IMPACT FALL 2021
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F R E G E N T U N I V E RS I TY
Regent Is Primed to Take Athletics to a New Level
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hile Regent University’s athletic program launched five years ago with only a track and field team, it comes roaring into the 2021-22 season with 11 men’s and women’s teams, a new logo and a fight song. Under the direction of Dr. Samuel Botta, director of the Athletic Department at Regent since 2018, the Regent Royals now compete in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, outdoor track and field, and soccer, and women’s volleyball.
He explained that his winning with character philosophy was derived after interviewing many long-term winning coaches, including the renowned collegiate basketball coach John Wooden. He found they shared one distinctive characteristic.
INSIDE: Remembering a Fateful Day Finding Confidence in Crisis It Takes Planning Court of Benefactors Legacy of Giving Reason & Faith Feature Regent World Changer The Chancellor’s Message
“Winning with Character,” the title of Dr. Botta’s doctoral dissertation, is the program’s philosophical basis, which aims to develop strong Christian leaders—both on and off the court.
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“They loved their players beyond what they could produce for them in the athletic arena. They loved them as people, and so the entire dissertation became built on 1 Corinthians 13, about how those definitions of love play out in athletics and what that ends up doing for scholar-athletes and teams,” said Botta. Adding, “The important thing was that they cared about them as people first, and the scoreboard became the byproduct of that character, so thus, winning with character became the tagline for experienced success in every level of athletics, but most importantly in the development of young men and women.”
One off-of-the-field success that Regent athletes can take advantage of and that Dr. Botta hopes will grow is PSALM, an athletic ministry that stands for Peer Student-Athlete Leadership & Mentorship program. Administered in partnership with Campus Ministries, PSALM is based on Acts 1:8, in which Jesus charges the disciples to bear witness in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.
REGENT UNIVERSITY FIGHT SONG
Botta also expressed confidence that Regent’s coaches are more than up to the task to help the athletes develop that character as they guide them to excellence in their sports.
Based on the verse, he explained that PSALM sees Jerusalem as the scholar-athlete population, Judea as the Regent University community, and Samaria as Hampton Roads.
“The outermost is when they graduate from Regent, and God moves them into that next chapter, and they are on fire full-throttle disciples of Jesus who are changing this world for Him. So, we’re very excited about Psalm,” Botta said. “We’ve had several scholarathletes who have accepted Jesus and others who are growing strongly in their relationship with God and are making good life-changing decisions.”
Whom Shall We Fear?
We will fight the good fight, trust in His defense We will finish the race, proclaim His excellence We will keep the faith, and show the Way Regent! Royals! Whom shall we fear? R-E-G-E-N-T Roy-als! We are proud that He, calls us to be Regent! Royals! Whom shall we fear?
“I’m very happy and excited about the group of coaches that we have leading our scholar-athletes. They are great role models, they’re knowledgeable in their sports, and they’re all on the cusp to take our athletic program and their teams to the next level this year,” said Botta.
In the long-term, Dr. Botta envisions more postseason competition for the Regent
Royals and sees the program growing to serve other organizations. “I would love for Regent to be a role model and provide training for other athletic programs, from youth up to the professional level, where it would be a Winning with Character Institute based on biblical principles for success,” said Botta. “Our athletic program is going to be something that is really special, that people are going to take notice of and say, ‘There’s something special about Regent athletics and those scholar-athletes,’” explained Botta. “There’s a lot of exciting things ahead.” The official rollout of the new logo for the Regent Royals and a fight song are among those things. A mascot is currently in development and will be introduced next year. Glenn Geisendorfer, Regent’s creative director, created the logo for the Regent Royals so that it would blend in seamlessly with the university’s backstory. Just as the Georgian architecture of the university makes it seem as though it’s been in existence since the Colonial era, he strived to bring a similar sense of history to the logo. “Regent University was designed to look as if it’s already centuries old and to last for further centuries,” Geisendorfer said. “So, any branding that we do should rise to that occasion. Our athletics logo should be as comfortable etched on one of our buildings as it would be printed on a banner.” The logo went through many iterations before selecting one with a lion wearing the Royal Order sash and carrying the cross-topped standard. Though lions are commonplace in college sports, they are
typically represented as ferocious—bearing fangs and claws. “Rarely are they rendered as if they came directly off of a heraldic shield, nobly leading ‘troops’ into battle,” Geisendorfer said. Geisendorfer felt music was a leading element, too, so he initiated the development of a fight song similarly distinct. He worked with Dr. Botta and Claire Foster, executive vice president for Enrollment Services, to find a scriptural basis for the lyrics. They landed on 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” With a bar of music in his head, Geisendorfer turned to his brother-in-law, Dr. Mark C. Samples, a professor of musicology in the state of Washington, to help flesh it out. The result, Whom Shall We Fear? has a rousing melody backed by strong percussion that is unmistakably a fight song—but with lyrics rooted in hope and faith in the Lord. Equipped with their new fight song and refreshed logo, our Royals are ready to charge into the 2021-22 season and bring the light of Christ into the world of collegiate sports. “Winning is a byproduct of what we do and how we do it with our character. We desire to develop Christian leaders who are going to change the collegiate athletic world,” said Dr. Botta. Visit regent.edu/athletics to learn more about the Regent Royals and how you can support our scholar-athletes.
