Livingstone College

SALISBURY — Pete Teague has been appointed as special assistant to the president for community development by Livingstone College President Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr.

As a 34-year resident and local leader of Rowan County, Teague is familiar and well invested in the community. He said he intends to leverage his relationships to better tell the Livingstone College story.

“I want to help the community and the region become more aware of Livingstone and its ministry,” Teague said.

Teague began his job in mid-April and will work with institutional advancement, helping with community involvement, government relations and increasing financial support for the college.

A certified public accountant, Teague retired in December as a partner with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP after a 40-year career. For the past nine years, he worked out of the Winston-Salem office. He said he wanted his new position to be local and to “matter” on a different level.

“I’m vested here, so I wanted to do something impactful to make a difference in the community and in people’s lives. I was determined it was going to be some kind of ministry, and I believe I found what I was looking for,” Teague said.

His philosophy of life is, “It’s not about me. God comes first, and then other people. If I didn’t believe God wanted me to be here, I wouldn’t be here. That was non-negotiable.”

Teague has heard numerous times a popular quote by Jenkins: “We want to take students from where they are to where they need to be to command their rightful place in a global society.”

Helping students reach their full potential benefits the students, the families of those students and the entire community, Teague said.

“My perception is that everyone knows Livingstone College is here and what it is, and they may know a little about us, but they are not aware of what our ministry is and how important it is. And that’s the story and awareness that I want to help tell and expand,” he said. “All of this leads to increasing the support — financially and otherwise — for Livingstone in the community and the region.”

Teague grew up in Chatham County outside Siler City but has lived in Rowan County most of his adult life. His two children were born and raised here.

Teague and his wife have two grandchildren.

He and his wife of 37 years, Debbie, are members of First Baptist Church in downtown Salisbury, where Teague teaches Sunday school and leads the Baptist Men’s Ministry — which involves both men’s ministry and missions, local to global. He is a regular participant in mission trips, including Honduras where he has gone annually since 2010.

The men’s ministry meets monthly for music, testimony, prayer and spiritual challenge. Teague is also on the N.C. Baptist statewide men’s ministry team.

His wife is the primary pianist and accompanist for the church and works part time in the church office.

Teague has served on the Habitat for Humanity board since 1997 and was president from 2001 to 2015. He continues to serve on the executive committee. Livingstone College participated in a Habitat build while he was president. He is also a board member of Rowan County Pregnancy Support Center.

He has served multiple terms on the board of directors of the Rowan Chamber of Commerce, including one year as chairman. He was heavily involved in developing the Gateway Building, which houses the offices of the chamber, Tourism Development Authority and Economic Development Commission — of which he is a past board member and chairman.

“We are fortunate to have Mr. Teague join our staff. He is passionate about his calling here and is eager to help grow our support in the community,” Jenkins said.

“I have been overwhelmed by how friendly and welcoming everyone has been, and I mean everyone,” Teague said. “The entire institutional advancement team is tremendous. Also, I am learning quickly what a difference Livingstone has made and continues to make in the lives of so many young people.”