursuits, and various social events designed to help both students and staff integrate.
Notable Southeastern alumni include: sports anchor Kristen Ledlow; Christian rapper KJ-52; politician Melony Bell; soccer star Gerritson Craane; baseball star Dee Gordon and Christian musicians Bryan Duncan and Seth Ready.