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Remembering aHonoringFateful Day the Fallen With a Look to the Future As Afghanistan dramatically fell to the Taliban in August, Regent University’s Robertson School of Government was in high gear preparing for “9/11: A 20-Year Retrospective,” a 12-hour virtual event designed to honor the 3,000 victims of that fateful day that changed America. The event was streamed on the university’s website on September 9 and can be viewed by visiting regent.edu/911. Michele Bachmann, dean of the Robertson School of Government, said seeing the events of September 11, 2001, come full circle—from the attacks to America’s response going to war in Afghanistan to that country’s collapse—provided a unique perspective on how and why it happened and valuable insights for moving toward peace and reconciliation. After noticing a lack of promotion of 9/11 commemorative events, Bachmann explained that Regent’s event, through prayerful reflection, was organized, taking on a two-pronged approach in its planning. “I thought it would be important to look at the facts of what happened on that day, in an academic setting, with exciting speakers with real experience who were a part of that day and the surrounding events,” said Bachmann. “First, we wanted to honor the memory of the 3,000 innocent people who perished on that day. They deserve to be remembered,” Bachmann said. “The ground is sacred and hallowed where they were senselessly murdered, and we intend to honor their memory.” Bachmann said the second objective was to provide perspective on the profound changes 9/11 brought to the country. “The United States of America changed that day. In many senses, that reverberation was felt around the world. I thought it was important that we look at what led up to 9/11 and then also look at the aftermath 4
of these 20 years,” she said, adding the fall of Afghanistan made that all the more important. “The events of 9/11 were planned in the caves of Afghanistan by Osama bin Laden. That’s where the mastermind carried out the training and all that was laid out ahead of time to bring about this attack. So, now we are really seeing the circle completed with America’s response to the attack and now the conclusion, which was the collapse. It wasn’t just 20 years ago. It’s also how that event from 20 years ago impacts us today.” She said that as word of the event spread, a wide-ranging host of international experts in government, the military, the nonprofit sector, and diplomacy offered to participate in covering topics including the history of terrorism and the terrorists’ mindset, cybersecurity, and secularism in the Islamic world, among others. Moderating, Bachmann introduced Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder, chancellor and CEO of Regent University, who provided opening remarks for the event and shared his personal memory of September 11, 2001. He recalled he was on the air taping the 700 Club when at 9:05 a.m., he received word that the Twin Towers in New York had been hit by aircraft. “I happen to be a private pilot, and I have personally flown out of LaGuardia. And I knew good and well on a clear day there was no way under heaven that somebody coming out of LaGuardia Airport was going to hit a building in New York City in Manhattan. So immediately, I realized this wasn’t some kind of an accident. It was a terrorist attack,” shared Robertson. Next, Bachmann introduced former Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to discuss the segment entitled, “The Collapse of Afghanistan Closes the Circle on September 11, 2001.”
Bachmann noted that when Pompeo left office, Afghanistan was experiencing no havoc and that no [terrorist-related] deaths occurred under the Trump Administration in the last 18 months before Afghanistan’s collapse. Pompeo addressed the recent events in Afghanistan, calling the event we are seeing “just tragic.” “We understood that American power mattered. We had obligations and responsibilities to the American people, and that getting our young men and women home was an absolute imperative. That it had to be done only when the conditions permitted it to be achieved,” said Pompeo. In a later segment, Bachmann introduced former Attorney General John Ashcroft for the keynote Q&A entitled “On the Front Lines and in the Fire: An Inside Account of the Response to 9/11.” She also interviewed Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and Bernie Kerik, the New York City Police Department chief, when the attacks happened.
after Isis.” The panel featured Dr. Yvette Isaac, founder of the nonprofit Roads of Success dedicated to Middle Eastern women, persecuted Christians and minorities, and her daughter Jacqueline Isaac, a lawyer, humanitarian and vice president of the organization. A highlight of the wide-ranging discussion included a conversation about integrating religious leaders into the peace process. Another poignant part of the program is “Regent Remembers,” a 30-minute segment featuring the recollections of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Gary Roberts, a professor of public administration at the Robertson School of Government, recalled how 9/11 led him to an encounter with the Holy Spirit that brought him to Regent University.
