IMPACT SPRING 2020
A P U BLICAT IO N O F R EGE N T UN I V E R SI T Y
TOP OF THEIR CLASS REGENT’S SCHOLARS WEEKEND AND HONORS COLLEGE ATTRACT THE NATION’S BEST & BRIGHTEST
They came from across the U.S. — 112 prospective students competing for over $1 million in scholarships at Regent University’s 15th Annual Scholars Weekend held this past February. Representing 18 states and accompanied by 169 parents and guardians, these senior high school students competed throughout the three-day event for exclusive full and partial scholarships — the largest awards available to incoming Regent students — including the coveted Dean’s Scholarship (full fouryear tuition, plus housing).
“The scholarship was certainly a part of my decision,” Polson shares. “But by that point, I already loved so many things about Regent. Getting to meet other students, explore the campus and worship at UnChapel … all brought clarity to my college decision,” she says. For Polson and others, it was the complete experience — a place of academic rigor, Christ-centered education, and an engaging community of staff and students that made an impact on them during the weekend.
North Carolina native Emily Polson, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in political communication at Regent University, was last year’s Dean’s Scholarship winner. Yet surprisingly, that wasn’t the main reason she chose to attend Regent.
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INSIDE: I Have Walked With The Living God Page 4 Regent World Changer Page 6 The Chancellor's Message Page 7
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“I imagined Scholars Weekend being much more competitive and stressful, yet I was greeted with warm hospitality, God-centered principles, wonderful new friends, and an experience I would never trade,” said Elizabeth Hammer.
Admissions for the College of Arts & Sciences. “My team is humbled to invest in them and excited for the future, knowing that God is mobilizing such a high-caliber generation of Christian leaders.”
A New College
Polson agrees: “The most meaningful But the opportunity to win scholarships experience I had was the time spent in the wasn’t the only good news offered to these dorms talking with my hosts and their top scholars. Over the weekend, university friends, sharing about our staff also announced the Regent experiences, and launch of a standalone talking about Christian “... the focus of the Honors Honors College on leadership. I really got an College is to discover Regent’s campus in idea of what community greatness — the greatness Virginia Beach, Virginia. at Regent could look like.”
of God, the greatness of His ways and His acts, and the greatness that He allows us to accomplish through Him.”
The Honors College will attract high-achieving students, providing mentorship opportunities and an advanced honors DR. GERSON MORENO-RIAÑO This year’s extraordinary curriculum based on EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT group of scholar its unique educational FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS applicants quite literally L.I.F.E. model: great brought their A game, Learning, Instruction, with a combined GPA Faculty & Expectations. The L.I.F.E. average of 4.13 and SAT scores of 1310, approach to honors education at Regent will representing the 92nd percentile of testbe offered by some of the best faculty in the takers nationwide — the highest ever for country who serve at the university. Scholars Weekend. “The university has a premier team of Additionally, 27 distinct majors were faculty offering leading curricula and a represented, including the top three: B.S. state-of- the- art plan to ensure that students in Psychology, B.S. in Business and B.A. in receive the finest instruction within a Law & National Security. challenging environment,” said Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs “We had the privilege of getting a personal Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño. “Simply said, the view of these gifted young men and women focus of the Honors College is to discover in areas from intellect and leadership to greatness — the greatness of God, the communication and teachability. And each greatness of His ways and His acts, and the of them is truly remarkable,” said Avery greatness that He allows us to accomplish Walsh, senior director of Undergraduate through Him. We believe it will absolutely A community that also happens to be with some of the nation’s best and brightest.
