Fall 2020 IMPACT - Against All Odds

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IMPACT FALL 2020

A P U BLICAT IO N O F R EGE N T UN I V E R SI T Y

Against

All Odds HOW THREE REGENT ALUMNI OVERCAME THEIR BIGGEST BATTLES TO ACHIEVE THEIR GREATEST SUCCESSES

Cancer. Domestic abuse. An eating disorder. These were the enemies that nearly took the lives of Edward Logan (RSG ’02), Rae Pearson Benn (SBL ’16), and Juliana Lesher (SBL ’16). In some ways, they were a modern-day Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: the prognosis for their survival was not good as they faced seemingly insurmountable odds. But then God showed up, miraculously rescuing them from their fiery circumstances and helping each one find redemption and purpose through the pain.

After his graduation, they married, and Sue became an immigration attorney. At the same time, Edward went on to work as an executive director for an investigation and litigation services group. He helped procure more than $1 billion in federal contracts, winning multimillion-dollar litigation support services for government clients. “My Regent experience strengthened the skill set that I needed to navigate the complex process of federal policymaking,” says Edward. “It also allowed me to be

Paving the Way for Filipino-Americans

INSIDE: Climbing the Ladder of Success Court of Benefactors The Importance of Annual Giving Leading the Way Regent World Changer The Chancellor's Message

Edward Logan and fellow Regent alum Sue Yoon-Logan (LAW ’00) met as students at Regent while Edward was completing his Master of Public Administration degree.

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Additionally, they’re working to raise awareness on the need for stem cell donors within the Filipino and Filipino-American community through the Be the Match campaign. The chances of finding a donor match in the U.S. are less than 50% for someone of Asian descent compared to other ethnicities—something Edward experienced personally as his brother in the Philippines was only a half-match.

mentored by strong Christian professors who encouraged me to use my God-given talents to help affect changes around the globe.”

But a crisis was about to hit home for Edward. In October of 2015, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer—acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Over the next year, he fought for his life, miraculously surviving sepsis, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, pneumonia, and a blood clot in the brain. With each victory, Edward clung deeply to his faith.

Most recently, Edward and his team at FACC have been recognized by the Office of the President in the Philippines for community outreach programs in rural cities that provide meals to underprivileged children with cancer. Stateside, they’ve taken on COVID-19 by making masks for cancer patients and healthcare workers serving on the frontlines. They’ve sewn and donated more than 500 masks, along with 1,000 earpiece extenders, to oncology departments and cancer centers in six major hospitals. “Cancer does not stop due to COVID,” shares Edward. “I know firsthand as a cancer patient how critical this moment is for survival. God laid it on our hearts that even amid difficult circumstances, we can still do something.”

“I felt God’s love and grace through all the firsthand miracles I experienced,” he shares. One of those miracles: a successful stem cell transplant from his brother in the Philippines, whom he had not seen in 25 years. Today, Edward is five years cancer-free, but his fight continues. He’s battling graft vs. host disease (GVHD), a transplant side effect caused by his brother’s cells attacking his immune system, as well as side effects from ongoing chemo maintenance. Yet through it all, he’s never questioned the difficult journey. “My pain has a purpose,” he says. In part, it led him to co-found Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC), a nonprofit serving Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area who are impacted by cancer. Edward felt there was a gap that needed filling when addressing the growing cancer challenges unique to the Filipino-American community. FACC’s vision is to provide collective outreach programs for the community, advocate for more comprehensive cancer care, be a research tool for those in need of financial assistance, and educate on cancer prevention, early detection, screening, and treatment options. 2

From Victim to Overcomer Two decades ago, Rae Pearson Benn dragged herself to her friend’s house, following a domestic dispute with a boyfriend. As she examined her assault injuries that resulted in a displaced hip and crushed pharynx, she never imagined she would one day add an Emmy Award nominee to her list of accomplishments. The city of Virginia Beach media and communications coordinator, author, speaker, and host of Our Issues Hampton Roads regularly calls on her faith and personal journey to share with others that they, too, can move from victim to survivor to overcomer. On this platform, she wrote and produced a 30-second empowerment


public service announcement (PSA) on domestic violence for the commonwealth attorney’s office in early 2019.

