By Elijah Penn, Copyeditor
On April 9, Saint Leo University Campus Ministry featured Florida State Representative Kevin Steele for the monthly “Theology Thursday” event.
Steele represents Florida’s fifty-fifth State House district. This district neighbors the State House District of Saint Leo and includes Land O’Lakes, Odessa, and part of Trinity. He briefly ran for Chief Financial Officer of Florida in 2026 before dropping out of the race.
Apart from his political leadership, Steele is known for being a successful local business owner and a devout Catholic.
“Everyone’s journey in faith is unique, shaped by different experiences and moments of grace. I appreciated hearing Mr. Steele’s perspective and learning more about his story,” said Kevin Floyd, director of University Ministry.
“A devout Catholic and local state leader, he has been a consistent and authentic witness to the faith in public life,” said Floyd.
While the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library’s Southard Room provided a personal space for students to listen to Steele’s testimony and ask questions about his life, many students had met Steele in the past.
During the past two years of the annual “Catholic Days at the Capitol” University Ministry trip to Tallahassee, students got the chance to meet with Steele and other state political leaders.
“We are always seeking strong speakers who can thoughtfully share how their faith informs their vocation, and we felt that Rep. Steele, given his faith and his role with the Florida House, would offer a meaningful perspective to our students and the broader Saint Leo community,” said Floyd.
The topic that Steele spoke on was “Faith and Leadership,” which explored maintaining one’s faith even when in positions of power.
“Without a strong moral compass, leadership can drift toward self-interest or expediency. Faith roots a leader in something higher than themselves, truth, virtue, and service, helping them lead with integrity, humility, and a genuine concern for others,” said Floyd.
This topic isn’t just relevant to those who are actively in business or politics, however.
“For students in particular, this is critical. They are preparing to step into roles where they will shape workplaces, communities, and families. Understanding how faith informs leadership equips them to lead with purpose, to stand firm in difficult moments, and to serve rather than simply be served,” Floyd said.
Floyd argues that true leadership isn’t just about one’s authority. Rather, it is about the responsibility that one has to use their influence to better the lives of those they are accountable for.
“At its best, faith-centered leadership produces men and women who lead not for recognition, but out of a sense of calling, grounded, principled, and committed to the good of others,” said Floyd.
This faith-centered leadership was seen in Steele’s story.
Growing up in the faith, Steele led a life that didn’t always reflect his faith. As a young man, he came to a point where he began to take his faith more seriously. Since then, Steele has done everything through the lens of keeping God first. Even when faced with opposition for his beliefs, he remains firm and doesn’t bend to the pressure. In fact, he sold his shares of his first business after its management openly supported issues that went against Steele’s beliefs.
Apart from sharing his story, Steele also talked about how he maintains his faith during stressful legislative sessions by going to church each morning while in Tallahassee. In addition, he gave his philosophy for staying resolute and building a successful marriage.
Floyd noted that University Ministry is currently planning events for the 2026-27 academic year and is open to suggestions for events or speakers from the community. Updates will be posted on Ministry.SaintLeo.edu
The event was impactful, reminding students that power and faith can go hand in hand. It also showed a more personal side of political leaders that students don’t often get to see. No matter their intended career, Steele’s insights were an interesting perspective on how to stay strong in one’s faith while still being a strong leader.