“I recognized as a professor, I needed to put the Lord first, and that led to a fire in my heart to then use my position as a professor to promote the Christian worldview,” Roberts said. “This led me to Regent University in 2003. And from that moment, the goal here was to produce Christian servant leaders to change the world, to be the antidote for that poisoned mindset that says violence is ROBERTSON SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT DEAN MICHELE BACHMANN an act of God.”
Other featured guests included: FBI agent Brig Barker, who tracked terrorist Mohammad Atta through Egypt and North Africa; and Kyai Haji Yahya Cholil Staquf, General Secretary of Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization which disavows violence and terrorism in the name of Islam.
The program included academic and spiritual elements, including messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, author of the bestselling book, The Harbinger. “He brings biblical insights to the events of September 11th like no one else. I think that his biblical perspective—to those who are believers—will be profound because he takes the scriptural principles and applies them in a way that I haven’t seen anyone else do,” Bachmann said. “He isn’t twisting scripture. He’s bringing light on scripture so that we understand what it means. I think people will want to hear him.” Eric Patterson, Scholar-at-Large and former dean of the Robertson School of Government, hosted “Rebuilding After Radicalism: A Frontline Account from Iraq
During the planning stage of the event, Bachmann shared with Impact that she hoped that the event would produce three powerful takeaways for its audience. “We want them to take away truth, knowledge and perspective,” Bachmann said. “We want them to know the truth of what happened, not a politically correct version of what happened. We want them to have knowledge from people who were first-hand eyewitnesses of the events. Thirdly, we want to have perspective because this is a 20-year event, and we have events that are very hot, very active, very kinetic, happening right now.” If you missed this powerful event, you can visit regent.edu/911 to view the recordings. To learn more about the programs offered through Robertson School of Government, visit regent.edu/rsg.
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Finding Confidence in Crisis Retired Air Force Colonel, Dr. Anderson B. Rowan, Recalls Service at the Pentagon on September 11 As we commemorated the 20th anniversary of 9/11 in “9/11: A 20-Year Retrospective,” we asked Regent faculty and staff to share how the attacks personally impacted them. One faculty member who grappled with the devastation first-hand is Dr. Anderson B. Rowan, Ph.D., ABPP, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and the former director for the School of Psychology & Counseling’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at Regent University. When American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, killing all 64 people on the plane and 125 people inside the Pentagon, Dr. Rowan was stationed nearby at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Rowan, who served as the interim chief of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, immediately joined the all-hands-ondeck task of preparing the base hospital to receive casualties. Once it was confirmed that Flight 77 had no survivors, his team relocated to the Pentagon to assist with what had now become a recovery operation. It was the disaster he had dreaded since becoming interim CISM chief, a position that he accepted with some trepidation. “I was praying that nothing would happen on my watch because I felt woefully unprepared to lead in any major kind of event. I had training in it, but I had no real experience,” Rowan says. “When it came on the news, I thought, ‘Oh no, what am I going to do?’ But then the military training kicked in, and we started figuring out what to do to prepare for casualties.” Though Rowan had witnessed the devastation at the Pentagon on television, it didn’t make his arrival onsite any less shocking. His team operated from a tent directly in front of “the enormous crack” in the side of the building. “That plane had barreled through multiple layers of the building, and you just saw this cavity, and smoke was still rising. It was very surreal,” he recalls.
Rowan touched on all the chaos that erupted: “I remember that a helicopter flew over the area where we were working, and people started running away from the Pentagon and climbing over fencing, fearing it would crash into us.” Rowan codirected teams composed of behavioral health and chapel personnel as they met with thousands of military members and civilians to help normalize reactions and provide interventions and education on coping with the tragedy. After the initial rescue worker interventions ended, he led the team inside the Pentagon to help support personnel who, having survived the attack, continued to work there even as it still smoldered. Rowan shares that throughout his career, his faith played a critical role: “My faith is hugely impactful across all of the situations I encountered in the military. I wholly believe the Lord gave me the wisdom to make decisions, and he gave me strength, especially when I was working long, emotionally and physically exhausting days, for a straight month.” In reflecting on his military career and his work at the Pentagon, Rowan says that one of the biggest takeaways for him, which he often shared with junior personnel, was the importance of having confidence that training would kick in when needed. Rowan added that the teamwork displayed at the Pentagon on 9/11 and its aftermath was inspiring and provided a roadmap for handling future crises. “The combining of chaplains with mental health personnel in that response was incredibly helpful,” Rowan says. “To have us working together to help meet spiritual and psychological needs and capitalize on each other’s expertise was a real success. Working together can be a good thing.” For information on education programs available through Regent’s School of Psychology and Counseling, visit regent.edu/spc.
