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Schmieding Foundation Commuter Student Lounge Opens In September, JBU dedicated The Schmieding Foundation Commuter Student Lounge inside Walker Student Center. Built in the previous mailbox area, the lounge provides a space for JBU’s 400 commuter students to study, rest and collaborate. The space includes new furniture, a large group table, lockers and a full kitchen area. “The commuter lounge is a wonderful space for our current and future commuters to relax, fellowship, study and have a home away from home,” said Rob Rostoni, coordinator of student success. “We want our commuters to thrive at JBU, and this space is an important part of our overall Commuter Life initiatives.” 01 02

University Receives John Templeton Foundation Grant The Intellectual Virtues Program was created by JBU’s Center for Faith and Flourishing with a $390,000 grant award from the John Templeton Foundation. Intellectual virtues are qualities and character strengths required for good thinking and learning, such as curiosity, fair-mindedness, honesty and courage. The program provides resources to form communities of practice among faculty, revise curriculum and provide training and resources to cultivate intellectual virtues among the university’s undergraduate student body.

U.S. News Names JBU Top-Ranked Regional University in Arkansas U.S. News named John Brown University the top-ranked regional university in Arkansas for the seventh consecutive year. In the 2023 U.S. News Best College Rankings, JBU ranked No. 16 out of 135 regional universities in the South. Within the Regional Universities (South) rankings, JBU was named No. 19 Best Value, No. 32 Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 49 for Social Mobility. JBU’s engineering program was ranked No. 110 among U.S. universities without a doctoral engineering program.

JBU Alumna Wins Miss Arkansas Title Ebony Mitchell ’22, who earned her MBA in healthcare administration at JBU, was named Miss Arkansas at the state competition on Saturday, June 18. She won a $30,000 scholarship and more than $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation and gifts. Mitchell will represent Arkansas at the 95th Miss America competition on Dec. 15, 2022. In July, Siloam Springs Mayor Judy Nation made an official proclamation, declaring July 22 Ebony Mitchell Day. “I loved my time at John Brown University. During my two years working toward my degree, I made valuable connections,” said Mitchell. “The welcoming atmosphere and professors made my experience unique and valuable. I am a better leader and business professional because of the skills I learned at JBU.” 03

Center for Healthy Relationships Appoints New Executive Director Rosemary Flaaten is the new executive director of the university’s Center for Healthy Relationships (CHR). Flaaten has spent two decades helping people build healthy marriages and interpersonal relationships through pastoral, teaching and consultancy work with churches, colleges and universities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. An international speaker on

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the topics of healthy relationships, marriage, spiritual formation, pastoral approaches, leadership development, sexuality and cultural issues, Flaaten has ministered in Haiti, India, South Africa, Mali, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Cuba, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. 04

Money Ranks JBU the Best Value for Six-State Region In May, Money declared JBU the topranked private university in a six-state region of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. Money reviewed 2,400 four-year colleges and scored on quality, affordability and outcomes.

Pace Receives IEEE Scholarship Anastasia Pace, junior electrical engineering major, received an IEEE Power and Energy Society Scholarship, recognizing future engineers who will positively impact society using their character and technical skills. Pace is the third JBU student to receive the scholarship in recent years. Previous recipients include Stanton Weaver ’22, who is now working in Silicon Valley for Texas Instruments as a Product Marketing Engineer, and Zach Lee ’16, who earned a Ph.D. from CalTech and is a Senior Principal Systems Architect for PowerFlex in Silicon Valley. 05

Esports Added to Varsity Intercollegiate Athletics Lineup In fall 2023, JBU Athletics will debut a new team of athletes with the launch of Golden Eagle Esports. JBU joins 700 other institutions with teams playing in the National Association of Collegiate Esports and the National Esports Collegiate Conference. The varsity team is a natural extension of the athletics program after the popularity of the Esports Club, which began in spring 2021 and has more than 30 members. The varsity team will compete in four popular games: League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch and Super Smash Bros. JBU Athletics hopes to recruit 20 students to the inaugural team, drawing at least 12 from direct recruiting efforts. As part of the Steadfast Faith capital campaign, Bynum Theater will undergo a renovation to create a team performance space. For more information, visit jbuathletics.com/esports. 06

Pearson First to Win AllAmerica Triple Crown With her All-America finish in the 10,000- meter event, Allika Pearson ’22 set a pair of Golden Eagle athletics “firsts” as she finished her collegiate career. Pearson joined swimmer Nikki Peterson ’95 as the only female four-time All-America honoree, but Pearson is the first to capture the highest honor in three sports (cross country, indoor track and outdoor track). She also joined her father, Matt Pearson ’85, to become JBU’s first father-daughter duo to earn All-America honors after her father landed the accolade at the 1984 NAIA Cross Country Championships. 07

Staying on Key

Alumni Pursue their Purpose in Music

BY CARLSON WAKEFIELD ’20

Jonah Thorton ’20 is a graduate of the John Brown University music & theatre department. He works at JBU in the audio, visual and lighting (AVL) department but writes, produces and performs his own music with his band Kin & Company. Thorton talks about his experience at JBU and the faculty and staff that pushed him to pursue excellence in his music after graduation.

