SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ABP) -- René Maciel will become the seventh president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio, Texas.

Maciel, 48, currently serves as assistant dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He joined the Waco, Texas, school in 1999 and will assume his new role Aug. 6.

Teo Cisneros, chairman of the presidential search committee, called the change “a strategic step in bringing a true institution-builder to the helm of BUA….” Cisneros also called Maciel “a visionary and innovative leader.”

Paul Powell, one of Maciel's mentors and a retiring dean at Truett, agreed.

“I do not think BUA could have made a better choice for its new president than René Maciel,” he said. “We have worked side-by-side for the past six-and-a-half years in what has been a wonderful relationship. I have never worked with a more committed, capable and cooperative person than René.”

Maciel's move comes at a historic time at the San Antonio school, with a new, 80-acre campus currently under construction. Enrollment numbers are also increasing -- as an affiliate institution of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, BUA has trained three out of four Hispanic Baptist ministers in Texas, according to school officials.

Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, said Maciel will work well at the Baptist university.

“This school has a very special place in the hearts of Texas Baptists,” Wade said.

Maciel said he looks forward to helping Hispanic students who “are being called as never before to serve the world.”

“I really see BUA being a great resource for the BGCT in helping our churches better minister to the diversity of cultures in their own communities, along with preparing them for global missions in the border region, Latin America and around the world,” Maciel said.

Prior to his job at Truett Seminary, Maciel worked at Hardin-Simmons University and the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home. He majored in religion at Hardin-Simmons University and received a master's degree in education from Baylor.

Maciel's wife, Sabrina, is a licensed speech pathologist. They have two daughters.

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