2016 Lipscomb Now Fall by Lipscomb University

The Magazine for Alumni and Friends

fall 2016

Celebrating

Knowing that what grounds us is also what grows us.

Vol. 12 No.1

The Nashville Bible School opened its doors in 1891 and grew

at such a rate that it had to move several times, the last move to

David Lipscomb’s farm in 1903. Now sitting on more than 100 acres in suburban Nashville, Lipscomb University and Academy have a long history of growth and change as a result of a story that never changes.

The Magazine for Alumni and Friends

fall 2016

Vol. 12 No.1

Departments 4........ A Letter from the President 6........ Lipscomb News 56....... Class Notes

MILESTONE MOMENTS Throughout this 125th anniversary edition of Lipscomb Now you will find references to moments in our history both in the “Milestone Moments,” highlighted in silver, and the “Did you know?” features, printed in blue, on most pages. You are also invited to take a deeper dive into the university’s history by going to 125.lipscomb.edu which includes a growing body of videos of people who have helped shape the institution.

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What Grounds Us… While this issue of Lipscomb Now carries a lot of its usual

content on what is new at the university this fall, it also marks the 125th anniversary of the Lipscomb story. It is a story that

has resulted in the university becoming known in five key areas: faith, knowledge, community, innovation and leadership. Of course, it is a story that is much larger than these pages, but

The Nashville Pipes and Drums has become a fixture at Lipscomb University graduations and convocations. This past August 30, they once again led the processional in and out of the President’s Convocation, an event which marks the official beginning of the new academic year.

here is a small sip from the ever-flowing spring that has been Lipscomb for more than 125 years.

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...What Grows Us Our first 125 years have brought us to a good place. As a result

of all the lessons learned over the decades including challenges,

mistakes, achievements, joys and sorrows alike, the university is growing. We now continue the 125-year-old commitment that

set our course so long ago with a bold vision that is intentionally,

Senior Vice President for Communication & Marketing Deby K. Samuels Editor Kim Chaudoin Writers Lacey Klotz Janel Shoun-Smith Jeff Siptak

Designers Zach Bowen Scott Coffey Will Mason Photography Jamie Gilliam Kristi Jones Chris Netterville Web Content Kyle Gregory Josh Shaw

Produced by University Communication & Marketing Lipscomb Now is published two times a year by Lipscomb University®. Go to lipscombnow.com to read more. Postmaster: Send changes of address to Lipscomb Now, Alumni Office Lipscomb University One University Park Drive Nashville, Tennessee 37204-3951 ©2016 Lipscomb University. All Rights Reserved.

courageously and graciously Christian.

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Vintage Lipscomb Unpack your college memories by browsing this selection of Lipscomb artifacts from the Beaman Library Archives.

The university is indebted to Dr. Robert E. Hooper, long-time history professor at Lipscomb, whose excellent books on David Lipscomb and the university, “Crying in the Wilderness” and “A Century of Memories,” provided many of the historical references in this issue.

A Letter from the President

We’ve learned a little in roughly 1,095,720 hours. At the moment of human conception, there are certain things that are irrevocably set into motion. Eye color, skin color, a DNA structure so complex scientists are still unraveling the thousands of items in it. The founding of a school is not so very different. The day 125 years ago when David Lipscomb and James A. Harding opened the doors to the Nashville Bible School, which was to become Lipscomb University and Academy, they established an institutional DNA that would never change. Things like its center stone of faith, its high view of Scripture, a servant’s mindset, a love of learning and a commitment to integrate learning with godly principles. But DNA alone doesn’t carry the day. In fact, growing is all about learning lessons after that DNA is established. As we observe our 125th birthday on October 5, 2016, we can look at so much accomplished over the years that rises to the level of honor and memory, but what I am more concerned with is how our central DNA continues to guide the school and how we will use what we have been, to become what we will be, for future students. So in the pages that follow, you will see how our DNA has guided us with a continued understanding of what is central to us. It is that DNA that will help us navigate some challenging times as we begin our next 125 years. Or as we like to say, what grounds us, grows us. We share a deep love of the Kingdom with our founders and colleagues of 1891; it is that faith that is our lantern in a culture that increasingly needs light and hope. Lots of change since 1891, but roughly 1,095,720 hours later, we see a set of issues that are not so different. Today a period of enrollment growth exceeding 85 percent creates pressures on facilities, staffing, fundraising and more, just as the growing

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school at the turn of the century had to move south of town to Lipscomb’s farm to accommodate its growing student body. Today, a challenging economy forces us to carefully control our costs to keep a Christian education as affordable as possible, agonizing as I’m sure our founders did, when they set tuition, room and board at about $3 to keep costs balanced with a quality education that was competitive with other options. Today, we balance the challenges of remaining a faith-based private university in an environment where governmental policies are making it financially challenging. But then our founders didn’t believe in things like incorporation, a governmental construct, and, at the opening of the school, had only two supporters, as we understand it: two women from Ohio who became our first donors. They quickly attracted more to the story so the story could continue, just as we do today. But we face these issues armed with knowledge from lessons learned through our history. And certainly the lessons learned from the issues of our day will provide guidance for future leadership. If you are an alumni of this university or academy, if you are a former faculty or staff member, if you are a donor who has supported us over the years, I salute the school you have built. Enjoy your part in 125 remarkable years of learning. There simply is no way to overemphasize how much anyone who has been part of this journey has generated individual student journeys, success stories and impact on lives that is yet to be realized.

L. Randolph Lowry President

milestone moments

1849

A DEVOTED STUDENT

Below are handwritten notes by David Lipscomb during his own college days at Franklin College, a Middle Tennessee Christian college founded by Restoration Movement preacher Tolbert Fanning.

LIPSCOMB NEWS

1953

milestone moments

THE BATTLE BEGINS Two schools, less than three miles apart, met on the basketball court in this year to establish a sports legacy: the Battle of the Boulevard. The largest Battle, the annual match-up between Lipscomb and Belmont universities, was played at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym on Feb. 17, 1990. Over the years, Lipscomb and Belmont have competed 138 times. Lipscomb leads the series 73 to 65.

ACADEMICS

FALL SEMESTER STARTS WITH RECORD RETENTION RATE, MOST DIVERSE STUDENT BODY IN HISTORY Lipscomb University is celebrating several milestones as fall semester 2016 is in full swing. With official enrollment numbers in, Lipscomb is celebrating several milestones. This year’s student body has made university history as the most diverse to date and with a freshman retention rate that has set a new institutional record. In addition, several

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graduate programs are boasting record enrollments this fall. For the first time in Lipscomb history, nearly one-fourth—22 percent —of the student body, including undergraduate and graduate students, comes from a diverse background including different countries, races and ethnicities. “Lipscomb is becoming a reflection of our country and of Nashville where one in 10 residents are born outside the U.S.,” said Lisa Steele, assistant dean of student life and director of intercultural development. “Students are finding out that Lipscomb is a place that has good support services in place for students of all backgrounds. And the word-ofmouth is spreading from our students who are here to those who are trying to make a college choice that Lipscomb is a welcoming place and a place where students come together and build their own communities on campus. “When our students leave here my goal is for them to leave with a diploma in one hand and cultural competency in the other,” she continued. “We can all learn from each other. At Lipscomb we have a great melting pot of cultures and countries.” This year’s student body comes from 49 states (including Puerto Rico) and 47 countries, and represents 32 religious traditions.

Lipscomb reached another milestone this fall with a record first-time freshmen retention rate of 84.7 percent. This is the third consecutive year firsttime freshmen retention has set a school record and the fifth consecutive year for an increase in the retention rate. Brian Mast, associate provost for student success, oversees retention efforts at Lipscomb University, but said that retention is a universitywide effort. “If a school is setting record retention numbers it is because everyone is taking ownership in retention-related work,” said Mast. Mast leads a retention collaboration group comprised of representatives from the offices of institutional research, student life, admissions, student advocacy, commuting students, intercultural development, athletics and housing. The focus of this group is to collaborate and focus on retention-related issues and drill down to individual student needs, he said. Last year Mast incorporated predictive modeling to more readily target students who may need extra support. He said that predictive modeling will be the primary driver of the retention collaboration’s focus this academic year with the goal of reaching a sixth straight year of retention increases. “There are numerous factors that play into increased retention rates. In an initial review of the data, I can see that we have made great improvements over the last several years with our commuting students,” said Mast. “We have also found that students are coming to the Academic Success Center for academic support and enrichment in record numbers. The Academic Success Center has been in existence for five years. This

is the fifth consecutive year of increased retention, so I know the programs offered here are making a difference.” “In addition, the four-year graduation rate is up nearly eight percentage points from last year, which is significant,” said Mast. “My overall goal is to improve our four-, five- and six-year graduation rates by improving not only first-time freshmen retention but by improving first- to third-year retention. Our faculty members continue to be a driver in the success we have seen in the area of retention. I hear from students daily how much they enjoy class and how they love interacting and engaging with faculty.” Several graduate programs also marked enrollment records this fall. Included in this year’s count is a record number of students enrolled in graduate Bible programs with 142 students, an increase of 46 students from this time last year, and the Doctorate of Education program, with 103 students, is nearly five times larger than its initial enrollment of 22 in fall 2010. Two new programs accepted students for the first time this fall. Twenty-two students are enrolled in Lipscomb’s new College of Leadership & Public Service master’s program, which launched earlier this year. In addition, 17 students are enrolled in the College of Professional Studies’ competency-based master’s degree program. Enrollment numbers will continue to grow throughout the semester as undergraduate and graduate program cohorts begin.

ACADEMICS

LIPSCOMB RANKED AS NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BY U.S. NEWS FOR FIRST TIME For the first time in school history, Lipscomb University has been ranked as a national university in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.” Lipscomb made its debut on the list with a ranking of 176, joining the ranks of the nation’s top universities. Earlier this year, Lipscomb was reclassified as a Carnegie Foundation doctoral university, which placed it among only 7 percent of schools in the nation. The “Best National Universities” category consists of 310 institutions, including 189 public, 114 private and seven for-profit, “that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.” There are two tiers in this listing, and Lipscomb made its debut on this ranking in the first tier, which puts it in a group of elite institutions such as Princeton, Harvard, the University of Chicago, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, Duke and Notre Dame. Lipscomb was also named one of the top “A+ Schools for B Students” in the nation. Lipscomb is one of only five universities in Tennessee ranked on the top-tier of the national list. Other

institutions from Tennessee included in the top-tier national universities list are Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee, Union University and Tennessee Technological University. “Being included in the national university category is a reflection of the great growth we as an institution have made to offer doctoral and master’s programs that are preparing our students to make an impact across the country and around the world,” said L. Randolph Lowry, Lipscomb University president. “It also reflects our commitment to growing our research initiatives and in developing new and innovative programs. “We are thrilled that we are included in the top-tier of the national universities category for our first time on the list,” he continued. “We knew that when we were classified as a doctoral university, we would have to work our way up the rankings. But we are honored to be included in this prestigious group of institutions.”

milestone moments

1950s

A BISON OF ANY OTHER COLOR

The Bisons have not always stuck to their purple and gold, as this cardboard mascot shows. Baseball Coach Ken Dugan, in particular, disliked the official colors and often bought red or blue uniforms for his teams. The use of “Bison” or “Bisons” has also been a running argument over the years.

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LIPSCOMB NEWS Nashville Mayor Megan Barry was on hand to announce plans for Lipscomb’s new Spark facility in downtown Nashville.

ATHLETICS

A-SUN ACADEMIC TROPHY AWARDED FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

Lipscomb led the A-SUN with 39 student-athletes who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA.

1903

The Bisons have claimed the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Trophy for the third consecutive year. Lipscomb claimed the honor with 83.73 percent of its student-athletes earning a 3.0 grade-point-average or better during the past academic year. This marks the second year Lipscomb eclipsed 80 percent, after becoming the first school to do so in 2014-15. “I’m proud of our student athletes for continuing to work as hard in the classroom as they do in competition,” said Lipscomb Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson. “They have earned this recognition through hard work. It certainly has been a team effort.” The Bisons had 278 studentathletes eclipse the 3.0 GPA mark in 2016 giving the university an all-time total of 2,222 all-academic honorees, the most in the A-SUN since the inception of the honor. milestone moments

HEADING BACK HOME With 118 students in 1902, the university needed quarters larger than its downtown location (seen here). The Lipscombs gave 60 acres of their farm on Granny White Pike for a new campus, and construction began on three buildings.

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ACADEMICS

PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE LOCATION ANNOUNCED In May, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry joined Lipscomb officials to announce plans for Lipscomb’s new Spark facility in downtown Nashville. Lipscomb University will invest more than $3 million in capital improvements to transform a ground-level space at Nashville’s Fourth and Commerce streets into a 20,100-square-foot facility that will offer academic programs and leadership development initiatives as well as meeting and event space. The facility, called Spark and patterned after the first universityoperated Spark located in the Cool

Springs area of Franklin, is expected to be complete in January. The College of Leadership & Public Service is expected to offer courses in its Master of Arts in Leadership & Public Service at the site, and the College of Professional Studies will offer its competency-based education program, a unique solution for adult learners allowing them to earn academic credit for their work and life experience, making it easier for them to complete a college degree or earn graduate credits. The College of Business will offer an MBA at the new location. “Our vision for this corner at Fourth and Commerce is to make it an epicenter for change in this city and also around the globe,” said John Lowry, vice president for development and external affairs. “We hope that through the downtown Spark, Nashville and Tennessee leaders will have convenient access to innovative resources they can use to tackle difficult issues ahead and to seize upon the incredible opportunities before us.” Josh Hayden has been appointed director of executive programs for Spark to develop customized executive leadership programs.

1968

ICONIC CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS GATHER FOR CONVERSATION ON RACE

Nearly 350 guests attended the dinner and panel discussion that featured Fred D. Gray, a ground-breaking civil rights attorney who represented Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks; David Jones, senior minister emeritus, Schrader Lane Church of Christ in Nashville; and Andrew Hairston, retired judge and minister of Simpson Street Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia. “We have gathered here tonight to advance the national conversation,” said David Fleer, professor of Bible at Lipscomb, special assistant to the president and host for the event. “We are true believers from across the country, men and women who are deeply disturbed by the injustices and inequalities that trouble our nation. We are Christians who believe that we, as the church, must be the headlights and not the taillights in this national conversation.” Gray, Jones and Hairston shared stories, challenges and victories on their journey to becoming difference makers. Gray said that although he believes our nation has tremendously improved,

FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GRADUATE Harry Kellum completed his course work and degree but was not able to participate in the commencement ceremony in 1968. In 2015, Kellum was invited to walk across the Allen Arena stage and officially receive his diploma.