All that hard work led Rae to where she is today and the tremendous impact her advocacy efforts are making.

“I want people to know what I didn’t,” Rae says, “You are not alone.”

Her domestic violence PSA played on local news channels and in local theaters during a 10-week spring and summer 2019 campaign. It was seen by 264,000 moviegoers and inspired open conversations surrounding public perceptions linked to intimate partner violence, earning powerful feedback from community advocates/ survivors, and increasing the number of complaints and cases.

Rae describes the subtle shift in her boyfriend’s abuse from critiquing how she “governed herself,” to policing her right to speak her opinion. As her confidence diminished, his threats escalated to physical attacks. “Anything could trigger an outburst, and I felt weak, powerless,” she explains. In a fateful altercation one evening, Rae’s boyfriend began verbally attacking her for a past break-up attempt. He then flung her onto the couch and placed his knee into her chest using his full body weight. Eventually, he dragged her to the front door and slammed her into the cement.

In Spring 2020, the PSA was nominated for an Emmy, but Rae’s real win had already happened. “Years ago, I was drowning, and God rescued me. I don’t need a statue to remind me of the goodness that I am living in. Salvation and grace—that’s what I want others to experience.”

Mustering the strength to escape, Rae made a three-block drive to her girlfriend’s house—a moment she calls “miraculous and providential.” This experience and interaction with the police, close friends, and mother convinced her to press charges. Afterward, Rae began the hard work of rebuilding her life: taking a self-defense class, immersing herself in her career, and renewing her relationship with her family and with God. Years later, at a friend’s wedding, she was introduced to her now-husband, Terence. Together, they have two children. “I like to share that part of my story, so others know there is life after abuse,” Rae explains. “If I can stand toe to toe with a man more than 100 pounds heavier than me, be slammed to the ground and left broken inside and out, and then walk through a very real journey of redemption and healing, I know others can find that inner strength too,” she says. Another piece of Rae’s redemptive story was graduating from Regent’s School of Business & Leadership in 2016 with an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. As a working professional over 40 with a toddler and a baby, she said she wanted to give up more than once. “Was it hard? Yes. Did I question if I had what it took? Yes. But I found that I just needed someone to tell me who I was and whose I was. Regent did that.”

Called to Minister From the age of four, Juliana Lesher knew what she wanted to do with her life: share the love of Jesus with hurting people. What she didn’t realize was how hard she would have to fight to do it. Currently, Chaplain Lesher leads our Nation’s Veterans and more than 800 chaplains as the National Director of Chaplain Service for the Department of Veterans Affairs—a promotion she earned three years after completing her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Regent University. But the journey to get there was anything but easy. “As a female, I was told that I could not minister in the church. With a steel rod from my neck to my tailbone and a complete spinal fusion, I was told that I could not serve as an active-duty military chaplain. 3


When I wanted to enroll in pre-seminary studies for my undergraduate degree, I was told to major in something more practical,” shares Juliana. She pursued the ministry again to serve as a missionary but was denied because she was a single woman. That was the final blow. “When the doors closed for a foreign mission assignment, I believed there was no reason for me to live because my purpose in life to be in ministry was denied with every attempt.” Having battled with anorexia since she was a child, Juliana sought to end her life through starvation. She was in her early 20s and weighed a staggering 49 pounds when she collapsed. Others began to fight for her, including the paramedic’s team who saved her life and the prayers of friends, family, and even strangers. “I would not be here today if it were not for God’s incredible grace, the prayers of countless people, and the medical teams,” says Juliana. With a second chance and a renewed sense of purpose, Juliana earned a Master of Divinity degree and began her pastoral career, starting as a Pennsylvania prison chaplain. Over the last 20 years, she has fulfilled her childhood dream by working as a chaplain in prisons, healthcare facilities and veteran affairs medical centers. But things took an interesting turn about halfway through her career.