Tell me about Kin & Company. How did it start, and what does that look like for you now?

“It started as a solo endeavor. I used to be in a band called Willowack, and near the end of that I was still writing a bunch of songs and really liked them. I was producing them and recording them at home and ended up putting out an album as a senior capstone project and then just kept doing it. Now it’s Russell Patterson ’19, John Rhodes ’20 and me. We hit the road every couple of weekends, and we’re working on material that’s not made in my bedroom and working to produce some high-quality stuff.”

Was being in a band something you always knew you wanted to do?

“Absolutely. That was always the goal, especially for John and me. We’ve been playing together since high school, so that’s always been in the cards for us. Now that we’re adults and have real jobs, we’re trying to figure out if it’s a hobby or a long-term career decision.” Describe your student experience in the JBU music department?

“I loved my time in the music department at JBU. I majored in worship arts so that I could do more of the production side of things. I got to participate in some really cool things like chapel band and Red Steps, but Next Big Thing was my favorite; I loved it. It was a blast. Everyone got to rally around you, and you got to have the rock star experience. It was so fun.”

What was something you experienced at JBU that has impacted the way you create music today?

“The faculty and staff are a big one for that. They were great advocates for me to experiment and be creative in my music. They were very open to the idea of me wanting to be in a band and encouraged me to do it in the space that I was in. But they also challenged me to look at compositions and ask, ‘How could I do these better?’”

What is the long-term goal for Kin & Company?

“Right now is a really fun time to ask that question. When we left college, the goal was to get signed to a label, which is still in the cards for us. COVID kind of slowed some things down; so, right now, we’re regrouping. We’re looking to build an audience and play as much as we can. I think we’re onto something, and the future is looking bright but hazy. We’re open to whatever comes our way.”

Nephtali Cantú ’18 graduated from JBU with a degree in music education. He has performed in choirs through middle school, high school and college as a member of JBU’s Cathedral Choir. He now directs choirs at Lingle Middle School in Rogers, Arkansas, and models his investment in his students after his experience at JBU.

Was teaching choir something you always wanted to do?

“I actually started looking for a worship arts program and found one at JBU. But going into my freshman year, I decided to study music education to keep my options open after college. After graduation, I was opposed to the idea of teaching, but some doors closed and others opened, and I was contacted about this position. Within five days, I applied, interviewed and was offered the position. It’s been a long road, but this is year five and the first year I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

What was your favorite performance you were a part of at JBU?

“Well, I had a lot of performances — I was in Cathedral Choir, I led chapel band, I had a senior capstone solo performance — all I really enjoyed. I was able to work with some really special faculty like Paul Smith and Liesl Dromi, and they pushed me to do things I hadn’t done before. Being in the Cathedral Choir and the Chamber Choir, I was a part of some special performances.” What would you tell a student currently studying music education at JBU?

“Well, first, practically, I would say get into the school classrooms as much as possible and get that real-life experience. No matter what university you attend, there’s only so much they can teach you during class sessions. Second, once you go out and get your first job, if you’re questioning it, give it a couple of years. I know that sounds like a long time; but as a teacher, during that time, you’re just figuring it out and just getting to know the system. It can be very tiring, but you’ve got to give yourself grace, and every single year you’ll learn a little bit more.”

Was there something you learned at JBU that has been instrumental in the way you teach?

“The biggest thing I learned at JBU was coming into my own and accepting myself. JBU provided me with incredible friends and faculty in the music department that impacted me. It was those people showing me over and over that I was loved that now allows me to do that with my students. The musical part of my job is important, but the whole reason for doing what I’m doing is to impact those students. I want my choirs to be excellent, but first and foremost, I care about who they are. My experience at JBU gave me a reference point for how I could do that and be the best person I could be for my students.”

Exploring Creativity Through Music

BY WILLIAM NEWTON ’23

Musical groups and outlets abound on JBU’s campus. Chapel bands lead students in worship every Tuesday and Thursday, Red Steps shares the gospel through music around the country, and the small-yetmighty jazz band performs a rendition of a classic folk song in Jones Recital Hall. The one thing these musical opportunities have in common — they are all under the umbrella of the music and theatre department. However, there are students pursuing other academic interests who are also passionate about creating and performing original music.