COMMUNITY

Three giants within the modern civil rights movement gathered on Lipscomb’s campus to discuss working toward race reconciliation in the church today and in the future at the first “Advancing the National Conversation on Race” event held in the Beaman Library in June.

milestone moments

stating examples such as our nation electing its first African-American president and attorney general, he also believes race will continue to remain an issue because it is a problem within the hearts of American citizens. “So while there has been a lot of progress, we still have hate crimes, we still have African Americans who are the last hired and the first fired, we still have a tremendous disparity in the criminal judicial system, we still have African Americans and other minorities who are being targeted, all of these things are matters that are still ahead,” he said.

Since 2013, Fleer has led 10 groups on a “Bus Ride to Justice” tour through key civil rights sites, providing participants with insight into the history of slavery, the Jim Crow South and the civil rights movement. He coordinated Advancing the National Conversation on Race to increase Christians’ awareness of the current state of racial issues in our nation and to advance conversations in churches surrounding racial reconciliation.

From left, Andrew Hairston, retired judge and minister in Atlanta, Georgia; Fred D. Gary, civil rights attorney to several notable leaders of the civil rights movement; David Jones, senior minister emeritus of the Schrader Lane Church of Christ in Nashville.

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LIPSCOMB NEWS

2015

milestone moments

A NEW LIFE In December 2015 the number of graduates in Lipscomb’s unique LIFE Program rose to 15. The Lipscomb Initiative For Education (LIFE), bringing associate degrees to residents of the Tennessee Prison for Women, is just one of several innovative programs bringing education to underserved populations in new ways.

ACADEMICS

PHARMACY PROFESSOR ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

Kevin Clauson, associate professor of pharmacy practice, was honored in June as the only pharmacist to be invited to a June gathering of 60 health care and technology leaders at a one-day conference hosted by the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy and Stanford Medicine X, an annual Stanford University conference on the intersection of medicine and emerging technologies. The event focused on “engaging participants as partners in research, a core principle of the President’s Precision Medicine Initiative®,” announced by President Barack Obama in January 2015. Clauson has also consulted for the World Health Organization and served as a reviewer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Public Health Informatics.

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ACADEMICS

READ TO BE READY INITIATIVE LEAD BY LIPSCOMB With the announcement of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Read to Be Ready initiative in early 2016, the College of Education was tapped by the Tennessee Department of Education to play a critical role in the state’s campaign to help make 20 summer literacy camps held in schools across the state successful. Lipscomb College of Education faculty were involved earlier this year in selecting 20 proposals from more than 200 submitted for summer literacy camps to be funded by a $1 million grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Once the programs were selected, Lipscomb was contracted to provide

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife Crissy visited Lipscomb’s Camp Explore at J.E. Moss Elementary School this summer.

five one-day trainings for the camp coordinators, sharing their expertise on how to motivate young students to read using research-based best practices. In addition, Lipscomb was approved for funding to hold one of the literacy camps at J.E. Moss Elementary School, an urban Title 1 school in Nashville. Tennessee’s Gov. Haslam and his wife, Crissy, visited the camp in June. Tennessee’s first couple visited several classrooms and listened to children reading some of their favorite books. Then, the Haslams met with all of the students in an assembly in the school’s gym where they talked about the importance of reading. “Thank you for letting us come and spend time with you,” Gov. Haslam said to his young audience. “We are so proud of you for doing this this summer. I can’t wait for you to go back to school next year and for your teachers to ask you, ‘Wow, how did you get so good at reading?’” Tennessee’s Read to Be Ready statewide campaign is working to move third-grade reading proficiency in the state to 75 percent by 2025.

1932

milestone moments

BECOMING THE BISONS

Lipscomb fielded its first-ever intercollegiate men’s basketball team in 1931. Head coach Robert Alexander took team captain Jack Draper to purchase team uniforms for the games. Draper noticed a jacket with a buffalo, and suggested calling the team the ‘Thundering Herd,’ but the coach liked the ‘Bisons’ instead.

Alumna Nicole Marton is teaching in Moldova on a Fulbright Scholarship.

ALUMNI

ATHLETICS

FIFTH LIPSCOMB FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR IN A DECADE NAMED

MEN’S GOLF FINISHES STRONG IN NCAA REGIONALS

In April, Nicole Marton (’16), a law, justice and society major from West Virginia, was named Lipscomb’s fifth Fulbright Scholar in the last decade. This fall she travelled to Moldova to teach English courses to college students as well as develop other English teaching and cultural awareness opportunities. The highly competitive Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” During her college career, Marton was an Honors College Fellow, a member of the women’s soccer team for two years, served as president of Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, was inducted into Alpha Chi Honor Society and was part of Pi Kappa Sigma women’s service club. She studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, and in Oxford, England.

The Lipscomb men’s golf team closed out the 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Men’s Golf regional with a solid 18 holes to finish tied for eighth at the Ol’ Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa in the team’s first-ever NCAA post-season appearance. “I think we’ve set a standard for this program that we need to get to nationals every year if possible,” said Lipscomb Director of Golf Will Brewer. The Bisons carded a final-round even, par 288 to tie with Colorado with an overall score of +26, 890 (302-300-288). “Everybody played well. I think our guys rose to the occasion. We shot even par, so that was by far our best round. Typically, what we’ve tended to do is finish strong. I appreciate that. It reflects the character and integrity of these young men,” said Brewer. Mikey Feher closed the 54-hole event strong with four birdies on the back nine to give him a one-under, 71 for the day, notching the best round of the day for

the Bisons. Feher finished the tourney with a +18, 234 (81-82, 71). Dawson Armstrong rounded out the competitors for Lipscomb with a +7, 79 to finish the event with a +5, 223 (71-75-77). Feher’s 71 tied Armstrong for the top round of the tournament for the Purple and Gold.

Junior Dawson Armstrong takes a shot during the 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Men’s Golf regional at the team’s first-ever NCAA post-season appearance.

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LIPSCOMB NEWS

Talbert completed her career as one of Lipscomb’s most accomplished student-athletes in the school’s history.

ATHLETICS

MADI TALBERT MAKES UNIVERSITY HISTORY AT U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS Three-time All-American Madi Talbert continued her storybook track and field career by earning a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this past summer. She joined 23 of the best runners in the country in the 3000m steeplechase. Talbert won the Atlantic Sun Conference 3000m steeplechase title all four years at Lipscomb and is the first Bison to ever compete in the Olympic trials. Talbert qualified for the trials by running a personal best 9:50.57 in the 2015 NCAA Division I East Region preliminaries, which was the fourthbest time in the nation. Between track and cross country, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native finished her Lipscomb career with four national championship appearances, 10 Atlantic Sun titles, 20 All-Conference honors and 13 ASUN Runner of the Week nods.

1964

milestone moments

SINGARAMA TAKES THE STAGE It began as a competition between six Greek clubs. Coba Craig, Beta Club president, directed the first Singarama and served as the master of ceremonies. The Gammas took first place. In 2013, Singarama celebrated its 50th anniversary, and Craig attended the show.

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ACADEMICS

ELDRIDGE APPOINTED CHAIR OF NATIONAL BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS The only global accrediting body to accredit business, accounting and business-related programs at all degree levels, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, has appointed Lipscomb Dean of the College of Business Ray Eldridge to its Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners. As chair, Eldridge will lead the 13-member board of commissioners, which convenes four times each year to review accreditation candidacy

application materials for ACBSPmember baccalaureate/graduate degree institutions. Eldridge will serve a oneyear term. The dean has been an active member of ACBSP for more than 12 years. He has served as a site team evaluator, team leader and mentor for the organization since 2004. He assumed the role of commissioner on the board of commissioners in 2013 and was appointed chair-elect in 2015. “Dr. Eldridge knows the accreditation process well, having successfully led Lipscomb University through the process of reaffirmation of its accreditation in 2011,” said Steve Parscale, ACBSP director of accreditation. “He has a special talent for leading teams through the accreditation process, as shown by his additional achievement of helping Lipscomb achieve the separate accounting accreditation.” Eldridge is also a professor of management in the college, which has been nationally ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek as a top 50 part-time MBA program and a top 100 undergraduate business program.

1980

milestone moments

PENNIES FROM STUDENTS As a gesture of appreciation for President Willard Collins paying off Lipscomb’s debt at the time, several graduating classes, beginning in 1978, dropped coins at the feet of Collins as they walked the stage during the commencement ceremony.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

KOPIO AWARD PRESENTED TO IMPACT FOUNDER, HEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMICS

ENGINEERING STUDENTS WIN STATEWIDE AWARD FOR BRIDGE PROJECT Steve Davidson

Steve Davidson, founder of Lipscomb’s IMPACT summer spiritual camp for teens, and Healing Hands International, a Christian humanitarian organization with roots in the Lipscomb community, were honored for their 25 years of tireless service with Kopio Awards this summer. President L. Randolph Lowry, presented Davidson and his wife, Lisa, their Kopio Award on the first night of IMPACT camp in June. Beginning in 1992, Davidson, along with a group of local youth ministers, established Lipscomb’s IMPACT, a camp operating to promote not the college, but Christ alone. Healing Hands received its Kopio Award at Summer Celebration in July. In 1991, Randy Steger, then-professor of business administration at Lipscomb, challenged his marketing students to create a business plan for a global humanitarian effort. The plan was a great success, and Steger led a group to use that business plan to create the nonprofit Healing Hands International. Since its inception, Healing Hands has provided more than $100 million in aid to more than 75 countries around the world.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee named a pedestrian bridge built in Honduras by engineering students from Lipscomb’s Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering as its grand award winner in the small projects category at the 25th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards in March. The mission trip project was sponsored by Nashville’s HDR-ICA Engineering and Honduras Outreach Inc. From March to August 2015, students, faculty and staff from the college’s Peugeot Center for Engineering Service in Developing Communities teamed with HOI and HDR-ICA to design, build and install

the pedestrian bridge to connect the Hope Middle School and Aldersgate Elementary School, providing a safe crossing over a busy road for students from more than 30 villages. ACEC is known as the “voice of Tennessee engineering companies.” The organization’s Engineering Excellence Awards recognize engineering firms for projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value and ingenuity. HDR-ICA provided professional engineering leadership and financial support, and Healing Hands International, a nonprofit organization in Nashville, helped to ship the materials from Tennessee to Honduras.

Lipscomb’s engineering mission team pose on their award-winning bridge in Honduras.

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LIPSCOMB NEWS

ACADEMICS

VISUAL ARTS, BIOLOGY PROGRAMS RANKED TOP IN NATION

Associate Professor of art Rocky Horton works with students in the visual arts program.

Two of Lipscomb’s academic programs have been ranked among the top in the nation this fall. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ biology program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in the “Top 10 Christian College Biological Degree Programs 2017” ranking and the the College of Entertainment & the Arts has been ranked No. 2 in the nation for its visual arts program in the “Top 10 Christian College Visual Arts Programs 2017” ranking recently released by Christian Universities Online. “This ranking validates the strategic choices we’ve made to build our programs,” said Kent Gallaher, professor and chair of the department of biology and director of the graduate program in biomolecular science. “This recognition isn’t just about the biology department as a stand-alone unit, but the strategic partnerships that we have forged across our campus with other academic units.”

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“It is a great honor for the Department of Biology to be recognized in this way,” said Norma B. Burgess, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.” There were a number of faith-based institutions evaluated, and I am very pleased that Lipscomb was chosen.” The No. 2 ranking for the visual

arts program comes in just the second year of existence for the College of Entertainment & the Arts, which

launched in fall 2014. Schools are ranked based on number of undergraduate and graduate visual arts degrees, faculty-tostudent ratio, scholarship and financial aid availability, selectivity, overall

retention rate and overall graduation rate. “This ranking is not only a reflection of the quality of education taking place in our college but also an affirmation that our notion of Christian arts training in the 21st century is on the mark,” said Mike Fernandez, dean of the College of Entertainment & the Arts. “We’ve formed a college whose mission is to train independent, entrepreneurial artists to create uplifting, challenging and entertaining content for the marketplace.”

ACADEMICS

NEW TECHNOLOGY, MENTORING MOVE NURSING PROGRAM FORWARD During the 2015-2016 academic year, the School of Nursing added another level of academic rigor to its program, which has resulted in an improved first-time pass rate on the NCLEX. At this writing, the first-time pass rate stands at almost 93 percent, far exceeding state requirements. New elements added to the program include expanded simulation lab hours, new technology, increased accountability with raised skills performance checkoffs, a new NCLEX review course and a faculty mentorship program for every junior and senior student. “The success of these May graduates in passing the NCLEX the first time is a significant accomplishment. I know it will provide inspiration for each class that follows,” said Roger Davis, dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, which houses the School of Nursing. “More importantly, I believe it is recognition of the quality of our program including faculty, staff, students and the intensity of the curriculum. The first-time pass rate of this class makes an enormous statement about the quality of Lipscomb School of Nursing.”

ACADEMICS

FRESHMAN WAS YOUNGEST DELEGATE AT DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Dean Deborah Boyd

ACADEMICS

BOYD APPOINTED DEAN OF NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Education veteran Deborah Boyd has been appointed dean of Lipscomb University’s College of Education, ranked as the top secondary teacher preparation program in the nation, university Provost W. Craig Bledsoe announced. Boyd, associate dean and director of graduate studies in the college since 2008, has served as interim dean of the College of Education since December 2014. “Deborah Boyd has deep roots in education and has played a key role in the growth and success of Lipscomb’s College of Education,” said Bledsoe. “Dr. Boyd has put feet to the vision and innovation of the college and will continue to build on this strong foundation.” As interim dean, Boyd has led the College of Education, ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Council on Teacher Quality, to many important accomplishments, including its No. 15 best value in the nation ranking by NCTQ and its recognition as the 2016 Model

of Excellence in Partnerships by the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education. Under her leadership, the college received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the college’s IDEAL program for intellectually delayed students, launched the Pionero Scholarship Program for first-generation students and received a Read to Be Ready state grant for an elementary school summer literacy camp. Boyd has more than 35 years’ experience in education including teaching at the K-12 and college levels and serving as a school principal. She has served as associate executive director for P-16 initiatives for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and as executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Tennessee Department of Education.