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“I began to pray about pursuing Ph.D. studies,” explains Juliana. “In the course of my exploration and soul-searching, I was captivated by leadership principles that called for self-emptying and Divine empowerment as the basis of being a leader. I then looked into Regent’s School of Business & Leadership and knew that God was calling me to complete a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership.” That degree helped pave the way for her current role serving our nation’s veterans. “Regent provided me with a greater understanding of true leadership and seeking to serve as Christ did. It is my sacred honor to serve our veterans,” adds Juliana. It’s an honor that might never have happened had her own life been cut short. Juliana went from a life of possibly ministering to no one, to today providing spiritual leadership and impact to a network of more than 9 million veterans. “Not a day goes by when I do not thank God for life,” she says. “I find that as I continually acknowledge how my life is not my own, God faithfully reveals His purposeful plans.” Want to read more inspiring stories of Regent students and alumni? Visit regent.edu/regent-stories to learn more about the impact they are making.


Climbing the Ladder of Success REGENT’S OFFICE OF CAREER & TALENT MANAGEMENT SERVES ALUMNI AT EVERY STAGE

If there’s one thing Aran Nugent wants alumni to know when it comes to their career journey, it’s this: Regent stands ready to help.

navigate video interviews—a recent trend adopted by many employers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nugent serves as the director of Regent’s Office of Career & Talent Management (CTM), which offers a full range of services to both students and alumni—from the job search and resume/ curriculum vitae writing to career assessments, coaching, salary negotiations, and more.

“CTM has partnered with Big Interview, a video platform that enables our alumni the ability to practice their video interview skills. It also helps them answer some of the top interview questions being asked by human resource professionals and hiring managers,” says Nugent.

“Each person is on a different rung on the career ladder and, therefore, has different needs when coming into CTM,” explains Nugent. “My job is to ensure our office is equipped not only to help and support them, but also that the employers’ hiring needs and requirements are included in that solution so our students and alums are positioned for success.” The team of career professionals at CTM has more than 20+ years of experience in higher education and career development, and the impact of that is apparent. “One alum went through our resume workshop before attending our education recruitment event,” Nugent shares. “After the event, she landed an interview and was hired a couple of weeks later.” Another alum who works as a voice-over artist utilized CTM’s services to help improve his profile and networking. As a result of optimizing LinkedIn and other social media sites, he attracted more client work. CTM also hosts regular career events via virtual webinars and helps students and alumni

Alumni can then send their recorded interview to a CTM team member who can help them with improvements before meeting with a potential employer. “As the old saying goes, ‘the best man or woman got the job,’ but often it’s the best-prepared candidate who got the job,” shares Nugent. But preparation is only part of the equation. “Proverbs 16:9 states, ‘A man’s heart plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps,’” says Nugent. “We need to include God in our plans, and I believe we truly do that with each student and alum who reaches out to CTM.” He adds that understanding your strengths, how employers see you, and knowing the tools and skills needed to navigate the career world are all part of how Regent students and alumni become Christian leaders to change the world. To learn more about CTM’s upcoming events, services, job search and networking tools, or connect directly with their team of professionals, visit regent.edu/ CTM or email ctm@regent.edu. 5


Regent Court of Benefactors Scripture tells us “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Matthew 6:21. Members of the Regent Court of Benefactors have chosen to place their treasure in the form of their time, talents and finances with Regent University. As co-laborers who share our heart for equipping Christian leaders to change the world, these individuals and organizations play an active role in shaping both the history and future of Regent University. It is our honor and privilege to recognize the 2020 Regent Court of Benefactors.

