The Center for Vocational Discovery

Decades of theological scholarship lead to an innovative new venture in 2022.

Just as Lipscomb’s new Center for Vocational Discovery (CVD) uses a compass as the defining image of each student’s journey of self-discovery, so also one might need to pull out a compass to keep track of all the academic paths that converged at the university to establish the center this past fall.

The lifelong scholarship of Bible, business and education professors has now come together under the unifying vision of Lipscomb Impact 360. While this convergence happened somewhat organically during development of the strategic plan, it became reality when President Dr. Candice McQueen championed the idea of intentionally centering in one place the various work happening around Lipscomb’s mission and focus. The CVD opened in fall 2022 and now provides each student a four-year journey of life discovery that unifies the entire undergraduate experience.

The future of the center and how it impacts students is grounded in a foundation of psychological, spiritual and learning research that informs each of its pillars: vocation, spiritual development through narrative, a four-year portfolio experience and integration of faith and work, so that each student leaves confidently equipped and committed to living a purposeful life focused on bettering our world.

At the trailhead…

Dr. Earl Lavender (BA ’77, MDiv ’86), professor and director of missional studies in Bible, has been highly interested in the spiritual perceptions of Lipscomb’s students since he began teaching at Lipscomb in 1991. That interest was fueled by his personal background.

As the son of missionaries who spent his first professional years planting a church while serving as a player/coach for