Freshman Kendall Austin was among the youngest delegates to attend the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. During the convention, Austin participated in media interviews with Associated Press, Time Magazine for Kids, ABC News and PBS News Hour. He also did a live panel with MSNBC and a segment with CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Austin attended weekly precinct meetings, caucus events and state and national conventions with his grandmother, Sandra Austin, who served as the chairwoman of the DeKalb County (Georgia)Democratic Party, since he was four years old. Five delegates were chosen out of 36 candidates, and Austin was one of three males selected to represent Georgia.

1939

milestone moments

CENTURY CLASS Known as the “Century Class,” Lipscomb’s graduating class of 1939 was the first to pass the one hundred mark with 117 graduates.

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LIPSCOMB NEWS

Campus Transition Continues 2020 PROJECTS PROGRESS The 2016-17 school year launched with students moving into a newly renovated Johnson Residence Hall, construction underway for a new parking lot on the north side of campus and Lipscomb Academy students holding athletic practices in the newly completed McCadams Athletic Center.

1929

milestone moments

HISTORIC TRAGEDY ON CAMPUS In December 1929, Lindsay Hall burned while male students were home on Christmas break. In March 1930, Avalon Hall burned to the ground, causing five injuries among the women students. The students lived in makeshift quarters until Sewell and Elam Halls were completed.

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In the latest of its three extensive renovations of student residences, Johnson Hall, built in 1947, received an 84-day makeover this summer with updated carpet, paint, restrooms, individual temperature control systems and a newly landscaped courtyard. The renovation creates more study space, and students are enjoying new furniture throughout. A 148-bed

The McCadams Athletic Center opened this fall providing a temperaturecontrolled, indoor practice field for many of Lipscomb Academy’s student teams.

wing was added to Johnson Hall in summer 2004. The McCadams indoor practice field is already in use by the academy’s athletic teams, and includes an eventsized patio overlooking the football field. The walking trail around the athletic complex has been improved with new sidewalks, making a portion of the trail ADA accessible.

Construction on the 26,080-squarefoot Fields Engineering Center continues with concrete floors poured, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems installed on all levels. The new building is scheduled for classes in January. Prior to that, a portion of the north parking lot adjacent to the building is expected to come on line during the fall semester. The lot is at the corner of Belmont Boulevard and Grandview Drive. Also this summer the second floor of Swang Business Center got a new look. The remodel included new finishes and a reallocation of space to produce 10 new offices for College of Business faculty. The first floor of Swang was renovated last summer to include updated classrooms, a new Cisco Telepresence System and high-tech facilities for the College of Computing & Technology. Construction has begun on a new 55,000-square-foot Village student residence, built on a hotel concept, to be used for student housing as well as for campus guests during the summer. At $15 million, it is the largest single investment in residential construction in the university’s history.

The Fields Engineering Center will house the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering by spring 2017. A new 174-bed residence hall will open by fall 2017. At $15 million, it is the largest single investment in new residential construction in the university’s history.

1903

milestone moments

HOME OF PEACE Avalon House was built as a new home for the Lipscombs when their original home was expanded to become Avalon Hall, a women’s dormitory. Avalon was named after a mythical island of peace and tranquility.

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WHAT GROUNDS US

Knowledge Faith Community Innovation Leadership 18

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years of knowing that what grounds us is also what grows us. It is tempting to celebrate

Lipscomb is here today

milestones by looking

because of where it has

back and selectively

been. And it will be who

picking those decisions

we are tomorrow for the

and events that we choose

same reasons:

to remember. With the lessons of our But history’s power is in

classrooms, we work in

the future it shapes.

the world.

On October 5, 2016,

With the certainty of our

Lipscomb University

faith, we serve the good of all.

and Academy completed 125 years. Years filled

With the experience of our

with every possible

past, we plan for the future.

struggle and delight and accomplishment.

Knowledge. Faith. Community. Innovation. Leadership. While we claim these today in many ways, we know that they have always been.

So in the pages that follow, we share not so

Things done very right…

much a history of the last

and some wrong.

125 years, or even the last 25 since our centennial,

Days of sorrow, joy,

but rather we share how

accomplishment,

the soul of the university

disappointment, progress,

over the past 125 years has

defeat, worry and

made it what it is. And

anticipation.

will take it to tomorrow.

1891

milestone moments

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS In its first year, Lipscomb had just nine students, three faculty members and two donors. The first faculty were James A. Harding (right), David Lipscomb (left) and William Lipscomb, David Lipscomb’s older half-brother. James A. Harding was Lipscomb’s first president, but he left the school in 1901 to found Potter Bible College. lipscombnow.com

1893

milestone moments

SCIENTIFIC STARTS Dr. J.S. Ward, the first Tennessean to hold both a medical and a dental degree, joined the Lipscomb faculty and was instrumental in laying the foundation for Lipscomb’s highly regarded science departments. Today, dozens of students in pharmacy, biology, chemistry and biomolecular science spend significant time working with faculty, such as Assistant Professor Klarissa Hardy Jackson, on valuable scientific research.

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WITH THE LESSONS OF OUR CLASSROOMS, WE WORK IN THE WORLD

Did you know? Since 2005, the number of full-time faculty has grown from 135 to 266.

Knowledge was a hot commodity in post-Civil War Nashville. The city had already claimed its “Athens of the South” nickname. Vanderbilt University was already established; Fisk University and Meharry Medical College were already well known among African Americans; Peabody Normal College was already producing teachers. But the tiny Nashville Bible School located at 104 Fillmore Street promised to instill knowledge in a different way… through a Christian lens. Its founders believed in a broad general education that included “English, Latin, Greek, mathematics,

logic, metaphysics, natural science, and in general, whatever may be necessary to fit one for usefulness in living an earnest, faithful life.” As Robert Frost would say,”…and that has made all the difference.” Today, it’s impossible to name a sphere where Lipscomb graduates do not lead: government, science, the arts, technology, classroom education, medicine, public service.

Around the world, in every sphere, Lipscomb Bisons use what they know to build society, enhance quality of life and instill the Spirit of God in humanity.

1998

milestone moments

A MEETING OF THE MINDS On Dec. 9, the university hosted a meeting of four former U.S. Secretaries of State in Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium. William Rogers, Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance and Edmund Muskie answered questions on foreign policy from 100 media representatives and 1,300 students, faculty and community guests.

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WHAT GROUNDS US...KNOWLEDGE

SCHOLARSHIP AND ACADEMIC RIGOR CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNIVERSITY GROWTH Even in its early days, Lipscomb valued a broad knowledge of the world. Just nine years into its existence, the school already offered courses in natural science, languages, art and business. But 35 years ago, the university began a journey to expand its ability to pass on more career-specific knowledge than ever before. The Lipscomb Board of Trustees voted in 1981 to begin its first graduate program in Bible. Today, the university offers three doctoral degrees and 102 graduate programs. Then-President Willard Collins established the one-year-long Master of Arts in Bible. Later in 1987, then-President Harold Hazelip revamped that program into a more rigorous Master of Arts in Religion, and it was awarded official accreditation in December of that year. Those first steps resulted in new recognition this past year when the university was named to the doctoral university classification from the Carnegie Foundation, a designation only 7 percent of schools in the nation hold.

1936

milestone moments

WHAT’S IN A COLOR J. Ridley Stroop, a noted pioneer in psychology, taught at Lipscomb for 44 years. Named after him, the Stroop Effect demonstrates “reaction time interference,” for example, the cognition interference that comes by printing the name of one color in another color.

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Did you know? Under the leadership of Harold Hazelip Lipscomb moved from a college to a university in 1988. The move was made when SACS recategorized Lipscomb after it expanded the number of graduate programs offered.

“The Carnegie classification recognizes the consistent, active, rigorous pursuit of knowledge on the Lipscomb campus carried out each day as Lipscomb students participate in graduate programs covering 70 areas of study such as theology, filmmaking, computer technology, business, education and civic leadership,” said President L. Randolph Lowry. In September, the university learned it had moved from its long-time Regional South classification in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to the top tier of its national universities ranking. This includes the very finest universities in the nation, such as Yale, Harvard and Princeton. “It is very exciting to see that the university was moved out of its regional category to a national category,” Craig Bledsoe, provost, said. “But to be listed in the top tier in our first year is more than just gratifying but is an exciting testimony to the work of this faculty over recent years.” Whether it’s travelling to the other side of the globe to show students an example of international business firsthand, spending late hours in a science lab preparing equipment for

the next experiment or diving into an organization’s dusty archives to discover a revealing historical fact, Lipscomb faculty and students are conducting more academic research than ever before. Two years ago Dr. Klarissa Jackson, one of several professors carrying out pharmaceutical sciences research on Lipscomb’s campus, was awarded a $660,000 five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, the largest research grant ever awarded to Lipscomb, to search for a more effective treatment option for breast cancer patients. Since that time, Jackson has expanded her scientific exploration to include not only the original drug under study, lapatinib, but to also include a second anti-cancer drug, sunitinib. Three students, two graduate students in pharmacy and one an undergraduate, have worked on the study, and Jackson’s visits to the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities annual Professional Development Workshop have resulted in valuable knowledge and connections that she has passed on to Lipscomb’s pharmaceutical sciences research students. And she is just one of many. • Tim Johnson, professor of history and the

university’s first designated research professor, in 2007 published the first and only book-

length study of the Mexico City campaign

led by Gen. Winfield Scott in the Mexican-

American War. His research was fueled by a Yale University fellowship.

Tim Johnson (above), professor of history and expert on the MexicanAmerican War, was the university’s first designated research professor. Beth Conway (right), associate professor of biology, often involves students in her research on how tumors grow in the body, which could someday bring breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Alan Bradshaw (below), chair of the physics department, is also joint faculty at Vanderbilt University, where he conducts research to detect stomach and intestinal disorders by measuring changes in magnetic fields produced by those organs.

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2014

milestone moments

EDUCATION TOP IN NATION The College of Education’s secondary teacher preparation program shares the No. 1 ranking in the nation by the National Council on Teacher Quality in their 2014 Teacher Prep Review. The college’s graduate program in the elementary grades was named No. 14 in the nation.

• Fort Gwinn, associate dean in the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering, worked as

a summer faculty fellow at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center from 2000 to 2002,

working on various mechanical engineering

projects for NASA’s planned next-generation spacecraft at that time.

• Alan Bradshaw, chair of physics, operates the

Gastrointestinal SQUID Technology Lab at Vanderbilt University, and in 2006 he won

a Nightingale Prize from the International Federation of Medical and Biological

Engineering for a published paper based on his research there.

2012

milestone moments

FIRST DOCTORATES Lipscomb’s first doctoral degree — the Doctor of Pharmacy — was awarded at May commencement to 68 students. The education doctoral program graduated its first class that August, and the Doctorate of Ministry was first awarded in 2014.

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• In 2015, German professor Charles McVey began the translation and cataloging of a

unique trove of letters from former World

War II German soldiers who had been held in prisoner-of-war camps in America,

introducing Americans to a forgotten chapter in history.

• Beth Conway, associate professor of biology, recently collaborated with Johns Hopkins University to continue her decade-long

research on peptides that encourage blood vessel growth in tumors. A professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins saw her research published in the Journal of Angiogenesis and contacted her to help her continue her work.

Did you know? The Brewer Bell Tower, named in honor of then-faculty Charles R. Brewer, was a gift of the Class of 1935 which sold etchings of the tower to raise money for its construction.

• In 2013, Caleb Clanton, associate professor of

philosophy and university research professor, was the inaugural recipient of the Lester McAllister

Prize for best published resource on Stone-Campbell history, from the Disciples History (Disciples of Christ Historical Society) for his book The

Philosophy of Religion of Alexander Campbell.

Since 2006, the university has established 81 new graduate programs, growth which has fueled research at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in both the sciences and the humanities. Four new health science facilities have been constructed, and the new Fields Engineering Center will be available in 2017. While Lipscomb’s graduate catalog today is filled with academic offerings that David Lipscomb would have never dreamed of (i.e., computer technology, biomolecular science and health care informatics), it also still includes the foundational programs that were close to his heart: Bible and education.

WHAT GROUNDS US...KNOWLEDGE

TO REALLY LEARN THE “HOW,” MENTOR. Perhaps the most influential mentoring program ever was Jesus Christ and His apostles—a model for people of like mind and interest spending significant time working with someone of greater knowledge and experience to transfer deeper understanding and familiarity. David Lipscomb and James A. Harding were mentors from the first day of classes. Students lived in the Lipscombs’ home on several occasions; they knelt in prayer together; they built futures together. In fact, Lipscomb never had a private study, even though there was space for one, because he preferred to do his work surrounded by family and friends, quite likely mentoring without having today’s word for that practice. The university continues the mentoring that was born into its soul decades ago and practiced through the years in many ways. Today more than ever it is intentionally integrated into the academic process and learning experience. The relatively new Master of Management degree requires on-the-job mentoring. The business

Did you know? The College of Business’ undergraduate program is ranked one of the top 100 in the nation, and last year the Master of Business Administration program was ranked one of the top 50 in the nation, both by Bloomberg Businessweek.

college also partners to bring such events as the SCORE Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference to campus as well as Junior Achievement’s Tennessee Business showcase mentoring more than 75 teens. The past year saw the fourth class of the College of Leadership & Public Service’s highly respected Leadership Tennessee program, which brings top-level public servants together from across the state for a year-long program of mentoring and exposure to key state issues. This program has served six city mayors, 11 members of the governor’s cabinet (including the state’s First Lady) and 11 college or university presidents. Throughout the school’s 125 years, the campus has hosted contemporary and influential guests for students to learn from. In just the last year alone this included: • Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prizewinning author on presidential history;

• U.S. Airways pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger who shared how he unexpectedly fine-tuned his

leadership skills in 208 seconds while landing a disabled jet in the Hudson River;

• Author and national columnist David Brooks (The Road to Character);

• Author and lecturer Ken Jennings (The

Serving Leader: Five Powerful Actions to Transform Your Team, Your Business and Your Community);

• Ambassador Gentry O. Smith, director

of the Office of Foreign Missions, United States Department of State, who shared his experiences in public service and foreign missions;

• Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Kurdistan

Regional Government Representative to the United States, who held an international

briefing on ISIS and the refugee crisis; and • Country music artist and 2016 Academy

of Country Music award winner Thomas

Rhett—a Lipscomb alum—who shared how his global success as a performer in the music industry relates to his Christian walk.