SOCIETY OF THE CROWN AND SHIELD $1 Million+ Lifetime

INDIVIDUAL DONORS Drs. Kenneth A. and Roberta E. Eldred Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Gregory Dr. Kay P. Khoo Mr. & Mrs. Howard W. Long Ms. Betsy N. McCormack

Mr. & Mrs. Marvin E. Orr M r. & Mrs. Thomas M. Saltsgiver Mr. & Mrs. Jack E. Shaw Anonymous Donors (4)

DONOR ORGANIZATIONS A merican Center for Law and Justice, Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel Anonymous Donors (1)

CHANCELLOR'S COURT $100,000+ Lifetime

INDIVIDUAL DONORS Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ahmanson Mr. Arthur L. Allen Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. John L. Bailey Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Baker III M r. John Sainsbury and Ms. Susan Boarman-Sainsbury Mr. Frederick D. Bornman Mr. and Mrs. Matthew J. Brown Ms. Dianne Cash Admiral and Mrs. Vernon E. Clark Mr. Richard C. Csaplar Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Daugherty Mr. Brian R. Dinning, Esq. Mr. Ralph R. Domdey Ms. Eleanor L. Dooner Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Fick Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Flynn, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Fricks Mr. and Mrs. Foster Friess Mr. Winthrop W. Gilman Mr. and Mrs. G. Royden Goodson III Mr. and Mrs. James M. Gregory Ms. Joan L. Ingram Mr. and Mrs. Keith L. LaFrance Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Levy Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey E. Loving Jr. Mr. John H. Martinson Sr. Mr. William L. Maynard Ms. Cheryl P. McLeskey Senator and Mrs. Jeffrey L. McWaters Mr. and Mrs. David V. Melilli

M s. Nancy Ann Ranken Moffitt Mr. B. F. Moomaw Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell W. Morse D r. Elizabeth Norman and Mr. Ronald Norman Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Pilcher Mr. and Mrs. William J. Quinn Dr. and Mrs. John E. Reese Mr. Carl R.G. Renoud T he Honorable and Mrs. E. Scott Rigell Dr. and Mrs. M. G. Robertson D r. and Mrs. William E. Rodriguez-Hirsch M r. and Mrs. Robert O. Snelling Sr. C aptain and Mrs. Luther J. Stallings III Dr. Joseph B. Stokes Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Sullivan M r. and Mrs. Nahum and Laura Tate Mr. and Mrs. George E. Tragos Mr. and Mrs. R. Peter Vann Dr. and Mrs. Roger L. Visser Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Waites Mr. Robert C. Walker D r. and Mrs. Don C. Warrington Mr. and Mrs. Fred R. Waugh M r. Jack B. Burton and Ms. Jennifer L. Whitelaw Mr. and Mrs. S. Tucker Yates Mr. and Mrs. Benny L. Yount

DONOR ORGANIZATIONS Allen Systems Group, Inc. A merican Association for the Advancement of Science Beazley Foundation, Inc. Benny Hinn Ministries Charles Koch Foundation Chatlos Foundation, Inc. C lancy & Theys Construction Company Clapham Group, LLC Cox Communications, Inc. Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation Fieldstead & Company H igh Pressure Equipment Company Hon Foundation John Templeton Foundation Life Enrichment Foundation Lilly Endowment, Inc. Maclellan Foundation, Inc. McLeskey & Associates, LLC Mychal Institute, LLC N ewington Cropsey Foundation Office of Justice Programs TowneBank W arwick Plumbing & Heating Corporation

*With the exception of the Society of the Crown and Shield and the Chancellor's Court, membership in the 2020 Regent Court of Benefactors is based on giving during fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2020). †Deceased

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LEGACY CIRCLE $25,000-$99,999*

DONOR ORGANIZATIONS AccessLex Institute

TRINITY FELLOWS $10,000-$24,999*

INDIVIDUAL DONORS Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. Amos Mr. and Mrs. Andrew S. Ashby Anonymous Donors (1)

