Walton Padelford’s journey to Union University started far away from West Tennessee.

“I was working as a missionary in Latin America when God directed my path toward Union and made it clear that this was the place for me,” he recalled.

Padelford worked with Campus Crusade for Christ and lived in Mexico and Bolivia with his wife Katy and their two daughters. He taught at universities in both locations and was involved in evangelism and discipleship. The Padelfords finished their assignment with Campus Crusade in January 1980, and he began teaching at Union that fall.

“Walt Padelford is a picture of faithfulness in all aspects of his life,” said President David S. Dockery. “He is a solid teacher, an encouraging colleague and a true asset to the Union campus.”

As interim dean of the McAfee School of Business Administration, Padelford leads a growing segment of the university academic community. In addition to undergraduate programs, the school offers graduate degrees on both the Jackson and Germantown campuses.

In the classroom, Padelford challenges students to be future-directed by using examples from history.

“I spend at least two days on philosophical background in the social sciences,” Padelford said. “In those lectures, I present something from the Greeks, Medieval Christianity, the Reformation and the Modern Science view. I try to show how changes in presuppositions from classic Christianity have affected the way we view the world in most of the modern university.”

Padelford says he enjoys working with students and seeing them grow both intellectually and spiritually.

“Union has been a great place to work,” he said. “I can see the hand of God working in the lives of students and in my own life. It has been a joy to walk in the will of God here.”