Mentors all. Lessons to be learned.

THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM… In its efforts to build an international world view among students, Lipscomb University established the Office of Global Learning (then called the “study abroad office”) in 2008. Since then: •

Three semester-long global options have been added to the existing program in Vienna, Austria (founded in 1996): in Santiago, Chile; London, England; and Florence, Italy.

•

Six academic programs, including the MBA, the education doctorate and the Master of Management, now require students to go on an international experience.

•

Short-term academic travel opportunities are offered to as many as 16 countries around the globe each school year.

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2016

milestone moments

SPIRITUAL FORMATION On-campus spiritual life is nurtured every day through Bible course requirements, worship, international mission opportunities and special spiritual events such as Resurrection Week at Easter and Prayer in the Square (pictured here), organized by the students.

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THINKING ABOUT GOD MAKES YOU THINK BIG! David Lipscomb and James A. Harding clearly knew their “why.” Christian colleges were common in the 1800s, many came out of the Restoration Movement. Probably the most notable were Alexander Campbell’s Bethany College, of which Harding was an alumnus, and, in Middle Tennessee, Tolbert Fanning’s Franklin College from which David Lipscomb graduated. These were fine schools, yet the two men were not totally satisfied with the “why” of these other institutions but found their “why” in a school created “to teach the Christian religion as presented in the Bible in its purity and fullness: and in teaching this to prepare Christians for usefulness, in whatever sphere they are called upon to labor. Such additional branches of learning will be taught as are needful and helpful in understanding the Bible and in teaching it to others.” The school was never intended to be a “preacher school.” Its “why” lay in the Bible as central to all things spiritual and temporal. Now 125 years later, that “why” is still evident as the spiritual formation of students is an integral part of the

Lipscomb experience. Students’ faith is discovered, shaped and refined through participation in Bible study, service and worship throughout their academic careers. But, more importantly, faith is reflected in how, to this day, sacred scripture does not stand apart from vocation, family and community life, but inspires a life. The university lives out its faith mission in many ways, not the least of which are its 125-year-old requirements for chapel attendance and Bible classes.

Did you know? In 2004, Lipscomb established its formal campus ministry program, which has now grown to six full-time ministers. This staff manages a one-on-one mentoring program open to all students; chapel services; retreats and more. Lipscomb Academy has three full-time ministry members with teams in place at the elementary, middle and high schools.

That’s just the beginning of the ways students are encouraged and challenged concerning the role faith plays in their lives. A few recent examples of alums who are big thinkers for God include: • Jimmy Adcock (’81) was influential in the

creation of Kairos, a church-planting ministry that began in 2005 and equipped the team of

Dave Clayton (’04) and Brandon Steele (’08), founders of Nashville’s Ethos Church that now serves nearly 3,000 members.

• Hunter and Jillian (Cromie) Kittrell

(’08) served as directors of Cap Haitian Children’s Home, an orphanage in Cap Haitian, Haiti, but recognized a need

for young adults transitioning out of the

orphanage. They founded Emmaus House in 2013 to provide life skills, professional skills

and education for Hait’s next generation. • Michele and Thom Hazelip (’96), moved

from a comfortable home to Nashville’s inner city with the intention of befriending their

neighbors and helping wherever they could. So many children came to their front door,

that they established Front Porch Ministry

to formally provide homework aid, activities and family events to share the love of Jesus. • Lindsey (Glenn) Krinks (’07) and Andrew Krinks (’08) have been advocates for

Nashville’s homeless community since 2007. Lindsey serves at Open Table Nashville, a nonprofit that finds housing solutions,

and Andrew has served as editor of The

Contributor, Nashville’s first street paper written and sold by homeless people.

These impactful projects are small reflections of Lipscomb’s faculty, staff and administrators who over the years have also been thinking about God and thinking big, such as establishing the Hazelip School of Theology; crafting a global missions program that now stretches to 42 locations around the world; and innovating new ways to touch the hearts of students through worship, service, personal relationships and mentoring.

Believers with dreams empowered by our ultimate “why” so they become vessels for God to do what only He can do—in a big way.

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WHAT GROUNDS US...FAITH

SPIRITUAL FORMATION THROUGH INTENTIONAL LEARNING, SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Spiritual formation is a lifelong, active process. A student’s faith can be impacted in many ways through study of the Scriptures, class activities and mission trips to name a few. The faculty who share their experiences and insight in Bible courses are among the best in the nation. One example of faith in practice is something that started as a simple class assignment more than 25 years ago. Because of the compassion and vision of a few students who responded to the challenge of professor Randy Steger to create a marketing and business plan for a humanitarian effort, the assignment resulted in the formation of an international relief organization, Healing Hands International, which today drills wells, creates empowerment and food sustainability programs, provides education and medial aid and serves as a first responder to international disasters worldwide. Since its inception, Healing Hands International has empowered individuals to improve the quality of life for their families and communities by providing

1935

milestone moments

GRAND OLE CHAPEL David Lipscomb College’s Friday chapel was broadcast over WSM (also home to the Grand Ole Opry) to a national audience. WSM staff was attracted to the unusual sound of the Lipscomb bell, which tolled at the beginning of each chapel program.

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Did you know?

The Christian Scholars’ Conference was first organized 28 years ago by universities associated with the Churches of Christ. In 2008, the conference’s home base moved to Lipscomb, and the event grew from one plenary speaker to four nationally known speakers. The number of breakout sessions rose from 37 to 68 and attendance swelled from 175 to more than 300.

more than $100 million in aid to more than 75 countries around the world. All because of a class assignment. That missional attitude in Lipscomb students comes out of a long history of reaching out to the world. The first fruits of Lipscomb’s formal missions program were harvested in 1973 in the form of Project Good News, a missionary training program established by minister and long-time Lipscomb faculty member Batsell Barrett Baxter to spread the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. By the late 1970s, 26 Lipscomb graduates, who served as full-time missionaries, had ministered in nine different countries in five years. During the Harold Hazelip administration, the mission program was restructured to incorporate more service days and short-term mission trips. Today, Lipscomb Missions sends out more than 950 Lipscomb students, faculty, staff and community members who participate each year through almost 60 mission trips around the world. The latest innovation in Lipscomb’s missions outreach is the Lipscomb “Business as Mission” program, housed in the College of Business. This program encourages and guides students to focus on how to creatively, innovatively and intentionally combine their business skill to serve their God. Leading this initiative is Rob Touchstone (’97), co-founder of Nashville’s Well Coffeehouse, with

two locations in Middle Tennessee. The Well is a very successful nonprofit coffeehouse concept whose profits support organizations that provide clean water to communities around the world. And the Business as Mission program is exporting itself ! This past year, the program hosted two mission trip opportunities in Morant Bay, Jamaica, whereby students came alongside three individuals to help them open businesses in their native villages. Nearly 25 Lipscomb students traveled to the country to help these Jamaicans develop the necessary operational and financial plans to start healthy and successful businesses. Lipscomb students also helped to develop business models, scouted potential business locations and raised seed money for them through Lipscomb business class projects. Similar to the Well Coffeehouse’s mission to turn coffee into water by providing clean water to millions around the world in need, Lipscomb’s Business as Mission program plans to leverage business profits into hope and inspire students within the college to create opportunities bigger than themselves.

2016

MAKING AN IMPACT IMPACT, an annual summer Bible camp on campus, celebrated its 25th year of bringing thousands of teens together to worship and develop relationships with God. Since 1992, more than 2,000 teens have been baptized, and more than $120,000 has been donated to various charities.

1947

BAPTISM AT THE HEART OF CAMPUS The original Collins Alumni Auditorium included a baptistery in the stage. It was used until 1951 when the College Church, now Granny White Church of Christ, began meeting in the chapel of Harding Hall and used its baptistery instead. The renovation of Collins in 2007 unearthed remnants of the forgotten old baptistery. Today, the Osman Fountain in Bison Square includes a baptistery where students commit their lives in faith.

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2010

milestone moments

THE GREAT FLOOD OF NASHVILLE In May 2010, Nashville experienced possibly its worst natural disaster on record, and Lipscomb was there to help. Student volunteers at the on-campus Red Cross shelter began accepting guests within one hour of opening. The shelter housed 100 pets and up to 300 people during the crisis. The flood response was one of the more dramatic recent examples of Lipscomb serving its community. But on any given day, students and faculty reach out to engage community members in countless other ways.

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MORE THAN SERVING; IT’S ABOUT BUILDING One can’t spend much time on campus without hearing a reference to David Lipscomb’s selfless act of transporting local nuns to care for the poor of Nashville during Nashville’s cholera epidemic. In addition to his service, Lipscomb was also known as a valuable, active community member, as evidenced by the citywide outpouring to honor him upon his death. Since his arrival on campus in summer 2005, Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry has repeated a mantra when it comes to community engagement: “We must serve the community before we sell our services to the community.” It is a mantra the university’s namesake would embrace. Like the man, Lipscomb University works to both serve the community and better the community through active involvement in, and advancement of, public and private institutions, organizations and initiatives that positively address the big questions and concerns of society today.

Did you know? For nearly three decades beginning in 1940, the Hospital Singers, a Lipscomb singing group, would minister to patients at the Davidson County Hospital each week through song. Many bedridden patients were baptized as a result of the faithful witnessing of the Hospital Singers.

When a proposed 2009 charter amendment mandating English as the city government’s official language threatened the economic and cultural growth of Nashville, Lipscomb joined a consortium of Nashville’s educational institutions to oppose the amendment based on its discriminatory intent. Seven Lipscomb institutes have been established in the last decade, specifically designed to apply Lipscomb’s scholarly expertise and nationwide resources to community issues and discussions on topics such as race, religion, environmental concerns and effective civic leadership. Lowry and several key faculty have been invited to White House gatherings addressing issues such as national security, access to a college education and patientfocused health care.

sphere of influence. And one Lipscomb Bible professor parlayed a creative idea for a Bible doctoral program into a citywide conversation to advance racial truth-telling and reconciliation. There is no lack of students serving exactly the way David Lipscomb did throughout his life. Each year, students contribute an average of 60,000 hours of service to more than 200 area nonprofits through the university’s service-learning program, on designated service days, in service social clubs and other academicoriented service opportunities.

But 125 years after our founding by a community leader, students also serve by preparing to be collaborative community leaders and change agents, dreaming up the next problem-solving program and developing the courage to step out and be the next voice crying in the wilderness.

Influential leaders from state judges to high school student-leaders have received training in conflict management tailor-made to their

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WHAT GROUNDS US...COMMUNITY

LIPSCOMB AT THE CITY’S HEART: THE UNIVERSITY SERVES THE COMMUNITY BY SERVING THOSE WHO WILL SERVE IT When the founders of Nashville Bible School chose to move their campus away from Nashville’s core to the David Lipscomb farm in 1903, they could have never dreamed that more than 100 years later the school would be moving back downtown into a facility designed to encourage collaborative and innovative leadership among those who will serve community. In January 2017, Lipscomb will open a new facility, called Spark, at the corner of Nashville’s Fourth and Commerce streets. Spark downtown will provide greater access to many of the university’s graduate programs, especially programs designed to shape those who will shape the futures of communities from the local to the global levels. The 20,000-square-foot space will accommodate up to 300 people at a time and will not only offer academic course work from at least three Lipscomb colleges, but will also serve as a hightech meeting and developmental resource for corporations and community organizations. It’s a model that has worked well at Lipscomb’s original Spark facility, established in

1927

milestone moments

THE LIPSCOMB LECTURES Lipscomb University has hosted oncampus lecture series in some form since 1927, but a continuous run of annual lecture programs began in 1937. Called by different names over the years, in 2003, the lectures were re-named Summer Celebration, and today they draw 4,000 people each year from across the nation.

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Did you know? Historic Longview Mansion, now used by Lipscomb as an events venue, was built in 1879 by James E. Caldwell, who was involved with establishing Nashville’s first telephone system, Cumberland Telephone. According to tradition, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were all guests of this early high-tech pioneer.

2012 in Williamson County, south of the main campus, in one of the state’s fastest-growing counties. Key to this new facility is its mission to help build and serve the growing downtown living and working community with easily accessed, competent degree programs and executive learning in several key areas. And as the state’s capital, the location will give Lipscomb the opportunity to serve the people who serve the state. Lipscomb’s newest college, the College of Leadership & Public Service, will use the site to provide Nashville’s civic and business leaders a different approach to public service through its new Master of Arts in Leadership and Public Service. The downtown site means master’s students will be able to use Nashville itself as its laboratory for exploring civic development and innovative thinking, Associate Dean Kristine LaLonde said. “Nashville is fast-moving, and there is a lot of innovation happening across the board in both the public and private sectors,” she said. “So, it’s a great place for people to learn about the leading edge of innovation for the community as a whole.” The College of Business will offer its nationally ranked part-time MBA

program downtown and plans to work with many of Lipscomb’s other colleges—such as the College of Computing & Technology or the College of Education—to develop several niche executive education options to serve the variety of business professionals who work and live downtown, said Ray Eldridge, dean of the College of Business. “This new site holds great opportunity for Lipscomb to break down some of the academic silos and develop creative new educational options for executives and businesspeople,” Eldridge said. Executive education will be available at Spark in both innovative, personalized formats and the more traditional classroom format customized for each company. Lipscomb’s College of Professional Studies has become well-known for its competency-based education program which allows adult learners to earn academic credit for their previous work and life experience, making it easier for them to complete a college degree or earn graduate credits. The college plans to open its third competency assessment center at Spark downtown, said Nina Morel, dean of the college. The college’s professional studies programs are individualized through online communication, self-paced learning modules and face-toface executive coaching, a format that companies such as Middle Tennessee’s Lee Company (HVAC) and Pinnacle Bank have found

2009

“I love the role that Lipscomb plays in this community. I love how involved Lipscomb is in the community both as an institution and as individuals. Whatever students take away with them from their college experience here, I hope that one of the things they take with them is their experience of being a part of the fabric of a community that God has called them to for a reason. Lipscomb has done a wonderful job of modeling that.” —Gov. Bill Haslam

THE WELCOME MAT Since 2009, Lipscomb has hosted more than 150,000 guests per year on its campus for non-athletic-related events such as conferences, high school graduations, networking events, youth programs, concerts and special community events.

beneficial to their employees and their companies overall. “Professional development designed specifically for an individual’s career path is in such demand among today’s professionals, that we have developed a system of stackable graduate certificates that can be mixed and matched to create a personalized Master of Professional Studies,” said Morel. “I believe public servants and employees who work downtown will find this a highly useful option to advance their careers.”

milestone moments

For a more traditional approach to executive education, new director of executive programs for Spark Josh Hayden has taken over production of Lipscomb’s customized professional development program that has been successful for companies like Nashville-based engineering firm Barge Waggoner. These training sessions will also meet in Spark.