It Takes Planning Regent’s New Planned Giving Resources Can Help You Leave a Legacy
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hrough thoughtful gift planning, the legacy of love and care that you leave for your family and friends can be encouraging and even inspiring. A well-thought-out plan enables you to make an enduring impact on the people and causes you care about while providing tax and income benefits for you and your loved ones. The thought of making an estate plan may seem daunting, but Regent now offers some resources that can help. Impact reached out to Brad Phillips, executive director of Major & Planned Giving, to learn about Regent’s new planned giving website and the recent ramp-up of the university’s planned giving program.
What do you enjoy most about working with a donor on a planned gift? I think it is very rewarding to help others find the most efficient ways to transfer their wealth to the people and organizations that they care about while at the same time minimizing what goes to the IRS! Planned gifts can offer substantial tax savings to donors, especially on appreciated properties and securities. A planned gift can reduce income tax and help the donor avoid capital gains tax.
Why create a planned giving website? I think it’s important for our alumni and friends to know that we are in the business of accepting planned gifts and that we have the in-house expertise to assist them with their estate and charitable planning needs. The new planned giving website will provide a platform for introducing potential donors to the types of gifts and giving opportunities available and hopefully pique their interest in further conversation.
BRAD PHILLIPS (LAW ’95)
What will the new planned giving website offer to our Regent alumni and friends?
Why is a planned giving program vital to an organization like Regent University?
Often a donor can’t make a large outright gift to an organization during their lifetime. Planned gifts enable donors to create a powerful philanthropic legacy by making a larger and more impactful gift through their estate. Many people are unfamiliar with the options and benefits of making a legacy gift or how to go about it. That’s where the website comes in. Regent’s planned giving website offers valuable information and tools to help donors make informed decisions about the planned giving strategies that best fit their needs. Through the website, individuals can also connect with our team to ask questions and get further assistance.
Regent is still relatively young as compared to other universities. We are not yet blessed with a billion-dollar endowment. Planned gifts, although usually deferred, can have a significant impact on the bottom line here, helping to ensure the continuation of our mission for years to come. To learn more about legacy gifts and how they can benefit you while supporting Regent University in the future, visit regent.edu/giftlegacy. For questions, please email plannedgiving@regent.edu or call 800.335.4409.
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Regent Court of Benefactors Scripture tells us in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 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 2021 Regent Court of Benefactors.
SOCIETY OF THE CROWN AND SHIELD $1 Million+ Lifetime
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Drs. Kenneth A. & 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 Donor
CHANCELLOR'S COURT $100,000+ Lifetime
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ahmanson Mr. Arthur L. Allen Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey P. Anderson Mr. & Mrs. John L. Bailey Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Baker III M r. John Sainsbury & Ms. Susan Boarman-Sainsbury Mr. Frederick D. Bornman M r. Kurt H. Broecker† & Mrs. Mary B. Broecker Mr. & Mrs. Matthew J. Brown Ms. Dianne Cash Admiral & Mrs. Vernon E. Clark Mr. Richard C. Csaplar Jr.† Dr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Daugherty Mr. Brian R. Dinning, Esq. Mr. Ralph R. Domdey Ms. Eleanor L. Dooner Mr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Fick Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Flynn, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. William P. Fricks Mr. & Mrs. Foster Friess† Mr. Winthrop W. Gilman Mr. & Mrs. G. Royden Goodson III Mr. & Mrs. James M. Gregory Ms. Joan L. Ingram Mr. & Mrs. Keith L. LaFrance Ms. Ruby C. Lawrence† Mr. & Mrs. Terry Ledbetter Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Levy Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Aubrey E. Loving Jr. Mr. John H. Martinson Sr. Mr. William L. Maynard Ms. Cheryl P. McLeskey
