When David Sexauer ’92 arrived at Azusa Pacific University, he could not have imagined where God would lead him. What began as a season of intellectual and spiritual growth became the foundation for a life devoted to leadership, service, and expanding opportunities for others. Through his experiences at APU and a career spanning education, coaching, and entrepreneurship, Sexauer discovered that leadership is not about personal achievement but about investing in people. As CEO of DAST Consulting Services, Sexauer is committed to helping students gain access to Christ-centered education while living out the values that shaped him during his time at APU.
Sexauer never planned on becoming an entrepreneur. “When I was at APU, I changed my major several times. At one point, I had two majors and two minors, and was on the eight-year plan,” said Sexauer. “I ended up settling on just a double major in religion and social sciences with an emphasis in history. However, my experience at APU really helped me explore my desire to do a lot of different things.” Sexauer’s time at APU exposed him to a variety of experiences and relationships that cultivated his love for leadership and prepared him to work with people from all walks of life. “My wife and I got married and pursued sports evangelism for a while. Once we ended up with seven kids, the prospects of doing that as a career came to a screeching halt,” Sexauer said. The financial realities of these vocations led Sexauer to pursue a new career: entrepreneurship.
Sexauer credits APU’s faculty and staff with profoundly shaping both his faith and leadership, specifically Bill Mounce, PhD, Bruce Baloian, PhD, professor emeritus in the School of Theology, and Betty Hamm. He reflected on the role each of them played in his life:
- Bill Mounce: “I was an 18-year-old kid who thought I knew everything, but watching someone so intelligent, educated, and grounded in his faith speak honestly about walking through hardship while holding fast to the truth of Scripture left a lasting impression on me,” said Sexauer. “Dr. Mounce taught me that even when our emotions tell us one thing, we can remain anchored in what we know to be true.”
- Bruce Baloian: “I was going through a difficult season in my life and struggling to make sense of a lot of things. Dr. Baloian took the time to sit down with me and offer wisdom and guidance when I needed it most. He challenged me to think seriously about stewardship, responsibility, and making the most of the opportunities I had been given,” said Sexauer. “He reminded those around me that I was where God wanted me to be and encouraged me to continue pursuing my education.”
- Betty Hamm: “Betty led the ministry credential program while I was at APU, one of the many opportunities I started pursuing during my undergraduate years, one of the many programs I didn’t complete,” said Sexauer. “Betty’s kindness and patience made a lasting impact on me. She graciously walked alongside me during that season of my life, meeting me with encouragement and genuine care.”
Having benefited from a Christian education throughout most of his childhood, Sexauer
witnessed how it can shape a person’s future when he led an inner-city school.
Seeing the different paths taken by friends who lacked similar opportunities inspired
him to help make Christ-centered education more accessible to others. He believes
providing students with that opportunity can be life-changing. “If you can give access
to these kids, their lives will go in a much better direction,” said Sexauer.
DAST Consulting Services was born out of Sexauer’s desire to help schools access resources they might otherwise be unable to obtain. “The passion for being able to do that is driven by this desire to unlock access for kids,” said Sexauer. Initially, the company partnered with schools and educational organizations to help them secure government funding opportunities. During the pandemic, Sexauer helped schools in Texas secure $25 million through the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, providing resources they might not otherwise have been able to access. Today, his work has expanded through DAST EdTech, an AI-enabled data platform that collects and analyzes information for thousands of schools and educational organizations to identify and automate funding opportunities. Through technology, strategic partnerships, and sustainable funding initiatives, Sexauer hopes to remove financial barriers and create more opportunities for students to receive a Christ-centered education.
Sexauer’s view of leadership has shifted dramatically over the years. While he once
viewed himself as the smartest person in the room, he has grown in humility and is
committed to loving, serving, and valuing others. Today, he believes leadership begins
with genuinely caring for the people you lead. “My ability to lead people is dependent
on my great desire to serve them,” said Sexauer. Faith is central to every aspect
of Sexauer’s leadership and business philosophy. “My understanding of leadership has
changed as I’ve grown in my faith. I’ve learned that people don’t care how much you
know until they know how much you care, and recognizing the value of every person
as created in the image of God has transformed the way I lead,” said Sexauer. “Because
I value people more, my desire to serve them has grown, allowing me to lead with greater
purpose and compassion.” He strives to prioritize spiritual and community impact alongside
financial success, believing that businesses can be powerful tools for ministry. To
display those ideals, Sexauer named DAST Consulting Services after a Greek acrostic:
Diakonos (service), Agape (love), Sophia (wisdom), Timé (cherish). “God has been faithful
and has been with me the entire time,” said Sexauer.
Sexauer encourages students to prioritize relationships and fully embrace the opportunities available during their time at APU. He believes that meaningful connections with classmates, professors, and alumni often become among the greatest assets in both careers and life. According to Sexauer, leadership is built as much on relationships as it is on knowledge. “It is really about who you know, not just what you know,” he said. Sexauer hopes students recognize the importance of being part of a community that intentionally shapes both their faith and character. “It’s so important to be in an environment that shapes your faith and the person that you are.” He remains grateful for APU’s legacy of developing servant leaders and hopes that future generations will continue to pursue God’s calling in every vocation. For him, faith formation remains one of the university’s greatest strengths.