A VERY PUBLIC NEXT STEP A decade of strategic efforts to advance civic leadership through conflict management, collaboration and

leadership best practices, culminated last February in the launch of Lipscomb’s newest college: The College of Leadership & Public Service. The college was created around the reality that the problems governments are asked to solve today for the people they serve— locally, nationally and beyond—are exceedingly complex and require people who can bring understanding and solutions to that complexity. “This is Lipscomb taking a courageous step forward with

Each April, Lipscomb practices a tradition begun more than a decade ago: Service Day. Afternoon classes are cancelled and hundreds of students are sent out to locations throughout Nashville to serve for an afternoon. The event has grown from 50 volunteers to more than 800 in 2016.

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WHAT GROUNDS US...COMMUNITY

a program that is one of only a handful in the nation built to form public servants who are collaborative and insightful problem solvers, not loud, empty voices in the public square,” said Steve Joiner, dean of the new college. The college houses four of Lipscomb’s institutes that address issues of environmental sustainability, conflict management, civic leadership, and law, justice and society, and has initiated its first master’s program, a Master of Arts

2008

milestone moments

SALT OF THE EARTH As part of a campus enhancement project required by Lipscomb’s national accrediting body, the university established the Serving and Learning Together, or SALT, program, which translates academic learning into local service opportunities.

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Lipscomb now has four off-campus outlets and will open its fifth, a new Spark, in downtown Nashville in July 2017. The original Spark facility, above, is located in the Cool Springs area.

in Leadership and Public Service, begun this fall. Developed by LaLonde, most recently chief innovation officer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the master’s program stresses service-minded, collaborative leadership resulting in positive, sustainable change. It is heavily based in experiential learning and mentorship and will

include three immersive one-week classes in other powerful “laboratories” such as Washington, D.C.; Atlanta and Detroit. Detroit, particularly, will offer a fascinating picture of how one community can come back from years of economic devastation, LaLonde said. The D.C. class, taught in part by alum David Sampson, former Deputy Secretary of Commerce in the George W. Bush administration, will explore how federal policy is made and how it affects local policy, and the Atlanta class will take place in the Carter Center, known for facilitating positive conversations around the world, she said.

BUILDING COMMUNITY Each year, hundreds of Lipscomb students are involved in internships, service projects and class assignments that take them out into the community to serve people, enhance organizations and contribute to creating a greater, richer community.

2,300

Sessions at the Lipscomb Family Therapy Center

1,950 Free tax preparations by students in the past three years

135 City and state leaders trained through the collaborative Leadership Tennessee program

Companies host Master of Management work study students

College of Leadership & Public Service students placed in statewide internships and projects

Nashville public schools visited by Lipscomb reading specialists

“I am proud that we are a global city, and Lipscomb has played an important role in making that happen. Nashville is lucky to have Lipscomb and the leadership of President Lowry, and I look forward to how the university will continue to make a difference in the community in the future.” —Nashville Mayor, Megan Barry

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PHARMACY COLLEGE ESTABLISHED As the result of a faculty-generated proposal to study the possibility of a Lipscomb college of pharmacy, Lipscomb’s board approved establishing the College of Pharmacy. The first 75 students enrolled in 2008.

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EVEN IN 1891 DAVID LIPSCOMB WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME Sometimes very big ideas start out in very small ways. Sometimes dreams that start out small end up turning into something life changing for years to come. Being a dreamer takes courage and vision. David Lipscomb had a dream for what the future of education could be like. He spent long evenings at his Avalon farm along the country road, Granny White Pike, with his friend James A. Harding, dreaming of a different kind of school for the city of Nashville. Both men were graduates of Christian colleges and were preachers. So when dreaming together on the porch of Lipscomb’s home on those nights long ago, they reflected on their own experiences. David Lipscomb was a product of Franklin College, a manual labor school emphasizing agriculture. But the Bible was an integral part of the curriculum, and faculty taught traditional subjects. James A. Harding graduated from Bethany College, a liberal arts college, which taught the Bible as part of a broader curriculum. Neither school was a seminary. These ideas weren’t popular with the Restoration Movement of that day. This was an

Did you know? Since 2005, enrollment at Lipscomb has grown more than 85%. The freshman class now averages 100 students more than a decade ago.

unusual approach to education, and it was a concept that stayed alive in Lipscomb’s mind.

when the school opened, “We aspire to stand in the front ranks of the great educational institutions of the world.”

With the onset of the Civil War, Franklin College closed its doors. Lipscomb and others made several efforts to raise money to reopen the school. But the days that followed the war were tough financially, and the school never reopened.

From its very beginning, the school has been a leader in education. From day one, the institution admitted men and women, which was unusual at that time, and added a medical doctor to its faculty to teach sciences in only its second year of existence. Primary and secondary education was also offered as part of the institution, another unique idea that remains so even today. This became the foundation for Lipscomb Academy, the institution’s college-preparatory preK-12 school, the only such school in the area run by a university.

The idea did not die. Lipscomb was determined to develop a school in Nashville that would integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence. And so, in 1891 the men took a bold move forward and stepped out in faith to establish Nashville Bible School. They were men ahead of their time … innovators in education. They did not want the institution to be a seminary, but rather an exceptional educational institution which helps its students to explore and form their faith. As Harding boldly declared

David Lipscomb dreamed about innovative approaches to education. His vision and pioneer spirit continues to be reflected in the university today.

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STUDYING ABROAD Lipscomb launched its “Lipscomb in Vienna,” study abroad program during Harold Hazelip’s administration. Since then, 20 groups have travelled to Vienna, most recently led by Michael Winegeart, Lipscomb’s director of global programs.

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WHAT GROUNDS US...INNOVATION

LIPSCOMB OPENS THE DOOR TO EDUCATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS Being on the frontier of any endeavor takes courage, determination, creativity and innovation. Just like David Lipscomb and James A. Harding took a step of faith in developing a school that delivered new and innovative approaches to Christian education, Lipscomb University has remained an institution that today is on the front line of higher education innovation by offering unique ways to access a college degree and through developing innovative programs. As the winds of change are shaking the stately walls of traditional brickand-mortar colleges and universities, bringing new technologies and new education delivery methods along with rising tuition costs, Lipscomb’s leaders draw upon the innovative spirit of the university’s founders to embrace these changes and lead the institution through new frontiers in higher education. “It’s not easy to be a pioneer,” said L. Randolph Lowry, Lipscomb’s 17th president. “It can often be a lonely journey with roadblocks and pitfalls along the way. But we believe it’s essential.

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EDUCATION FOR ANY AGE David Lipscomb Campus School, which had been part of the institution since 1891, had its own name change on June 1, 2012 when it became known as Lipscomb Academy. The academy is the largest private preK-12 school in Middle Tennessee and one of the few in the nation associated with a university.

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“It’s like Albert Einstein once said, ‘The person (or in our case the institution) who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person (institution) who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before.’ If we don’t seek new things, we’ll never find them.”

Did you know? The number of graduate students has grown by more than seven times since 2005 when 221 students were enrolled in graduate programs.

Among the innovative approaches to higher education that Lipscomb University has not only developed, but led the way in, are competency-based education, a Yellow Ribbon Program, a First Generation Program, the Lipscomb LIFE Program, the biomolecular science graduate bridge program and the Master of Management program. All of these are modern-day outgrowths of the vision and innovation set into motion by David Lipscomb and James A. Harding on Oct. 5, 1891.

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION Lipscomb University was one of the first institutions in the United States, and the first accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, to offer a competency-based education program, which measures a returning student’s competencies rather than credit hours and grades to award degrees. A competency-based education model is an emerging concept in higher education. It focuses on what students need to know, understand and be able to practice in the working world. These models hold learning requirements constant while academic calendars and structures can vary from the traditional course-based, instructor-led education. Just two years ago, Lipscomb launched its competency-based education program, housed in the College of Professional Studies, and it has quickly become a national leader.

YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM Lipscomb University has made a commitment at the highest level to provide an affordable education for veterans. For those who qualify for 100 percent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, Lipscomb allocates the necessary funds to allow them to earn a tuition-free undergraduate degree through the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program. The university also offers a variety of graduate degrees tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate.

The program began with 20 students in 2009, and this fall more than 230 veterans enrolled at Lipscomb. In addition, Lipscomb maintains full-time veteran liaisons in its student services, counseling and career centers to serve this population. Lipscomb’s program has been recognized nationally for its quality. Military Advanced Education awarded Lipscomb the designation of a “Top Military-Friendly University” in its “2015 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities.” Last year marked the sixth consecutive year that Lipscomb University was designated a Military-Friendly School by “GI Jobs,” a publication of Victory Media.

Did you know? The Yellow Ribbon scholarship program, established in 2012, offers a free, or greatly-discounted, college education to eligible veterans. Since then, enrollment of military veterans has grown from 20 to 230.

students to work in some of the hottest areas in laboratory science today. The program prepares students to work in research hospitals and research laboratories in both the public and private arenas.

BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM

“Tennessee ranks sixth in the nation in biotechnology jobs,” said Kent Gallaher, chair of Lipscomb’s biology department. “It’s a rapidly growing sector of the economy. The skills learned in this master’s program—which has a unique emphasis on laboratory techniques common in the biotech sector—will allow anyone with a biological sciences background to move into a number of growing career fields.”

From paternity testing to DNA forensic evidence, from cancer research to infectious diseases, the master’s program in biomolecular science will prepare graduate

The unique program also serves as a bridge program for students who want to better position themselves

for entry into graduate programs in medicine, dentistry and other allied health professions.

MASTER OF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The College of Business’ Master of Management program innovatively combines a year of academic course work with 25 hours of directed work study at one of 15 Nashville companies. The program is designed specifically for non-business bachelor’s graduates who would like to move into management in their chosen field or into business. The program also includes a global experience, a social entrepreneurship project and interdisciplinary classes where students will holistically learn various management concepts through

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Laura Delgado (center) coordinates the Pionero Program, designed to attract first generation or minority students to Lipscomb’s teacher preparation programs, in order to increase diversity in K-12 school faculties. discussion, case studies and expert speakers. Students also engage in the Nashville community to see how the concepts they are studying are applied in health care, banking, the nonprofit sector and other industries.

FIRST GENERATION PROGRAM Lipscomb believes that by bringing a diversity of cultures onto campus, students are better prepared for a nation and a world that is extremely diverse and is demanding that people succeed as global citizens. In the past few years, the university has strategically reached out to the Latino population, and has been a pioneer by accepting students without

2016

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A GROWING MINORITY Since 2005, Lipscomb’s minority enrollment has increased 339 percent. Today 22 percent of the student body (more than 1,000 students), is made up of ethnic minority students.

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asking their documentation status. Many Latino and other minority students are the first in their families to pursue a college degree and have no one to guide them through the maze of applications, exams, essays, interviews and other college admission steps available to young people whose parents attended college. Also, their families may not be experienced in guiding them through adjustment to college life. The university established the First Generation Program with two full-time employees to support those students and their families. Lipscomb has also partnered

with local hospitals to establish nursing scholarships as well as with corporations to fund scholarships for Latino students.

LIPSCOMB LIFE Lipscomb professor Richard Goode had a dream just like David Lipscomb did so many years ago. He wondered, what if… we offer our traditional students a unique opportunity to learn outside the classroom, in a place that most have never been— inside the walls of a prison. And, what if those inside the prison could learn along with them. In January 2007, Goode’s dream became a reality and Lipscomb LIFE (Lipscomb Initiative For Education) was born. Each semester Lipscomb University professors and a group of students meet once a week with inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women where together they study and earn college credit. Inmates have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree from Lipscomb. To date, 15 “inside students” have earned their associate degrees from Lipscomb through the program, with a total of about 150 having taken a class since the program’s inception. Several inside students have continued their education on the Lipscomb campus after their releases.

WHAT GROUNDS US...INNOVATION

In December 2013 and 2015, Lipscomb held LIFE commencements inside the Tennessee Prison for Women that mirrored in almost every way the traditional ceremonies taking place on the main university campus the following days.

IDEAL PROGRAM In 2013, Lipscomb’s College of Education brought the pioneer spirit to education in support of students with intellectual disabilities, giving them an opportunity to experience college as their peers do. IDEAL (Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb), is a two-year certificate program, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and

Did you know? Lipscomb was ranked No. 9 in the nation by College Choice in its 2015 Best Christian Colleges & Universities ranking.

Schools. It incorporates academic and skill-building classes, exercise sessions, daily internships, leisure time and a daily study period. The program started with three students; this fall, 20 students are enrolled. The program has been recognized nationally. The IDEAL program received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Initiative. Lipscomb was one of only 25 universities in the nation to receive a TPSID grant.

These are just a few examples of how the innovative spirit of David Lipscomb lives on at Lipscomb today. In fact, just last fall the university was named one of the South’s most innovative schools by its peers, in U.S. News and World Report. Lipscomb was one of nine universities in the South nominated by its peers in the 2016 Most Innovative Schools category. David Lipscomb’s pioneering spirit was recognized even by these other university leaders, and his vision and innovation will continue to impact lives for the next 125 years of Lipscomb’s history.

The IDEAL program for intellectually disabled students has graduated 11 students with life and career skills certificates in its first two cohorts.

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YEARS OF LEADERS Over its 125 years, Lipscomb has had 14 people serve in 17 presidential administrations and 13 board chairs. Lipscomb’s current president, L. Randolph Lowry, is one of four presidents to serve continuously for a decade or more: Harold Hazelip (11 years), Athens Clay Pullius (31 years), James A. Harding (10 years), and Lowry has served 11 years.