Senator & Mrs. Jeffrey L. McWaters Mr. & Mrs. David V. Melilli M s. Nancy Ann Ranken Moffitt Mr. B. F. Moomaw Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Lowell W. Morse D r. Elizabeth Norman & Mr. Ronald Norman Mr. & Mrs. Walter H. Pilcher Mr. & Mrs. William J. Quinn Dr. & Mrs. John E. Reese Mr. Carl R.G. Renoud T he Honorable & Mrs. E. Scott Rigell Dr. & Mrs. M. G. Robertson D r. & Mrs. William E. Rodriguez-Hirsch M r. & Mrs. Robert O. Snelling Sr. C aptain & Mrs. Luther J. Stallings III Dr. Joseph B. Stokes Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John J. Sullivan M r. & Mrs. Nahum and Laura Tate Mr. & Mrs. George E. Tragos Mr. & Mrs. R. Peter Vann Dr. & Mrs. Roger L. Visser Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Waites Mr. Robert C. Walker D r. & Mrs. Don C. Warrington Mr. & Mrs. Fred R. Waugh Dr. Richard K. White† M r. Jack B. Burton & Ms. Jennifer L. Whitelaw Mr. & Mrs. S. Tucker Yates Mr. & Mrs. Benny L. Yount Anonymous Donor
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 I nventory Procurement Services, Inc. J amaica Broilers Group Foundation John Templeton Foundation Kingdom Oil Company Kingdom School and Ministry Life Enrichment Foundation Lilly Endowment Inc Maclellan Foundation, Inc. McLeskey & Associates, LLC Mychal Institute, LLC Newington 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 2021 Regent Court of Benefactors is based on giving during fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2021). †Deceased
LEGACY CIRCLE $25,000-$99,999*
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Dr. and Mrs. William D. Bloodworth, II Ms. E. Bernice Perkins
TRINITY FELLOWS $10,000-$24,999*
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Dr. & Mrs. Robert W. Herron Mr. & Mrs. John Stillion
WORLD CHANGERS SCHOLARS $1,000-$9,999*
INDIVIDUAL DONORS Mr. Michael A. Aiello Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Atkinson Dr. & Mrs. George O. Bailey Sr. Mr. Kurt T. Bailey Mr. & Mrs. John M. Balouziyeh Jr. Ms. Rosalinda L. Baron Ms. Sarah J. Berry Mr. & Mrs. Blair A. Bower, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. G. Eugene Boyce Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey A. Brauch Mr. & Mrs. Jerry D. Bringard Ms. Annigje J. Buwalda, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Chalfin Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Coughlin D r. Mara T. Crabtree & Mr. Thomas Crabtree† Ms. Carol L. Crymble Dr. & Mrs. Jeffery S. Curtiss Dr. Edwin C. Daley Dr. & Mrs. Edward B. Davis Mr. & Mrs. Bradley Desandro, Esq. Dr. & Mrs. Barry A. Doublestein Mr. & Mrs. T. Taylor Fain Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas K. Fast, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. Dale L. Fenwick Mr. & Mrs. Samuel S. Gaston Dr. Doris Gomez & Rev. Nile Gomez Honorable & Mrs. Michael K. Hardin Jr. Ms. Marie Harrill Mr. Robert Harvey Mr. Michael A. Iaconelli Mr. & Mrs. Louis K. Isakoff
Mr. & Mrs. Paul M. Jenkins R ev. Linda A. Jennings & Mr. Thomas M. Jennings Mr. Alexander T. Julian Mr. & Mrs. Sean M. Knox Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Knox Jr. Pastor & Mrs. William Krause Ms. Robin C. Kunikis M r. & Mrs. Christopher J. Lambert D r. Dianne Lawrence & Mr. Larry Lawrence Mr. Willie Lee III Mr. Thomas C. Leighton Mr. & Mrs. Bradley J Lingo Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Lowe Mr. Bertram E. MacColl C hief Justice Mark D. Martin & Mrs. Kym Martin Mr. Scott D. McGregor Ms. Kathleen A. McKee Mr. & Mrs. Ralph A. Miller D r. Tyler Miller & Dr. Bridget Miller Honorable Henry C. Morgan Jr. M r. & Mrs. George and Susan Moritz Dr. & Mrs. John E. Mulford Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Aaron I. Mullen D r. Ashley Newcomb & Mr. Larry Newcomb II Mr. Paul Okatahi Ms. Priscilla J. Oster Mr. Edward M. Pabalan Mr. James W. Paine
Mrs. Mary L. Payne Mrs. Charlotte F. Phillips Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Pritchard Vinitha Seevaratnam Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey A. Shafer Dr. Jeffrey Sim M r. Leon K. Smith† & Mrs. Carolyn V. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Joshua S. Smith Dr. Kevin P. Smith M r. & Mrs. Robert and Martha Smith M r. & Mrs. Akinbowale Oludare Soluade Mrs. Jean L. Stone Dr. & Mrs. Kaare Strom M r. & Mrs. Daniel and Farnaz Thompson Ms. Laura Till, Esq. Dr. & Mrs. Joseph L. Umidi Mr. Bryce K. Vinson Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Dean Walker Mr. David A. Walters Mr. Gary L. Weeks H on. & Mrs. Gregory E. Wilhelm Dr. & Mrs. Bruce E. Winston Anonymous Donors (2) DONOR ORGANIZATIONS Prepared for the Journey LLC Desandro Law Group PLLC First Presbyterian Church Hoogendoorn & Talbot, LLP Anonymous Donors (2)
Thank You
We are humbled by your partnership, prayers, and gifts that truly impact 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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Legacy of Giving A Snapshot of the Immeasurable Impact of Judge Richard Bray and the Beazley Foundation
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n June, after 19 years as the president and CEO of the Beazley Foundation, Inc., Judge Richard S. Bray stepped down from the Portsmouth-based charitable organization that has touched the lives of millions in Hampton Roads since its founding in 1948.
foundation set up by my good friend and benefactor Fred Beazley and has carried the Beazley Foundation onto new heights,” Dr. Robertson said. “I wish the best for Judge Bray in the years to come and that he will have a rewarding and blessed retirement.”