Julianne Petersen, a senior English major, was, quite literally, born to make music. One of five full-time members of The Petersens, an American folk family band with a residency in Branson, Missouri, Petersen has been performing for as long as she can remember.

“My family has always played music. I have been on stage since I was about four years old,” Petersen said. “My mom used to have us singing a cappella songs in the car on long road trips instead of watching movies, so making music has always been a part of my life. I also started writing music

“When I started to have the independently in high school and put out my first song, ‘May Baby,’ realization that [performing] in college.” Growing up on stage, Petersen was a gift and it’s not about me, is no stranger to the immense pressure of pursuing a musical it allowed performing to be a career, much of which now overlaps with her education. rather beautiful thing.” The Petersens have spent most of their lives traveling the world to perform gigs at churches, competitions and festivals while maintaining their several-times-a-week performances in Branson. At first, this proved challenging for Petersen, as she suffered from intense stage fright. To conquer this, Petersen learned to view performing from a new perspective.

“When I started to realize that [performing] was a gift and it’s not about me, it allowed performing to be a rather beautiful thing,” Petersen said, “I was able to just close my eyes and focus on the Lord instead.”

Petersen also balances her music career, education and social life by finding time to spend alone with the Lord.

Petersen’s degree and music career complement each other greatly. She saw an English degree as a unique opportunity to study multiple subjects at once by learning to read and engage with different texts and strengthen her creative writing skills. Petersen is currently blurring the lines between poetry and music for her capstone project by creating a concept album. She plans to continue to utilize her literary education and pursue music full time after graduation.

Petersen is not the only musically gifted student who started making music at a young age. Senior graphic design major Matthew Campbell has been doing music solo since elementary school.

“I started recording and making music when I was 11 years old,” Campbell said. “When I was first exposed to Christian hip hop in 2011, that was the shift for me that really made me want to try creating my own work.”

The creation of all of Campbell’s projects follow a specific regimen.

“My process always starts with a concept,” he said. “I have to have an idea, theme or concept that I want to write about before I start anything — usually something happening in my life or [that] I am learning. From there, I start producing the music for the song and writing the lyrics simultaneously.”

This approach proves effective, as Campbell’s career has soared, amassing hundreds of thousands of streams and releasing several projects under his name, “Matthew Campbell.” Notable singles include “Meraki” and “Lemonade.” In November 2021, he released his debut album, “FROM DEATH TO LIFE,” a self-produced collection released under his personal record label, Parental Approved.

While Campbell’s music is well-known at JBU, he also has listeners around the globe. Campbell has performed live in the United States, Costa Rica and Thailand.

He credits his time in Thailand as a milestone in his career, seeing firsthand how his music impacts others.

“This concert [in Thailand] was for a ministry that was an afterschool program for kids in Chiang Mai, Thailand,” Campbell said. “These kids did not speak much English, but I got to see them connect with my music and even sing along with the songs. It really showed me the power of what I was making and that even a language barrier couldn’t even stop [people] from connecting with it.”

Unlike Petersen, Campbell’s music career is purely a side hobby while he continues to pursue a career in graphic design. He says that while he will always have a passion for creating original music, it is not where he feels the Lord is leading him. Still, he cites music as a significant source of therapy for himself and hopefully, for others.

You can listen to The Petersens at youtube.com/ thepetersens or on major streaming services. For Julianne’s solo project, search “Julianne.” You can find Campbell on all major streaming platforms and on his website, matthewcampbell.co.

Finding Ministry in Music

BY BETHANY CONLEY ’20

Senior Rachel Arant was searching for a university that would foster her passion for music and theology when she found JBU. She transferred to JBU as a junior, and in her short time here, she has grown significantly in her faith and education.

Arant is passionate about integrating her Christian faith with musical expression, and JBU was compelling because of the Christian-based learning approach on top of the talent and quality found in the music department.

“I chose JBU based on my desire to grow as a musician and a daughter of Christ,” said Arant.

As she looks toward her future goals, Arant seeks additional ways to combine these significant areas of her life.

“I am still exploring options for my graduate work, as my professors and I are continuing to narrow down possibilities for my future,” said Arant. “A master’s in vocal pedagogy has certainly piqued my interest. I also love the theology and philosophy behind music and the church’s response to the arts. Seminary is another option I am looking into if I decide on a more theological approach to music.”

The support of faithful donors has helped Arant achieve her goals as she prepares to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in integrated music studies and an emphasis on vocal pedagogy.

“I am so thankful to [donors] for investing in my education,” Arant said. “My time at JBU has exposed me to a number of opportunities to explore my area of expertise, as well as know the God who made me who I am. I will forever treasure the friendships I have made here as well as the memories.”