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WHEN PURPOSE IS EMBRACED, IMPACT HAPPENS David Lipscomb died on Sunday, November 11, 1917, at age 86. His impact was clear in the front-page newspaper stories about his death; in a crowd of mourners so large the South College Street Church of Christ, his home congregation, was too small to hold them; in a funeral of eulogies so lengthy that he was finally buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery well after dark under the headlights of several automobiles. To this day, his two passions and purposes— the school and his beloved Gospel Advocate magazine, which he edited for years—are still in continuous operation. And his passion and vision for Christian education continue as a part of the university’s DNA today. The dream of David Lipscomb and James A. Harding has been kept alive for 125 years due to the courage, vision and strong leadership of its board of trustees, its presidents and administrators, and its faculty and staff. Although the 14 men who have served as Lipscomb’s president over 17 administrations have been the public face of the university over these 125 years and have built this into the thriving institution it is today, they did not do it alone.

Behind every president is a board that invests its time, finances, expertise and vision into the institution. Without strong leadership of the board—and a board that is willing to take a leap of faith at times—these presidents would not have been able to guide this university to the place that it is today—a leader in higher education, an institution that has grown from nine students on its first day to nearly 6,000 on its most recent day. From its first chair, James A. Harding, to Lipscomb’s 13th and current chair, David Scobey, the institution has been indelibly impacted by its board and its leaders. Perhaps the most impactful leadership lessons have been taught in the classroom by a faculty who, over the last 125 years, have dedicated their careers to transforming the lives of students— intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally. Who have taught lessons on leadership, but who have also demonstrated those leadership lessons in the way they care for their students, in their passion for education and in their faith. With the strong leadership of the board, the dedication of the faculty and the vision of its presidents, Lipscomb has grown mightily.

And the last 25 years—since the institution celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1991—have been marked with unprecedented growth. The three presidents who served during that time— Harold Hazelip, Steve Flatt and L. Randolph Lowry— each played significant roles, with the support of their boards and faculty, in setting the university on a course that has resulted in a nearly 110 percent enrollment growth over the last 25 years, with a 339 percent increase in minority enrolment over the last 11 years. The number of graduate programs increased from one to the 102 offered today, including three doctoral degrees. During the last quarter-century, the campus has also changed dramatically with 25 new facilities and structures being built and the extensive renovation of numerous others. With a look back at the last 25 years in Lipscomb history, Lipscomb Now honors the leadership of its three presidents during that time.

Strong leaders who rose up at the right time, each laying the foundation for the next leader and future generations of students, “for such a time as this.”

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WHAT GROUNDS US...LEADERSHIP

THE LAST 25 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP Three leaders bring continued growth since centennial anniversary. HAROLD HAZELIP

15TH PRESIDENT • SEPTEMBER 1986-MAY 1997 Harold H. Hazelip started his lifelong relationship with Lipscomb as a student in the late 1940s when he was one of the first people from his rural Kentucky hometown to attend the institution. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1950 to embark on a career as a minister, a speaker for the Herald of Truth Radio and Televison Program and a dean of Harding School of Theology in Memphis from 1972-1986, before being appointed president of Lipscomb. “I didn’t realize how purple my blood was until I got back on campus,” he recalled. “The whole love affair with the school which nurtured me when I first left home reappeared when I set foot back on campus.” Hazelip was known for strengthening Lipscomb’s identity as a leading academic institution. He remained committed to the Christian values of the founders, and through his example, encouraged students, faculty and staff to deepen their involvement in service and mission. One of the biggest challenges Hazelip said he wrestled with as president was a lawsuit related to tax-exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds Lipscomb received to build the Beaman Library and the Student Activities Center and to add a fiber optic network. The case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court, which remanded it to the Sixth Circuit Court, which then refused to hear it. The university won the case during Flatt’s administration.

“That was one of the great accomplishments,” said Hazelip. “It gave us a head start in an area that I had no idea how far it was going. Nobody had email in those days. It completely changed the way we approached the computer age.” “We also developed a number of programs that opened up opportunities for students,” Hazelip said. “We were determined to improve the quality of the school academically as much as possible. We increased the number of faculty with terminal degrees. We started an overseas study program. It added a globalization prong to what we were doing. We changed missions opportunities for students from a two-year program to a short-term focus to acquaint people to mission work in a shorter period of time.” Being selected to lead Lipscomb University as president is something that Hazelip said was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. “The only place I would have been president was at my alma mater,” he said. “There was something about coming back to this place and to these people and renewing that relationship and a love affair of the heart that gave me a different feeling. I thought if I could do a good job of this, there aren’t many things that would mean more to me than that. I felt a very strong calling here.”

Hazelip said he is most proud of the “computerization of the campus” during his tenure.

Hazelip retired in May 1997. He served a three-month stint as interim president between the Flatt and Lowry administrations in 2005.

JAMES A. HARDING

WILLIAM ANDERSON

J.S. WARD

E.A. ELAM

H. LEO BOLES

A.B. LIPSCOMB

H.S. LIPSCOMB

1891

1901

1905*

1906

1913*

1920

1921

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* Two-term presidents: J.S. Ward (1905-06, 1913); H. Leo Boles (1913-20, 1923-32)

HAZELIP’S LEADERSHIP: • David Lipscomb College became Lipscomb University following Level III accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This allowed the institution to award accredited master’s degrees for the first time in its history. • The percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees rose from 63 percent to 83 percent. • Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Arts in Education degrees were added. • The Adult Degree Program was added offering bachelor’s degree programs for working adults. • Admissions standards became more stringent. • The business, music and social work programs were accredited. • The first global learning program was launched. The “Lipscomb in Vienna” program allowed students to earn a semester’s credit abroad. • Enrollment topped 2,500 for the first time in university history. • Campus construction and renovation, totaling more than $20 million, included a campuswide beautification program, a new library, the Student Activities Center, an addition to Swang Center, a new baseball/tennis complex; an addition to the academy; and major renovations of Crisman Memorial Library, Burton Administration Building and McQuiddy Gym. He also invested in a campuswide fiber optic network, which was cutting-edge for universities at that time. • The J.M. McCaleb Mission Center was built, and a new emphasis was placed on student and faculty community service and mission opportunities. Short-term mission trips were added, and the missions program grew quickly. • Minority enrollment more than doubled. • The university’s website was launched. • Lipscomb was named one of the top 10 liberal arts universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, and as one of the top 10 “best values” in the same region. • Lipscomb was included in the John Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and in Peterson’s Competitive Colleges.

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FLATT’S LEADERSHIP: • Lipscomb’s academic departments were reorganized into five colleges: Education & Professional Studies, Natural & Applied Sciences, Bible & Ministry, Business and Arts & Humanities. • The Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering and the Lipscomb/Vanderbilt Nursing Partnership were established. • The athletic program transitioned from the NAIA to the NCAA Division I level of competition and the women’s basketball team was the first Lipscomb team to make it to NCAA post-season competition. • Curriculum and degree expansions included a master of business administration, a master of divinity, bachelor of science degrees in computer engineering and engineering mechanics and a bachelor of science degree in nursing. • The Center for Leadership Excellence, Center for Character Development, Center for International Peace and Justice, and the Center for Spiritual Renewal were launched. • Campus enhancements included the construction of the 5,000-seat Allen Arena, a parking garage, a 148-bed addition to Johnson Hall, a major renovation to Bennett Campus Center, several dormitory renovations and the beginning of construction on the Ezell Center. • A donor gave a $1 million gift to the academy during its capital campaign and the academy received more than $12 million of new and renovated facilities. • The campus ministry program was established and the student mission trip program expanded. • The Lighting the Way campaign raised $120 million. • Online courses were offered for the first time. • Lipscomb was the first university in Nashville to receive the institutional overlay by Metro Nashville officials, paving the way for easier future expansion processes for Lipscomb and for other universities in Nashville. • A master plan was developed for the expansion of the campus that included 27 acres to the north of campus. During the Flatt administration, the university purchased 68 percent of those 27 acres. Today the Nursing Health Sciences Center, the James D. Hughes Center, the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and the Fields Engineering Center sit on that land. • The engineering programs received national accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

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WHAT GROUNDS US...LEADERSHIP

STEVE FLATT

16TH PRESIDENT • JULY 1997-JUNE 2005 “I’ve often been fond of saying that each president stands on the shoulders of those who’ve gone before him,” Steve Flatt said in an interview just days before his tenure as president ended. “I’d like to think—like the old Bison basketball camp motto—that you leave this place a little better than you found it. And I think we have. At the same time, there is so much more to do.” Before Stephen F. Flatt was appointed the 16th president of Lipscomb University in July 1997, he had unique insight that no other president has had. Not only did he experience the university as a student and a member of the Bison basketball team, but as an employee in various areas of the institution. Flatt began his career with Lipscomb in 1977 as assistant to the vice president. He also served as director of admissions, vice president for business affairs and vice president for institutional planning. From 1986-1990, he served as president of Ezell-Harding Christian School and was the pulpit minister of Madison Church of Christ from 1986-1997, when he was named Hazelip’s successor in spring 1997. “Lipscomb was a great place to go from adolescence to adulthood with the right amount of challenge and context to help you grow into the person God wants you to be,” he recalled. “It’s hard to put into words what Lipscomb means to me,” he continued. “It changed and shaped my life at a pivotal moment. It led me to my wife to whom I’ve been married for 38 years. My three children were educated here. It was my first place of real

employment. It gave me the opportunity to continue my education. It has shaped my life beyond description.” By the time Flatt left office in 2005, after being named senior vice president for development at National HealthCare Corporation, for which he serves as CEO today, he had brought to reality his plans for building a stronger university with more visibility in the community and across the country. Flatt said one of the biggest challenges facing college presidents is to keep everything working together in harmony. “When I was president, people would sometimes ask me, ‘What do you do in your job?’” he said. “I would always respond to that question by telling them it’s a lot like being mayor of a small city. Education takes place on the campus. And in our case we had from preK to graduate level students. People eat there and sleep there. There were places you can get medical attention. It’s a 24/7 community, 365 days a year. So there were always challenges. “But the good so outweighs the difficult. The people are just incredible. I had the best set of fellow administrators anybody could ask for, and a lot of them are still in place today which speaks to their quality, ability and just who they are as people. “All of life is people. Life is about relationships. The thing I’m proudest of is my relationship with students. But I’m particularly grateful for Danny Taylor, Craig Bledsoe and Walt Leaver. I’m proud of putting them in their leadership roles and they are instrumental in what Lipscomb is today.”

BATSELL BAXTER

E.H. IJAMS

ATHENS CLAY PULLIAS

WILLARD COLLINS

HAROLD HAZELIP

STEVE FLATT

L. RANDOLPH LOWRY III

1932*

1934

1946

1977

1986

1997

2005

* Two-term president: Batsell Baxter (1932-34, 1943-46)

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WHAT GROUNDS US...LEADERSHIP

L. RANDOLPH LOWRY

17TH PRESIDENT • SEPTEMBER 2005-PRESENT When L. Randolph Lowry came in September 2005 from Malibu, California, he brought a different set of life experiences to the role than any of the 13 men before him. He was the first president in university history who was an attorney and not from the Tennessee region. But all of his experiences at Pepperdine University and several other universities along his journey, and his groundbreaking work in conflict resolution, prepared him for “such a time as this.” Lowry brought with him a new vision and a fresh lens through which to view education as he challenged the Lipscomb community to expand the borders of learning by viewing the city of Nashville as the university’s campus and the world as its classroom. His passion for connecting the university to the Nashville community and beyond is a hallmark of his administration as is his innovative approach to leadership and to higher education. Since his arrival on campus, Lowry has led the Lipscomb community through a period of tremendous growth with university enrollment near the 4,700 mark for the first time in university history. In addition to enrollment growth of nearly 86 percent, Lowry is perhaps most known for his passion for increasing access to education for anyone wanting a college degree. “A college education opens the door to so many opportunities in life,” he said. “I want as many students who want to earn a degree to be able to do so at Lipscomb. Today, more than 85 percent of the nation’s college students are non-traditional in some way. And we want to provide programs that meet them where they are.” Increasing the diversity of the student body has also been a key focus for Lowry. “Today, the U.S. population reflects a rich mixture of cultural influence, and our universities will be challenged to naturally

reflect the diversity of the communities around them,” said Lowry. “Diversity matters on our campuses because it helps expand a student’s sense of their global citizenship. Universities are places where the door to the world can be opened and students can widen their circles to prepare for a career in the global community. It also helps them see beyond their own immediate experience and learn from multiple viewpoints, giving them a larger perspective on the world.” With its growth in recent years, Lipscomb is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the Southeast and in the nation for its teacher prep programs as well as business, biology and visual arts among others. Lowry has also guided the institution through physical and financial growth. To date, he has successfully led the institution to raise nearly $200 million through two fundraising campaigns that dramatically advanced the institution’s academic programs and campus facilities, including establishing Middle Tennessee’s first College of Pharmacy, building numerous new facilities, adding six colleges and launching seven institutes designed to not only offer academic degrees but to also serve the community through their programs and services. In addition to his reputation for education innovation, Lowry is also one of the nation’s leading experts in dispute resolution, which has catapulted the university into the national spotlight. He has been featured in a variety of national media outlets including CNN, Bloomberg Businessweek, Huffington Post and Washington Monthly as a conflict management expert. He has received numerous accolades for his leadership including being named “Most Admired CEO” by the Nashville Business Journal. The university recently recognized the decade of leadership under Lowry’s watch and all of the growth and accomplishments during that time, (See the winter 2016 issue of Lipscomb Now for a retrospective of the first decade of Lowry’s leadership.)

CERTAINLY, THE VISION OF JAMES A. HARDING AND DAVID LIPSCOMB LIVES ON TODAY ON THE SHOULDERS OF L. RANDOLPH LOWRY AND THOSE WHO WILL CARRY THE MANTLE INTO THE NEXT 125 YEARS.