Throughout his tenure, Judge Bray, a Portsmouth native who served on the Virginia Court of Appeals, embodied the spirit of a servant-leader as he oversaw the distribution of grants to vital organizations in support of young people, education, housing, healthcare, and recreation.
Over the past 15 years, the Beazley Foundation and Judge Bray have bestowed grants to Regent University that have had an immediate and lasting impact. Two notable examples are the IBM Cognos Data Analytics System that enabled university operations to run more efficiently and the construction of our much-needed Chapel and Divinity School.
The Beazley Foundation was created by the late Fred W. Beazley, a Portsmouth native and a larger-than-life character who began his illustrious career selling coal and oil door-todoor. His hard work paid off, and he earned a fortune, only to lose it during the Great Depression. Undeterred, Beazley started over in Atlanta, where he rebuilt his wealth. He then returned to his hometown to focus on philanthropy directed to the community’s needs at large. Today, the privately endowed foundation manages $60 million in assets. Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder, chancellor & CEO of Regent University, enjoyed a special relationship with Beazley, who was a close friend of his father. In the early 1960s, as Dr. Robertson worked to get his broadcast ministry off the ground, Beazley provided him with a $100-week stipend and allowed his family to live in a house on the campus of what was then Frederick College. This location was later bequeathed to the state and became the Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College. “Judge Bray has been a dear friend of Regent over the years. He has taken charge of the 10
Shaw Chapel is a centerpiece of campus life and a place of worship, celebration and community. It transformed the Regent campus, helping to create an even more vibrant academic and Christ-centered atmosphere. “The generosity of the Beazley Foundation helped make it possible for our students to study and worship together in beautiful, stateof-the-art buildings. Each of the students assisted will, in turn, minister to countless people as they proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Corné J. Bekker, D. Litt. et Phil., dean of the School of Divinity. The Beazley Foundation, under Judge Bray’s leadership, has provided more than $680,000 in grants that, in addition to making a physical imprint on the university, have improved the curriculum and offered life-changing scholarships to students. The Beazley Foundation’s American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) grant enabled the university to strengthen its General Education curriculum, specifically
in literature and economics. It also provided the funding to hire more world-class faculty members. Now Regent is one of only 23 universities nationally to hold the esteemed “A” rating by ACTA for its comprehensive liberal arts curriculum. Josh McMullen, Ph.D., dean, College of Arts & Science, said the university is profoundly grateful for the educational bedrock provided by the grant. “Our General Education curriculum draws from the rich tradition of Western Civilization and America’s founding principles while engaging and training students to meet the needs and challenges of an increasingly globalized world. The Beazley Foundation and Judge Richard Bray were instrumental in this achievement.” The foundation also supports prestigious scholarships such as the Lawrence W. I’Anson Endowed Scholarship, which was created in honor of its late Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Judge Bray’s predecessor and mentor, and a Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice. Jeffrey A. Brauch, professor and executive director of the Center for Global Justice, also holds a deep respect for Judge Bray and his commitment to educating young people. “Whenever I was privileged to spend time with Judge Bray, I was struck by his love for this community. He cares deeply about preserving Hampton Roads’ heritage, but he is even more passionate about seeing it flourish in the future. And he loves young people and is committed to education,” Brauch said. “I am so thankful for the Beazley Foundation’s investment in Regent law students through the Lawrence W. l’Anson Endowed Scholarship. I am confident that students blessed by this scholarship will seek justice and provide principled leadership for Hampton Roads for many years to come.” In 2019, Regent Law Dean Mark Martin shared his vision of establishing the
Robertson Center for Constitutional Law: to protect rights secured in the Constitution and restore enumerated rights that have been eroded over time. The Beazley Foundation, at the recommendation of Judge Bray, decided to partner with Regent in this important new venture which became a reality in 2020. Located in Regent’s Robertson Hall, the center pairs advocacy and scholarship to advance first principles in constitutional law. “My friend, Judge Richard Bray, has been a key mentor to me since I arrived at Regent Law School. I will never forget his amazing contributions to the formation of the Robertson Center for Constitutional Law,” Dean Martin said. “Not only did his funding recommendation to the Beazley Foundation Board result in one of our largest financial contributions, but he became a steady source of creative ideas and recommendations that allowed the Center to flourish even amid the pandemic.” Judge Bray passed the baton to Steve Best, a Chesapeake City councilman, and former Chesapeake fire chief. Best received a master’s degree in business administration from Regent in 1994 and his Juris Doctor from Regent’s School of Law in 2008. As a new chapter begins, Christopher Lambert, vice president for Advancement, reflected on the long-standing partnership between Regent and the Beazley Foundation: “We are grateful to be among a select group of organizations chosen to receive and steward investments of the Beazley Foundation. Thank you for placing your trust in Regent and for sharing our passion for equipping the next generation of Christian leaders to change the world.” To learn how you can support Regent University’s mission to transform the world through Christian leadership, visit regent.edu/support.
