After more than a decade away from college, Shannon Tippens has returned to ACU with a renewed sense of purpose and deep-rooted passion for ministry. Needless to say, her path back to the classroom has been anything but traditional. Marked by perseverance through life’s many challenges, Shannon has accomplished a whirlwind of life goals and accomplishments, including marrying her ACU sweetheart, becoming a mother and remaining devoted to her community and faith. And yet, through every season, her heart never strayed far from ACU, a place that always felt like home. Today, Shannon is completing her online B.S. in Christian Ministry and Spiritual Formation, answering a lifelong calling to serve others more deeply. Her commitment is not only to her academic growth, but also to preparing for a life of service in her church and the Abilene community. With her husband, Dr. Kyle Tippens, associate professor in the Dukes School of Finance, by her side, Shannon’s journey reflects the spirit of resilience, faith and devotion that ACU seeks to foster in its students. Her story is a powerful testament to the impact of returning to your roots and stepping boldly into your calling, no matter how long the journey takes.
From Coast to Coast
Born in 1971, alongside the coastal bays of Corpus Christi, Shannon grew up like any normal kid, except for one thing: she had some learning difficulties. Unsure what they were, or how to overcome them, she remembers wanting to learn but felt defeated time and time again. Struggling to get from high school to college, Shannon decided she needed to find a school that could accept her, even with her less-than-stellar grades. After touring ACU in the early 1990s, Shannon felt called to apply – and she got in! Excited and ready to start, there was still one condition: she needed to retake some classes, which was less than ideal. Still, she persisted.
“Around this time, there weren’t any real conversations about accommodations for people with learning disabilities,” Shannon said. “ACU did the best they could, but it was still a challenge.”
After enduring classes and enjoying her time meeting friends and even her husband, Shannon decided she needed to take a step back. Picking herself up, Shannon turned her efforts to other things she valued, like starting a family, caring for her husband and finding community in little and small ways. Early in her marriage, the Tippen’s moved around the world quite a bit. And though she enjoyed every second of it, it made her chances of returning to school even more challenging.
“We’ve moved all over the world,” Shannon explains. “We lived in Germany, New Zealand and everywhere in between. I even had my oldest in New Zealand. Basically, life just happened.”
Fast forward nearly a decade, and Shannon found herself again at ACU. Having her husband accept a job as an associate professor within the College of Business Administration, Shannon felt something stirring inside of her. She felt like maybe this was all a part of God’s plan, to return to where she started it all.
Always A Wildcat
Regardless of whether she was in school or not, Shannon always found a way to keep herself busy. Whether she was volunteering at church, mentoring people or simply caring for her family, she knew she had so much to give. And then, it hit her. Her youngest child was graduating from high school; the empty nest stage was about to commence. Thinking to herself, “What am I going to do?” Shannon dusted off her old transcript and began to cry. Her memories of wanting to graduate had returned and now she was faced with a decision.
“That was kind of hard because I hadn’t looked at that in like 30 years,” Shannon said. “It was very shameful. I just looked at it and had to get over that hump and deal with it. Then, I just asked myself what I was going to do from here.”
The answer was simple: she was going back to school. Only this time, it was going to be online. Timid and yet curious about what online education would look like, Shannon reached out and was paired up with an advisor who helped her every step of the way; every phone call, email and text pushed her closer to enrolling.
“[My advisor] kept staying on me,” Shannon said. “He even told me, ‘Hey, you know you can say ‘back off.” And I told him, ‘No, I need you to keep pushing me,’ and so he did. I am so thankful for that because it pushed me to finally just sign up and start.”
Today, Shannon is currently pursuing her senior year in the online B.S. in Christian Ministry and Spiritual Formation. Looking for the perfect blend to equip herself for more active leadership within her local church and to impact her broader community, Shannon said what drew her to this degree was its deep alignment with both her personal faith and her vocational calling; a degree that not only had theological depth but also gave her the practical tools for real-world ministry.
All in all, Shannon’s academic journey has become more than an educational pursuit; it is now part of her testimony. As a wife, mother and returning student, she stands as a powerful example for women who left school early but feel a pull to return. Dreaming to encourage more women to pursue their degrees, her story speaks directly to those who wonder if it’s ever too late to chase a dream or fulfill a calling. Her determination and faith have paved a new path, not just for her, but for others who may be walking a similar road.
Has Shannon’s story stirred something within you? If Shannon’s story resonates with you, our team would love to hear from you. Visit our website and get started with an advisor today.