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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LOWRY ADMINISTRATION INCLUDE: • Launching six new colleges: Computing & Technology, Entertainment & the Arts, Professional Studies, Engineering, Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Leadership & Public Service; while others were reorganized including the colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Education. • Founding seven special-interest institutes in sustainability; civic leadership; conflict management; law, justice and society; spiritual formation; corporate ethics and governance; and teacher learning and innovation. • Adding study abroad programs in Florence, Italy, and Santiago, Chile, as well as shorter travel study opportunities. • Growing the student missions program to involve more than 950 students, faculty, staff and friends who annually travel to around 60 locations in 23 countries. • Increasing the number of graduate programs offered to 102 in 70 areas of study including three doctorates and nearly 25 master’s degrees. • Launching innovative programs such as the competency-based education program, that awards credit to students for life and work experience, and that quickly set the national standard for similar programs. • Establishing the first College of Pharmacy in Middle Tennessee. • Building the university’s first research facility. • Offering programs at off-campus sites and at the university’s innovative Spark facilities. • Launching a Yellow Ribbon Program that offers veterans who qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill a free education. • Founding a First Generation Program to encourage students who are the first in their family to attend college. • Building the university’s first apartmentstyle housing with ground broken this fall on a second village residential facility. • Building a state-of-the art Nursing and Health Sciences Building, a building for art and engineering, a music facility, an engineering building and a new laboratory wing for McFarland Science Center among other projects. • Growing the university to be classified as a Carnegie doctoral research university.

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...WHAT GROWS US

Stepping into the next 125 years BY L. RANDOLPH LOWRY, 17TH PRESIDENT OF LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY Our first 125 years have brought us to a good place. As a result of all the lessons learned over the decades including challenges, mistakes, achievements, joys and sorrows alike, the university is growing. It is deepening its historic attention to academic excellence. It is attracting students who see the value of an intentional Christian education. It is bringing more and more donors into our story and expanding their opportunity to make an impact on the future through us. I want to use this opportunity to salute the other 13 presidents of this university, especially my two immediate predecessors, Harold Hazelip and Steve Flatt, for contributing indelibly to what this university has become. Remarkable gentlemen of faith, vision and dedication. Now to the next 125 years. Since that is by any measure a daunting timeline, let me share with you where we are going for the next few years. The university has a bold plan to invest $250 million in the institution, making this plan one of our most ambitious ever undertaken. That investment includes: •

The just completed McCadams Athletic Center for Lipscomb Academy.

•

Completion of the Fields Engineering Center in a few months, setting the stage for an engineering enrollment goal of more than 300 students from its current just under 200.

•

e introduction of a downtown Nashville Spark location Th that will mirror the success of our Williamson County facility and be home to much of the programming for our

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Colleges of Leadership & Public Service, Professional Studies and Business. •

new residence hall concept will be completed north of A the current Villages, which will be built around a hotel concept, allowing that facility to be better used for events during the summer months.

•

A new physician assistant program will debut in 2019.

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new medical clinic will open with programs that will A reach out to the public.

•

e renovation of Johnson, Sewell and High Rise Th Residence Halls, two of which are completed.

•

The Boone Family Center for the Performing Arts will be built along Granny White Pike east of the Bennett Center. It will offer impressive performance spaces for both the academy and the university.

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new academy middle school facility will be built A adjacent to the elementary school’s present site, which will also be expanded, about a mile south of the main campus.

•

e academy’s learning center will be expanded as well Th as the school’s ongoing and unique connectivity to the university and the resources it offers our younger students.

All this to accommodate what we anticipate to be a combined university and academy enrollment of more than 7,000. Programmatically, our march to 2020 reflects several key dynamics that have long been a part of the university. We will continue our leadership in undergraduate preparation for medical, dental and veterinary schools—now with a graduate option: the master’s in biomolecular science that

The future Boone Family Center for the Performing Arts.

can be a “gap” year for students wanting to strengthen their applications to the medical, dental and veterinary school of their choice. As the economy demands more and more college-educated individuals in the workforce, we will continue to strengthen our adult degree program, coupled with one of the nation’s leading competency-based education programs, creating wider access and more successful outcomes for people who started college but did not complete their degrees. We will continue quickly developing a panoply of degree offerings that are well-connected to workforce needs. For example, the Master in Management provides on-thejob, experiential learning, and the master’s program in information technology management allows individuals who may not have the “techie” skills in computing but whose leadership and management skills make them excellent managers to be a valuable resource for a company. We will continue to reach out to our community in service through volunteerism, by offering university resources to impact significant social issues and through locations that

allow more individuals to access Lipscomb University in more ways and in more places. Finally, we will continue to investigate ways to take the message of Jesus to students who live in a culture that encourages them to resist the Spirit and discourages bold faith. That may be the most challenging issue ahead of us. And the most rewarding. This is what we know now about our future. And it is intriguing to think about 2141, our 250th, or even our 150th in 2041. For instance, what will the footprint of our campus be here and in other states and nations? Will nutrition in interstellar travel be one of our competencies? Will public transportation become so prevalent, so comprehensive and so fast that we no longer have a parking problem?! It will certainly be a different world, but I do know one certainty now: today, we continue in the 125-year-old commitment that set our course so long ago. We will look at what is to come with the same lens as what has been: faith, scholarship, community delivered with an intentional, courageous and gracious Christianity. We can do no better.

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Vintage LIPSCOMB Telling the Lipscomb story one piece at a time For many alumni, the story of Lipscomb is recalled best through their own personal mementos of their time on campus—photos, T-shirts, notebooks and souvenirs. Seeing and touching a long-packed item brings back a wealth of fond memories. Allow us now to unpack some of those memories by presenting a selection of items currently housed in the Beaman Library archives of Lipscomb University history. From pom poms to David Lipscomb’s original reference library, the archives are full of historic items that can help us always remember the lessons of the past, and apply them to a successful future.

2011

SCULPTED FROM THE PAST A ceremonial symbol of authority, the Lipscomb mace is sculpted of wood harvested from a fallen elm tree that grew in a fence row on David Lipscomb’s farm, one in a line of trees that still runs through Bison Square. Nashville artist Pat Matranga designed the mace.

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1918

1951

MID-CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

A UNIVERSITY BY ANOTHER NAME These buttons date from two name changes ago. In 1918 Nashville Bible School became David Lipscomb College. In 1989 the name changed to David Lipscomb University. During President Harold Hazelip’s administration policy became to refer to the institution as Lipscomb University.

This letter was awarded to John Henderson, a member of Lipscomb’s Volunteer State Athletic Conference Championship basketball team and now honored in the Lipscomb Hall of Fame.

1990s

HONOR YOUR ALMA MATER A button given to alumni, featuring the image of the Brewer Bell Tower, built in 1935 as a senior class gift. Construction cost $450, and the tower housed the Lipscomb bell, which called students to class and worship and was at that time more than a quarter-century old. Today there are more than 43,500 living Lipscomb alumni around the world.

1995

1990s

THE “STUDENTS’ PRESIDENT” During the end of Willard Collins administration as president, these buttons began to pop up on campus in honor of the much-loved president. Today, students often wear “R-Lo” T-shirts in honor of Randy Lowry.

M c QUIDDY FLOOR During a renovation of McQuiddy Gym, built in 1949, the athletics department handed out pieces of the original lobby floor as souvenirs. In 2000, 40 percent of McQuiddy was torn down to make way for Allen Arena, which is connected to the remaining portion of the gym today.

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VINTAGE LIPSCOMB

1990s

DUGAN’S DYNASTY These Bison baseball cards are from the 1990s. Longtime baseball coach Ken Dugan (1935-2000) began a 37year career at Lipscomb in 1960 and led the Bisons to two NAIA National Championships in 1977 and 1979.

1960s

MAKING MUSIC This patch is from a 1960s jacket worn by the David Lipscomb College student band in the 1960s. Today, the university has up to 14 student music ensembles.

1930s

THE LIPSCOMB LETTER A Lipscomb jacket letter from the 1930s or 1940s awarded for student participation in, likely, a literary society. Today Lipscomb has almost 30 academic, honor and professional societies.

1911

A DEGREE OF SUCCESS Lipscomb was originally called Nashville Bible School until it was re-named David Lipscomb College in 1903. This diploma belonged to Eva McCanless, whose family lived across from campus and was closely connected to Lipscomb in its early days.

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LIPSCOMB ARCHIVES 1917

HITTING THE BOOKS Edwina Neathery was a student at Lipscomb who donated her class notebooks to the Lipscomb archives. Lipscomb enrolled women students from its first session of classes.

WHAT’S HIDING IN YOUR HOME? DONATE YOUR LIPSCOMB KEEPSAKES TO BEAMAN LIBRARY’S LIPSCOMB ARCHIVE TODAY! Lipscomb stories are everywhere. They are hiding under beds and tucked away in other nearby places. Beaman Library’s university archives staff wants to recover missing pieces of Lipscomb’s history and preserve it as a part of the Lipscomb Archives, before it is forgotten or lost forever. Any alumni can be part of keeping Lipscomb’s history alive by donating keepsakes from your college days to the Beaman Library.

oct. 5

FOUNDER’S DAY

Lipscomb loves our founder David Lipscomb, and throughout the years the university has celebrated Founder’s Day in various ways. A speech contest was held until the 1980s, nurturing many famous preachers, and in 2015, the day was celebrated with a visit by a David Lipscomb interpreter.

1986

A NEW BEGINNING The Lipscomb seal graced the gold medallion that Harold Hazelip wore at his inauguration as Lipscomb’s 15th president.

Curious what to donate? Think broadly! The archives team is interested in pictures, videos, audio material, playbills and other Lipscomb paraphernalia. This could include publications, yearbooks before 1940, programs and posters of past events, club mementos, pennants, calendars, diaries, scrapbooks, personal memoirs and more. If something has historical value, then the library wants to preserve it. To donate your Lipscomb items to the Lipscomb Archive, call or email Elizabeth Rivera at 615.966.6033 or elizabeth.rivera@lipscomb.edu or Marie Byers at 615.966.6031 or marie.byers@ lipscomb.edu. Donors can also mail items to Lipscomb University, Beaman Library Special Collections, One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204-3951 or drop off contributions during normal business hours, after notifying Lipscomb’s archival staff. The archival staff will maintain a record of how Lipscomb acquired each item and present donors with a signed deed of gift. Random unmarked treasures dropped off at the door will not be included in the archives. Special Collections is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. To donate monetarily to Beaman Library’s Special Collections and Archives to preserve today’s items for tomorrow’s researchers, email elizabeth.rivera@lipscomb.edu. lipscombnow.com

Bisonnotes Class Notes

At lipscomb.edu/classnotes see the latest, post an update, share a photo—especially if it’s your reunion year. For Bisons who’ve joined Golden Circle—that’s 50+ years since graduation—every year is a reunion year.

1962

Joel Dobson of Greensboro, N.C., has published the second of his books The Goldsboro Broken Arrow, a nonfiction work about a 1961 incident in which two hydrogen bombs fell on North Carolina when a USAF B-52 disintegrated in mid-air.

1972

Tom Lawrence of Franklin, Tenn., recently was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 list of Williamson County Impact Award honorees.

1975

Dave Crouch of Franklin, Tenn., recently was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 list of Williamson County Impact Award honorees.

1977

Stephen F. Flatt of Nashville, recently was promoted from president to CEO of National HealthCare Corporation. Flatt served as president of Lipscomb University from 1997 to 2005.

1980

Kevin Hickman of Nashville, recently was named principalin-charge of the tax department at Crosslin & Associates.

1981

Randy Stamps of Nashville, recently was named executive director of the Tennessee State Employees Association.

1982

Robert Gay of Burke, Va., retired Jan. 31 after more than 20 years as

WHERE DID THAT BUILDING COME FROM? Wait too long to come visit the Lipscomb campus, and you probably won’t recognize where you are right away (Never fear! You can grab one of our convenient campus maps located around campus).

1991

CELEBRATING A CENTURY

supervisory special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

1986

Mark Brooks of Clarksville, Tenn., recently was named senior vice president and senior lender for business banking at First Advantage Bank. ¶ Tim Smith of Nashville, Tenn., recently was promoted to senior vice president at Alliance Oncology.

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employed with Willtronics Broadcast Corporation since May 1995. In those years, he has hosted the popular Sunday Morning Gospel Show, celebrating his 1,000th show in May 2015.

1990

Chad Boyd of Murfreesboro, Tenn., recently was named chief financial officer at TwelveStone Health Partners. ¶ Guy Vanderpool of Amarillo, Texas, is director of external affairs at Amon Carter Museum.

Kevin Helms of Franklin, Tenn., is chief sales and marketing officer at EnableComp. ¶ Glenn McGehee of Franklin, Tenn., recently was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 list of Williamson County Impact Award honorees. ¶ Brad Pope of Chattanooga, Tenn., was recently promoted to senior vice president, human resources and chief administrative officer for the southeast division of Catholic Health Initiatives.

1989

1991

1987

Randall Hamm of Paoli, Ind., is celebrating 21 years at WFLQ radio in French Lick, Ind. Hamm has been

Darin Kellett of Franklin, Tenn., is senior credit officer at Franklin

HARDING HALL

ELAM HALL

(now Lipscomb Academy’s main building) One of the first three school buildings on the Lipscomb farm campus, this building was named in 1915 for co-founder James A. Harding.

This residence hall was named for E.A. Elam, Lipscomb’s fourth president, when it was still called Nashville Bible School. Elam was a preacher and served Lipscomb as a board member, superintendent, Bible professor and chief fundraiser.

Here’s a guide to several of the main campus buildings and how they got their names.

Lipscomb celebrated its 100th birthday in style with a concert by Diamond Rio, with lead singer alumnus Marty Roe; a dedication of the Beaman Library; and the campus school presented a play based on the life of David Lipscomb.

1903

1930

Synergy Bank. ¶ David Ruch of Seattle, Wash., is vice president of operations for the Essential Baking Company.

1993

J.P. McCarley of Nashville, is associate project manager with GHP Environmental & Architecture.

1994

years of service.

CDR Axel Spens of Marietta, Ga., retired from the U.S. Navy after 22

1997

Jennifer Lineberger of Nashville, is director of operations at Pendleton Square Trust Company. ¶ Angela Poag of Columbia, Tenn., is the new assistant principal at Whitthorne Middle School. ¶ Rob Touchstone of Nolensville, Tenn., was named by the Tennessean as one of two winners of the 12th Awards for Business Innovator.

Jon and Kelley (Wade) Owens of Jacksonville, Fla., announce the April 2 birth of Eleanor Rose “Ella” Owens. ¶ Ryan Roller (MBA ’04) of Nashville, is the head coach of the Lipscomb Academy high school girls’ varsity basketball team.

2003

Katherine Murrie of Nashville, was recognized at the 10th Annual Nashville Emerging Leaders Award ceremony as a finalist in the financial services industry.