Adapting for Success
Traversing the Challenges of the Virtual Classroom BY DR. SANDRA FORTNER WITH DR. JOHN HANES | SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
M
arch 11, 2020, is a day that may forever live in people’s minds worldwide. That’s when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic impacting all educational programs—private and public schools, church school programs such as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and higher education. Schools closed, opened up, closed again, and often utilized alternate formats such as virtual learning, hybrid models, and asynchronous learning. Students missed days, weeks, and months of learning. Many suffered from impeded social skill development. This concern for children’s spiritual, academic, and affective development, coupled with parental and adult-learner needs for support, has required educational leaders to analyze, evaluate, and create ways to meet the diverse needs across the academic spectrum. The Learning Challenges We’ve Faced With the onset of virtual learning, teachers and students alike received training on operating online programs to facilitate teaching and learning. Some larger school districts, churches, and private schools provided Chromebooks and laptops to students and teachers to support the initiative. Others could not. Some students used their cell phones to participate in virtual learning. Teachers received training on the technological aspects of online learning, but few were instructed in effective teaching strategies emphasizing learning styles to promote knowledge and address students’ diverse needs. Typically, the online programs addressed auditory, visual, and tactile [small motor control] means of learning. Still, they 12
could not guarantee kinesthetic or hands-on [large motor control] activities that would have students engage with the content and experience. Learning Styles: A Place for Kinesthetic Learning in the Virtual World Kinesthetic learning was a method Jesus promoted with His New Testament teachings. More than lecturing as a means to help His listeners learn, Jesus also offered instructions and called for learners to do what He said. For example, He modeled ministry, healing, and care for His disciples and then sent them out to do it, closing the loop by reporting back when they finished their assignment (Luke 9:1–6, 10). Jesus’ teaching demanded the application of their learning. Though teachers could guide students to replicate the intended learner outcomes, such as multiplying 2-digits by 2-digits, they could not do this for every subject or concept before assigning work for a grade. Students need to engage with the content before being assessed for its mastery. Teachers could not guarantee that their pupils could apply the instruction to the real world because of pandemic restrictions and sometimes monetary requirements. For example, not all parents were working from home. Planning both on their part and the part of teachers required ingenuity. Some teachers had students gather objects in the home, with parental consent, to complete a hands-on experience with the teacher’s guidance. Such action took detailed planning and know-how. Also, it restricted what materials could be used apart from adult assistance.
Most teachers figure out how to teach virtually, but not all knew how to promote learning beyond online programs. After all, the pandemic was new. Teacher training and energy focused on learning online programs like Zoom, Google, Kahoot, and Canvas. Therefore, the methodology for effective teaching and learning sat on the back burner in place of mastering the means to connect. New Strategies for a New Day Even as many students have returned to the school site, masks and social distancing restrict some instructional strategies. As a result, school leaders must continue to research and provide professional development to educators to meet students at many levels. Educational leaders must consider student dimensions holistically during modified, virtual, hybrid, and asynchronous learning, including spiritual and physiological health, learning styles, interests, cooperative relationships, and social skills. They also must ensure that teachers have the necessary tools to return to the homesteading forum should the need arise. Some teachers still require professional development for times when teaching and learning are not affected by the pandemic. Best practices can be simple. For example, sharing the learning objective with students, explaining its relevance beyond school, pulling some students into group learning based on data-driven decisions, and extending independent practice opportunities to others. Applying Virtual Teaching Principles in the Classroom and in Life In the months and years ahead, colleges and universities must equip their schools of education with textbooks, articles, videos, research, and conversations that address the pandemic’s problems and solutions. Already, the School of Education at Regent University is enhancing its curriculum with virtual and hybrid learning best practices— even as Regent professors navigate the very principles they are teaching. For example, Regent’s Advanced Staff Development for Christian Schools course explores the global pandemic’s effect on education worldwide and in the U.S. The course also addresses virtual teaching and technology tips and moderates biweekly discussions on these and other relevant topics among teachers and administrators. In the process, these educators are exploring best practices and improving their andragogy and pedagogy. In fact, as their final project, the class seeks to design effective professional