DONOR ORGANIZATIONS M ako Medical Laboratories, LLC

WORLD CHANGERS SCHOLARS $1,000-$9,999*

INDIVIDUAL DONORS Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Johnson T he Honorable Walter DeKalb Kelley Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sean M. Knox Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Knox Jr. M r. and Mrs. Mark and Michelle Knudsen Ms. Renee M. Knudsen Mr. Willie Lee III Mr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Lowe Mr. Bertram E. MacColl C hief Justice Mark D. Martin and Mrs. Kym Martin Mr. and Mrs. Vincent J. Mastracco Jr. Mr. and Mrs. George and Susan Moritz Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Ottman Mr. Hugh L. Patterson M r. G. Conoly Phillips† and Mrs. Charlotte F. Phillips Mr. Theodore J. Roskens Dr. and Mrs. W. George Selig Dr. Magda M. Serrano Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Shafer Dr. Jeffrey Sim Mrs. Gloria Slosser Mr. and Mrs. Joshua S. Smith Dr. Kevin P. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Philip B. Smith Jr. M r. and Mrs. Robert and Martha Smith Ms. Kiddy D. Starboard M r. and Mrs. Charles W. Steenrod Dr. and Mrs. Kaare Strom Mrs. Millette Y. Sumulong M r. and Mrs. Daniel and Farnaz Thompson Ms. Laura Till, Esq. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Umidi Mr. Bryce K. Vinson M r. and Mrs. Kyle and Amy Vitale M r. and Mrs. Christopher and Joy Wahler M r. and Mrs. Phillip Dean Walker H on. and Mrs. Gregory E. Wilhelm M r. and Mrs. Matthew M. Wilkins Dr. and Mrs. Bruce E. Winston M r. and Mrs. Donald A. Wright, Esq. Anonymous Donors (2)

DONOR ORGANIZATIONS Chadwick Foundation Comfort & Care Services, LLC Desandro Law Group PLLC Feavel and Porter LLC H eath, Overbey, Verser & Old, P.L.C. H unter Hanger & Associates, PC Nyssa Family Investments, LLC Poole Brooke Plumlee, PC Shanahan Law Group, PLLC Troutman Sanders LLP U nited Way of South Hampton Roads Foundation Urban M-Pact Inc V irginia Department of Motor Vehicles Anonymous Donors (2)

Thank You

We are humbled by your partnership, prayers and gifts that are truly making an impact in the lives of Regent students, the university and beyond. *With the exception of the Society of the Crown and Shield and the Chancellor's Court, membership in the 2019 Regent Court of Benefactors is based on giving during fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019). †Deceased

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE THE WORLD

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The Importance of Annual Giving EVERY GIFT KEEPS REGENT STRONG

There’s something paramount to the success of an institution like Regent University and its students. Behind its world-class facilities, renowned faculty, high-quality education, and global mission is a support system that makes it all possible. It’s Annual Giving and, as Regent’s Vice President of Advancement Chris Lambert explains, it plays an essential role in equipping students for success. “The support provided by Annual Giving donors propels the institution from sustaining to thriving,” says Lambert. “We need resources to provide the highest-quality education to our students at the most affordable price.” Annual Giving ensures all of Regent’s needs are met while keeping tuition costs as low as possible. Since tuition and fees paid by a student only cover about 52% of the cost of their Regent education, the university has to make up the difference through additional sources of revenue. Without the financial support that comes from alumni and friends through Annual Giving, the average student’s tuition bill would increase dramatically, keeping many deserving students from pursuing their Regent education. That kind of impact is what inspired Lambert to serve at Regent, having spent more than 12 years of his career working in wealth management and private banking. “As I was growing in my faith, I wanted to work for an institution and clients who were making an investment in something more than a larger portfolio. I wanted to work alongside others who wanted to make an impact, and at times through endowments, an impact that can last forever,” Lambert shares. Therein lies the beauty—and sometimes the misnomer—behind Annual Giving. 8