2004

Jenny (Ashby) Barker of Nashville, was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 “40 Under 40” list. Barker is the director of public relations and marketing for Gaylord Entertainment. ¶ Ryan and Erica Taylor of Brentwood, Tenn., announce the April 15 birth of Finley Lane. ¶ Christopher and Jennifer (McMeen) Wayman (’07) of Franklin,

Tenn., announce the May 18 birth of twin daughters Quinn Chandler and Nora James Wayman.

2005

Charlie Dillingham of Nashville, was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 “40 Under 40” list. Dillingham is the senior director of financial reporting for AMSURG. ¶ Ryan and Virginia Kohl of Chattanooga, Tenn., announce the Feb. 1 birth of James Ryan Kohl. ¶ David and Lynn (Roller) Lavender of Nashville, announce the May 13 birth of Wesley Dale Lavender. ¶ Kenny MacLean of Nashville, is senior vice president and senior credit officer at ServisFirst Bank. ¶ Stephen and Whitney Neil of Franklin, Tenn., announce the April 20 birth of Claire Ellen Neil. ¶ Justin Welch of Dallas, Texas, was promoted to partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP and focuses his practice on intellectual property matters.

1999

Ellie (Westman) Chin of Franklin, Tenn., recently was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 list of Williamson County Impact Award honorees. ¶ Zach Evans of Franklin, Tenn., was recognized at the 10th Annual Nashville Emerging Leaders Award as a finalist in the medical and health care services industry.

2000

Shelby Adams of Irving, Texas, is senior director of communications for Skanska Midwest Region. ¶ Heather Sczepczenski (MALT ’08) of Nashville, was recognized at the 10th Annual Nashville Emerging Leaders Award ceremony as a finalist in the government and public affairs industry.

1967

SOCIAL CLUBS ESTABLISHED Social organizations were tried out in several ways in the early 1960s, but in 1967 the current form of social clubs was established. This dress is from the first year of Pi Delta, which still exists as one of Lipscomb’s 13 social clubs today.

2001

Pam Bryant of Franklin, Tenn., recently was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 list of Williamson County Impact Award honorees.

2002

Russell and Nan Gentry of Brentwood, Tenn., announce the April 11 birth of twins Josiah and Chase Gentry. ¶

1947

BURTON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

COLLINS ALUMNI AUDITORIUM

(aka College Hall, Burton Administration Building and Burton Bible Building) This historic building is named in honor of Andrew Mizell Burton (1879-1966), founder of Life & Casualty Insurance Company and member of Lipscomb’s board of directors for 45 years.

In 1986, the existing auditorium was named after 14th president Willard Collins (’36) (1977-1986) after his retirement. During Collins’ administration, the school’s then-current $3.2 million debt was retired.

1947

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Bisonnotes 1980s

SHOW YOUR SPIRIT Pennant from the 1980s or 1990s. Lipscomb often used the official seal as a university logo until President Steve Flatt’s administration created the torch logo, and then President Randy Lowry’s administration created the shield logo used today.

2006

Matt and Lauren (Niehls) Hudson (’07) of Advance, N.C., announce the Jan. 11 birth of their son Miller Hudson. Big brother is Shapiro.

2007

Matt Bishop of Nolensville, Tenn., received an American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Elijah Watt Sells Award. The award is presented to those who score 95.5 percent or higher on all sections of the CPA exam. ¶ Walter Conyers of Brentwood, Tenn., was recognized at the 10th Annual Nashville Emerging Leaders Award ceremony as a finalist in the financial services industry. ¶ Brad and Candice Coon of Nolensville, Tenn., announce the March 24 birth of Ellie Kate Coon. ¶ Paul Marcellini of Miami, Fla., had one of his photographs selected as the artwork for the new “Everglades Forever” U.S. postage stamp. ¶ Anton and Amanda (Henry)

CRISMAN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (aka Crisman Memorial Library) This building was endowed by Oscar and B.A. Crisman in honor of their parents. B.A. Crisman’s son, the late Bryan Crisman, was a 44-year member of the Lipscomb Board of Trustees.

1948

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Santiago (MATELL ’12) of Columbia, Tenn., announce the June 17 birth of June Cecile Santiago.

2008

Ann Mullins (MALT ’10) of Nashville, is the head coach of volleyball at Father Ryan High School. ¶ Marcus Pollard of Covington, Ga., received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. ¶ Justin (’09) and Annika Sanders of Suwanee, Ga., announce the May 30 birth of son Torben Justin Sanders. ¶ Paul and Rachel (Jones) Stevens (’10) of Nashville, announce the Feb. 17 birth of Everett Mason Stevens.

2009

Megan Perry of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and Adam Jaynes of Cookeville, Tenn., were married Nov. 14, 2015.

2010

Jad and Katie Dotson of Nashville, announce the March 14 birth of Olivia Nell Dotson. ¶ Brad and Jenny Stephenson of Nashville, announce the June 28 birth of Parker James Stephenson.

2011

Jesse and Rachel (Dennis) Cox of Nolensville, Tenn., announce the April 8 birth of Dorothy Lynn Cox. ¶ Andrew and Kara (Jackson) Grasty of Englewood, Ohio, announce the May 2 birth of Hannah Marie Grasty.

2012

Alé Dalton of Bogota, Colombia, graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law with honors. ¶ Rebeckah Dopp (MASE, MS ’15) of Gallatin, Tenn., is the head of school at the Edison School in Gallatin. ¶ Jaclyn (Khoury) Mothupi (MS, CE ’14) of Nashville, Tenn.,

M C FARLAND SCIENCE CENTER

BENNETT CAMPUS CENTER

In the 1980s, this building was named in honor of Dr. Sam McFarland (’27, DLHS ’25), who practiced medicine and surgery in Lebanon, Tennessee, for 48 years.

(aka the Student Center) In March 2008, the student center was named in memory of Word Bennett (’36), who served on the board of directors from 1967-1997.

1966

1968

1960 s

BELOVED BISON

The Bison statue was the brain-child of Dewayne Lanham, who ran for student body president. He lost but his idea caught on, and in 1960 the Bison statue was donated as a class gift and installed on the current site of the Swang Business Center.

won a 2016 Nashville Emerging Leader Award in the environment and sustainability industry.

2013

Vanessa Hickman of Mount Juliet, Tenn., was promoted to chief administrative officer at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. ¶ Matt Tiller of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is president of Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro. ¶ Brynn Watkins and her husband Aaron Craig of Brooklyn, N.Y., codirected the short film Speak of the Lights, which was shown at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. ¶ Andrew Williams is principal of Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts in Ivins, Utah.

BEAMAN LIBRARY The library is named for the late Sally and Alvin Beaman, a Nashville businessman who founded Beaman Automotive Group and Beaman Bottling Co. and co-founded WTVF Channel 5.

1991

2014

Will Norton of Nashville, was named to the Nashville Business Journal’s 2016 “40 Under 40” list. Norton is the dean of high school for Montgomery Bell Academy. ¶ Niki Patton of Nashville, recently was named principal at Independence High School in Thompson’s Station, Tenn. ¶ James Sullivan of Christiana, Tenn., was recognized at the 10th Annual Nashville Emerging Leaders Award ceremony as a finalist in the education industry.

2015

Schanda Banister-Doughty of Clarksville, Tenn., is principal at Rossview High School. ¶ Anna Conner of Hendersonville, Tenn., was named 2015-16 Sumner County Teacher of the Year for grades 5-8. Connor

ALLEN ARENA The arena is named after Jim Allen (’68), former Lipscomb vice president for business affairs, and Linda (Shackelford ’70) Allen, who made the largest gift in Lipscomb history to pay for the building’s construction.

2001

teaches eighth grade math at T.W. Hunter Middle School. ¶ Ashlee Spearman of Clarksville, Tenn., is director of the quality enhancement plan for Austin Peay State University.

We want your notes! Please send news of weddings, births, deaths; new jobs and promotions; academics and professional degrees; church and community service activities; awards and achievements; and changes of address to Class Notes Editor, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204. Email: classnotes@ lipscomb.edu; Online: lipscomb.edu/classnotes.

PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER This facility is the first building on campus developed specifically for research. It includes collaborative classrooms, core labs and other learning environments that gave the institution new capabilities that it has never had before.

2013

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Bisonnotes In Memoriam

We publish news of the passing of Bisons as we learn of it. Find obituaries published in their entirety at lipscomb.edu/classnotes. Family members may also submit obituaries and photos for publication online and in print.

1935 1937 1942 1943 1944

Allan Little of Nashville, died Jan. 28. Ann (Batey) Whitley of Brentwood, Tenn., died March 1. Jennie Mae (Pinckley) Grider of Tompkinsville, Ky., died March 20. Margaret (Smith) Parrish of Birmingham, Ala., died May 26.

C. Turney Stevens Sr. died June 29, and his wife Jeanne Morton Stevens (’46) died June 7. Both lived in Nashville, Tenn. ¶ Bessie Ledbetter Pryor of Searcy, Ark., died April 8.

1949

Harvey Carter of Knoxville, Tenn., died in February. ¶ Ruth (Walker) Culbertson of Antioch, Tenn., died Aug. 7. ¶ Margaret (Barnes) Scott of Monteagle, Tenn., died Dec. 11, 2015. ¶ Sarah Jane Duncan Swan of Amarillo, Texas, died June 7. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh Winford Swan.

1951

Ann (Ferguson) Burton of Nashville, Tenn., died July 2. ¶ Martha (Graves) Finto of Nashville, died March 20. ¶ Nancy (Wilson) Gaw of Gainesboro, Tenn., died May 14.

1952

Laura (Tarence) Gaut of Cranberry Township, Pa., died on July 3. She was Miss Lipscomb in the 1951-1952 school year. ¶ Florita A. Willett passed away March 7, 2014. She is survived by her son, James Willett, and two daughters, Lani Willett Shearn and Joy Willett Rhoades. She is preceded in death by her husband, Mansel Willett.

1953 1954

John Malcolm Bland of Goodlettsville, Tenn., died Jan. 20.

Earl “Ed” Dougherty of Antioch, Tenn., died March 9. ¶ James Hooper Jr. of Mount Juliet, Tenn., died April 9. ¶ John Henderson Shoun of Burlington, N.C., died June 10. He is survived by his wife, Neva (Karraker)

1986

THE BISONS’ CINDERELLA YEAR This men’s basketball team won the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City after winning their first 18 games of the season and defeating Minnesota-Duluth, Emporia State, Central Washington, St. Thomas Aquinas and Arkansas-Monticello at the tournament.

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Shoun (’55); brother, Paul William Shoun (’64); and sister, Linda Shoun; children: John Shoun Jr. (’77) and wife, Carol; Lissa Shoun and partner Eric Bong; Andrew Shoun (’81) and wife, Laura; Brian Shoun (’85) and wife, Jill; Amy (Shoun) Yinger (’84) and husband, Bill (’77); and Hobson Shoun; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

1956

Paul Dillingham of Nashville, died March 5. ¶ John Carroll Frost of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died Jan. 25, 2015. He is survived by his children Steven Carroll Frost (’77), Ruth Frost Qualls (’80) and Beth Frist Walker (’85). His wife Gertrude Jones Frost (’54) preceded him in death on Aug. 26, 2013.

1957

Elmer Lusk of Columbia, Tenn., died March 24. ¶ William Seat of Mount Juliet, Tenn., died Feb. 19.

1958

Elayne (Laws) Trent of Johnson City, Tenn., died May 12. ¶ Hal Wilson, former Lipscomb accounting professor, of Bon Aqua, Tenn., died April 12.

1959

Alvin Bolt of Nashville, Tenn., died Dec. 20, 2015. ¶ Samuel Harlan Hagan of Tompkinsville, Ky., died on June 22. He is survived by his wife, Bette (Phillips) Hagan (’62); son, Kevin (’86); daughters, Karen (’87) and Kathy (’89); and eight grandchildren, five of whom are current Lipscomb University or Academy students.

1960 1963

Bill Richter of Lewisburg, Tenn., died May 27. Margaret (Mitchell) Smith of Florence, Ala., died Jan. 30.

1964

James Cullom of Charlotte, Tenn., died March 30. ¶ Patricia Hall of Goodlettsville, Tenn., died March 19.

1965 1968 1969 1970

Harold Sutton of Burns, Tenn., died Jan. 21. Tom Burton of Brentwood, Tenn., died Feb. 26. Robert Hughey of Tenn., died April 19.

Lascassas,

Paul Matthews of Clanton, Ala., died Oct. 15, 2015. ¶ Peggy Sue Roberts of Hendersonville, Tenn., died June 5.

1971 1976

Dianne E. Bohannon of Knoxville, Tenn., died Jan. 20.

Andrew Beachbord of Madison, Tenn., died April 24. ¶ Don Wood of Nashville, died April 21.

1978 1979 1983 1989 2003

John Mabry of Jackson Heights, N.Y., died in 2015. James Babb of Nashville, Tenn., died April 4. Larry Benefied of Guntersville, Ala., died April 1. John Roy Vaughan III of Wilton Manors, Fla., died Feb. 24. Vernon Hooks (M.A.) died March 19.

125 years of Lipscomb—now just a few clicks away. We’ve created a new website just to celebrate our 125th year. Learn more about our history and the people who built it. Flip through old photos and follow our timeline through the decades. Meet all our past presidents and share some of your memories, photos and favorite (or funny) stories about the good ol’ Lipscomb days.

We have a lot planned for this interactive site and we’ll be adding great things throughout the year. We hope you’ll be a part of it!

lipscomb.edu/125 A voice in Nashville for

years.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

One University Park Drive Nashville, TN 37204-3951 Address Service Requested

View this issue and more at www.lipscombnow.com

Your legacy. Your way. The future holds enough uncertainty. Plan now for the things you can control, such as how your life’s work can benefit those you love but still provide for your security as long as you need it. And how to use your blessings to create a legacy that benefits your church and other causes important to you. Paul Stovall in Lipscomb’s Center for Estate and Gift Planning can help you create a sure future for your estate so it serves you well today and the people and causes you love tomorrow – just as he has for many other individuals, couples and family members. Contact Paul at 615.966.5251 or paul.stovall@lipscomb.edu. His services are offered at no cost and will help you shape your future with confidence.

www.lipscomb.edu/planmyestate

NASHVILLE, TN PERMIT NO. 921