Hardin-Simmons University Welcomes Jason Tolbert as Vice President for Finance

Hardin-Simmons University is pleased to welcome Jason Tolbert as its new Vice President for Finance, bringing more than two decades of experience in financial leadership, stewardship, and Christian higher education to the university.

Tolbert joins HSU after serving for the past 11 years as Vice President for Finance at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Prior to that, he spent 11 years managing endowments for Arkansas Baptists, helping institutions steward resources to advance their missions.

A native of Arkansas, Tolbert is eager to return to West Texas, a region he fondly remembers from his childhood.

“I loved West Texas then, and I can’t wait to be back in Cowboy country,” Tolbert said. “My family and I are grateful for the warm welcome we have already received, and we can’t wait to call Abilene home.”

Tolbert and his wife, Gina, who also works in higher education, have two sons: Luke, a college senior, and John, a high school senior.

Although he initially earned a degree in history, Tolbert discovered a passion for finance during his senior year of college.

“I realized that this was an area where the Lord had gifted me,” he said. “I went back to school, earned my MBA and CPA, and initially went into public accounting.”

His path into higher education began through his work at the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, where he managed endowments for several Baptist institutions. That experience ultimately led him to Christian higher education leadership, where he discovered a calling that combined his professional expertise with his faith.

“I grew up wanting to be a preacher like my dad, but I eventually realized that wasn’t my calling,” Tolbert said. “I found my calling in Christian higher education, where the Lord has allowed me to use my accounting and financial skills to serve Him.”

As Vice President for Finance, Tolbert will oversee the university’s financial operations and help advance HSU’s mission through faithful stewardship and strategic planning.

“I love helping university leaders make wise decisions about how to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us,” he said. “One of my favorite parts of the job is occasionally teaching personal finance classes. I love working with students and seeing the difference Christian higher education can make in their lives.”

Tolbert said he was drawn to Hardin-Simmons through conversations about the university’s future and its leadership.

“I saw President Bruntmyer’s vision for Hardin-Simmons and became excited about the opportunity to be part of what God is doing in Abilene,” Tolbert said.

That enthusiasm only grew after visiting campus with his wife.

“My wife and I visited campus for the first football game this year, and we absolutely fell in love with the people,” he said. “Hardin-Simmons is one of the most welcoming places I have ever visited. We instantly felt at home, and we knew this was where God was leading our family.”

As he begins his role, Tolbert is eager to become part of the HSU community and contribute to the university’s continued momentum.

“Hardin-Simmons is making a tremendous impact for Christ throughout the Big Country,” he said, “and I cannot wait to be part of what God is doing through Hardin-Simmons University.”

For Tolbert, the most rewarding aspect of higher education is the people.

“The faculty and staff serve with a higher calling,” he said. “It is not just a job for us; it is ministry. The students bring so much excitement and energy to campus. They are why we are here, and they remind us every day of the importance of our work.”

Outside of work, Tolbert enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family, and caring for the family’s Goldendoodle, Cooper. A self-described history enthusiast, he admits that visits to museums and historic sites often take longer than expected.

“I am a huge history buff,” he said. “If I visit a museum or historical site, I have to read every sign.”

As he transitions to Hardin-Simmons, Tolbert says one lesson has guided him throughout his career: trusting God one step at a time.

“The best advice I ever received is to seek the Lord one step at a time,” he said, referencing Psalm 119:105. “God doesn’t always show us the entire road ahead, but He promises to give us enough light to take the next step when we seek Him and remain faithful to His Word.”

And as he joins the Cowboy family, Tolbert is embracing a childhood dream.

“Like almost every kid, I wanted to be a cowboy when I grew up,” he said. “Now I get to become a Hardin-Simmons Cowboy.”

HSU welcomes Jason, Gina, Luke, and John to the Forty Acres and looks forward to the leadership, experience, and commitment to Christian higher education that Tolbert brings to the university community.