As noted by Lambert’s colleague Stephen Bruce, vice president for business administration at Regent, Annual Giving is just that: a gift made in a particular year which will go to meet certain needs of the university in that same year. However the impact doesn’t end at 365 days. “The benefit of the Regent Annual Fund is that these gifts have nearly unlimited potential. They have immediate impact with ripple effects that can be felt even beyond the year in which the gift was made,” says Bruce. “We have an opportunity to leave our imprint on people we’ll never know who will go on to bless others through their work and witness.” And every gift—no matter the amount— is important. “I can attest that all gifts matter, and we work diligently to ensure the same stewardship that led to the gift is carried forward in our use of the gift,” continues Bruce. Annual Fund gifts also fortify Regent’s ability to continue meeting needs in the face of challenging times, and reduces the need to draw from endowment—assuring the longterm future of the university. “Each gift is an investment in the future of Regent University and its students,” shares Lambert. “What better place than Regent University, where its entire purpose is to send students beyond its walls to change the world.” Help keep Regent strong through your annual giving! Visit regent.edu/annualfund or call 800.335.4409 to make your gift today.


In many ways, one could say that Sean Knox was born to be a leader.

for me back home, and I decided to go into the family business,” Sean shares.

Sean (RSG ’03) is the CEO—and fourthgeneration leader—of a family-run business started in the 1920s by his great grandfather and later run by his granddad and dad. That company was sold in the 1980s. However, in 1995, Sean’s father, equipped with a loan and Sean and his brother’s help, restarted the family business.

Together with his brother, Sean helped grow his family’s Georgia-based business from one office to 18 locations across five states in the southeast, serving over 90,000 customers and employing more than 225 team members. He’s been recognized as a Five Under 40 leader in his community, a recipient of the J.R. Allen Young Leader Award, and served on boards with the Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club, Rotary Club, and more.

Leadership and success, however, is much more than just a birthright for Sean. It is also the result of a cultivated calling that was nurtured during his time at Regent University.

But Sean’s impact doesn’t stop there. He’s on a mission to give back and empower other

Leading the Way REGENT ALUM SEAN KNOX SHARES THE WHY BEHIND HIS GIVING “Regent was quite impactful on my life, in that it put me in a Christ-centered academic setting and community as I had never been around before,” says Sean. “To be around so many believers in a setting that embraces Christianity and higher learning was an incredible experience.” Sean initially arrived at Regent to pursue an MBA on the heels of earning his BBA from Georgia Southern University. Still, an interest in politics steered him toward earning an M.A. in Public Policy instead. “Frankly, I thought I might end up lobbying in the D.C. area until the opportunity opened up

future leaders through his financial support of Regent University. When asked why he gives, Sean says, “It’s all about leadership, and I believe in Regent’s mission of Christian Leadership to Change the World.” He adds, “Now, more now than ever, be it in politics, business or education, godly leadership is desperately needed. The school is living up to their promise and vision, so if I can help raise educated Christian leaders through my gifts, I feel honored.” Your support matters! Visit regent.edu/annualfund and join fellow alums like Sean to help continue Regent’s mission.

Sean Knox with his wife, Crawford; children Addie, Sim and Pate; and beloved dog, Bella.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE THE WORLD

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REGENT WORLD CHANGER Nathan Sims (SCA ’99) is a man on a mission—a space mission, to be exact.

Nathan Sims (SCA ’99), award-winning director, producer, writer, and founder of FusionFlix Entertainment

The director, producer, writer, and founder of FusionFlix Entertainment has produced hundreds of film and television projects over the years, including an award-winning indie feature, 10 television series, and numerous documentary projects which have reached millions of fans globally. But the latest project for Nathan, a graduate of Regent University’s film-television program, has him over the moon.