development tools and a strategy for implementation, with many electing Virtual Teaching as their topic to address the realworld needs of their current working sites. In addition to higher education applications, parents can assist their children’s learning based on age-level characteristics and abilities. Parents can follow along as their students learn to use the online instruction programs. They also can watch and assist their children with guided practice directed by the teacher. God’s Word sets forth the privilege and responsibility of parents to actively instruct their children: “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 11:19, ESV). Simple Ways to Teach Young Children Keeping younger students engaged in the joy of learning is especially important in this season of change. To challenge them outside the classroom, have your child: Write out the shopping list you dictate
Categorize the items on the shopping list
Measure items in a measuring cup to be used Create a study guide
Make a collage for a concept from one of their classes using words and pictures Create a timeline of their day Write in a journal
Grow seeds and draw/record their progression Create a stained-glass window using crepe paper for slope (linear equations-Algebra)
Create a song with dance movements to drive home the concept of energy. What’s the Bottom Line? The bottom line in education is securing the health and safety of those involved in the teaching and learning process. If you’re a teacher, include parents. Then, follow this with effective teaching and learning practices. If you’re a parent, collaborate with teachers and your children to make learning more relevant and accessible. We have had one-and-a-half years to get the technological aspects down. That means the next step is to optimize teaching and learning for all. We can do this. We must have faith and remember, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, ESV).
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Dr. Deborah Fuge (SOE ’19) always dreamt of being a teacher. There was never a doubt that she would work with children and help them to enjoy learning. After more than 30 years in education, her hard work and dedication were recognized when she was awarded Teacher of the Year at Three Oaks Elementary School in Virginia Beach. “I didn’t really expect it, but I’m proud that I was chosen,” says Fuge. Fuge always wanted to become a teacher. In high school, she worked at a daycare center, and after college, she began teaching second grade. Then she moved to first grade, where she felt at home. For her, there is something special about working with children at a young age.
Dr. Deborah Fuge (SOE ’19) Teacher of the Year Three Oaks Elementary School
The world of education has proven to be a wonderful place for Fuge to learn and grow. Part of that journey has included earning her doctorate from Regent University in educational psychology. By working with one of the Regent professors, she was inspired to adapt her teaching style to the benefit of her students. “I used to think kids should never know the teaching process,” explains Fuge. “Now I’m all about kids making choices.” Fuge reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and the nearly immediate need for virtual learning. While it has been a stretch for everyone on many levels, she has sought to develop a mindset of opportunities. “It has encouraged me to find new ways to reach the children. There will always be challenges. Flexibility is a key teacher trait.” In recent years, Fuge ventured into a new chapter by instructing adults as an adjunct professor for Regent’s School of Education. She continues to influence her students wherever she serves, just as they and her time in education have transformed her. Above all, Fuge hopes the faces she has taught have been positively impacted and that her youngest students, especially, will think of her with fond memories. “I hope they remember me with a smile and that they were loved and that their teacher was proud of them.” PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR DEBORAH FUGE AND ALL OF OUR ALUMNI WORLD CHANGERS WHO ARE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD.
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Elijah Prakash (‘23) College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Recipient
Dear Friend, When I answered God’s calling to build a broadcasting ministry more than 60 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that it would grow to include Regent University with a student body spreading the truth of Jesus throughout the country and the world. That development was made possible in part through the support of our generous partners in education like the Beazley Foundation. Under the guidance of Judge Richard S. Bray, who retired from his position as president and CEO in June, the foundation has helped make the university what it is today. A strong curriculum, taught by distinguished faculty, who are positioning our students for success through a combination of reason and faith. We are so blessed to have such friends. As I write this letter, the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, and turmoil at home and abroad continues, much as it did in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 people. To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Robertson School of Government hosted “9/11: A 20-Year Retrospective,” streamed on September 9. We have placed the video on our website for those who missed this informative and profoundly moving virtual event. I encourage you to visit regent.edu/911 to gain insight, to learn about those whose lives were affected, and to learn about the people who are arduously working to bring peace to a troubled world. We are confident that Regent students are well-equipped to be part of that vital mission and that they will find solutions to change the world through Christian leadership. Thank you for your support and prayers over Regent and our faculty, staff, and students as we strive to make this world a better, more peaceful place to live through the transformative love of Jesus Christ. May God bless you!
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson Founder, Chancellor & CEO
The God who said, ‘Out of darkness the light shall shine!’ is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts ... 2CORINTHIANS 4:6, GNT
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