Nathan saw the need to develop a better distribution channel for independent filmmakers and artists. So, he founded Twinkle—a video-on-demand streaming platform to empower independent film and television artists to take back control of their project ownership and provide direct access to their audiences. Twinkle launched on July 20, 2020—National Space Exploration Day—with a popular, worldwide series called “Space Mistakes.” The show provides a behind-the-scenes look at NASA’s learning curve and how their failures further exploration. “The ever-changing film-television landscape has created unprecedented global audience potential,” says Nathan. But reaching that global audience can be challenging, according to Nathan. He sees a trend in larger subscription streaming “hoarding ownership” of funded content, which can marginalize the work of independent producers and remove them from sharing in the financial benefits of their work. “It makes it more and more difficult for producers to fund their fresh ideas, resulting in a homogenization of content,” Nathan adds. “Twinkle opens a pathway for indie producers to keep control of their content with higher profitability.” Nathan produced “Space Mistakes” through his independent Texas-based production company, FusionFlix Entertainment. The show was picked up by broadcasters around the world, including Discovery Channel International (Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France), PBS America (U.K.), AMC (Spain), Red Apollo (China), and several other countries as well as U.S.-based streaming services, including Amazon Prime. Now, Twinkle will become the exclusive home for this fascinating show. Sims says he is already in discussions with producers for more indie content. Nathan has received more than 50 domestic and international film awards, including multiple Silver Telly Awards and the CINE Golden Eagle. He is the former president of the Dallas Producers Association, and founder and charter board member of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance.

Annual Gifts Matter Your annual gift helps ensure the most pressing needs of the university are met while delivering the highest-quality education at the most affordable price for our students. Create a lasting impact in the lives of future Regent world changers. Make your gift today at regent.edu/annualfund or by calling 800.335.4409.


The Chancellor’s Message Dear Friend, I believe great things happen when we are good stewards of God’s gifts—and it’s through your faithful support and prayers that Regent University continues to lead the way in higher education. This year, in addition to appointing Dr. Joshua McMullen as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, we’ve welcomed eight new full-time faculty members. These faculty include published authors, a Hollywood film industry expert, seasoned and well-respected mental and healthcare professionals, and a reconstruction historian winner of the Harriett Jackson Ely Prize at Yale University. We opened The Honors College on our Virginia Beach campus, providing students with world-class academics, best-in-class support, advanced Honors curriculum, and mentorship opportunities. And, The Chronicle of Higher Education just announced Regent University ranks among its 2020 Great Colleges to Work For. Regent also was named to the Honor Roll for the second year in a row and is one of only 10 large four-year institutions in the nation to receive this prestigious award. These accomplishments are further underscored by you, our incredible alumni, who continue to further Regent’s mission of Christian Leadership to Change the World. You are making an impact in the areas of government, business, law, education, the arts, healthcare, psychology and counseling, divinity, and more. We couldn’t be prouder of you! Thank you for representing Regent well with your talents and also with your gifts of support. Your stewardship is helping to empower the lives of fellow students and advance the Kingdom of God! Sincerely,

Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson Founder, Chancellor & CEO

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. LUKE 6:38


Regent University’s Impact is published monthly by the university’s Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events, free of charge, for alumni and friends of the university. Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Regent University. Regent University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, age or veteran status in admissions, treatment or access to its programs and activities, or in the administration of educational policies, scholarships, loan programs, athletics or other University programs. In addition, Regent does not discriminate based on religion, except as necessary to comply with Regent’s Standard of Personal Conduct and Statement of Christian Community and Mission. View the full nondiscrimination policy at regent.edu/nondiscrim. Questions or concerns regarding discrimination based on sex may be directed to the University’s Title IX Coordinator at T9Coordinator@regent.edu, or the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at OCR@ed.gov. To learn more about Disability Services or to contact Regent's Section 504 coordinator, visit regent.edu/disability. Regent University is authorized to operate in the state of Virginia and is exempt from the requirements of certification by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Opinions expressed in Impact are those of individuals and do not necessarily represent the views of Regent University’s board, faculty, administration or staff. Regent University accepts news submissions from readers but reserves the right to edit based upon clarity, length and content. The university may decline to print material at its discretion. ADV200783

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