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transform students to be great leaders to make the world a better place.” That news resonated with many of this year’s scholars, according to Regent staff who interviewed them over the weekend. “I believe the invitation to Scholars and the Honors College was a key factor in their decision to attend Regent … that their hard work and accomplishments were being recognized,” explains one staff member. But that recognition doesn’t just end with the students. Excellence is a twoway street, and in the more than four decades of training Christian leaders to change the world, Regent continues to draw the highest accolades. Ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report, 2020, Regent is one of only 22 universities nationally to receive an “A” rating for its comprehensive liberal arts core curriculum. Recently, the university also earned its 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — the highest level that a university can be awarded from that organization. The launch of the Honors College comes on the heels of Regent’s robust Honors Program
that was initiated five years ago, with alumni from that program already competitive in industry-leading companies. Students who apply and are accepted into the Honors College will receive an additional scholarship, extensive mentorship and leadership training, and have the opportunity to publish content as a Center for Christian Thought & Action fellow — an initiative by Regent where leading scholars and thinkers offer sharp analysis and carefully considered solutions to a host of issues facing our nation today. “The world needs dedicated Christians with disciplined minds, exceptional spirits and battle-tested hearts to challenge the culture and to lead and serve others to the glory of God,” said Dr. Josh McMullen, interim dean of Regent’s College of Arts & Sciences. “With great curricula, instruction, faculty, and setting great expectations, Regent’s Honors College seeks to change the way students view the world while preparing them to meet it with greatness.” To learn more about Regent’s new Honors College, visit regent.edu/honors. The Honors College is welcoming applicants for its inaugural class beginning August 2020.
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I Have Walked With The Living God In his latest book, Regent’s founder, chancellor and CEO marks his 90th birthday by reflecting on his life journey and God’s miracle-working power
Over prayer and a simple lunch of cantaloupe and cottage cheese in 1975, Pat Robertson received a profound mandate from God: Buy some land, build his headquarters, and build a school for His glory. Robertson’s answer was as straightforward as his lunch. “Yes, Sir,” he replied. It’s a response that has served Robertson well in his now 90 years on earth — 60 of which have been dedicated to serving the Lord in ministry while trusting God to direct his every step, often in the face of seemingly impossible odds. “When I go back to my early days in seeking the Lord, I go through all the miracles that God has done here over the years — times when I have sought the Lord and He’s spoken to me. It’s an adventure for faith,” says Robertson. On the heels of his 90th birthday, Robertson details those faith adventures in his latest book, I Have Walked With The Living God. 4
“I think this book is going to touch a lot of people’s lives,” shares Robertson. “Literally, as I was writing it, I was transported back 40 or 50 years and began to relive the excitement that was involved in starting CBN, Operation Blessing, Regent University, and the other things that I’ve done.” When God called Robertson to start the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), he had just arrived in Portsmouth, Virginia, with his wife, Dede, their three children, a U-Haul trailer, and $70. The year was 1959. “God said, ‘I want you to buy a television station.’ I didn’t even own a television set!” Robertson recalls. “But before long, through a series of miracles, we were able to acquire a UHF television station. We had one black and white camera … and our first broadcast went on the air October 1, 1961.” Today, CBN is one of the world’s largest television ministries and has helped lead hundreds of millions of people around
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the world to faith in Jesus Christ through television, radio and web programs that have aired in some 200 countries and in more than 100 languages. Similarly, after Robertson founded Regent University in 1977 (formerly CBN University), the School of Communication & the Arts launched a year later with seven professors and 77 students in a rented office building. Today, it stands among the top elite universities in the nation, employing 139 full-time faculty and having prepared over 27,000 alumni to be Christian leaders who are changing the world. “There’s nothing impossible,” says Robertson. “I’ve done a whole lot of things in my life. God spoke to me, my wife and I prayed … He led me through the scriptures and through the years, told me to do this and I did … and here we are.” “When you step out into God and trust Him, everything is going to work out,” Robertson added.
“When you step out into God and trust Him, everything is going to work out.” DR. M.G. “PAT” ROBERTSON
Yet in stepping out — as a religious broadcaster, humanitarian, educator, author, and even a presidential candidate — Robertson says he ultimately wants to be known for one thing: as a man who walked with God, followed His ways and brought Glory to the Almighty. “Writing I Have Walked With The Living God has been a very personal journey for me,” says Robertson. “Recounting the ways God has guided me, solidifies my certainty to say ‘He who causes everything to be’ has never failed me once. He is the anchor of my soul.” I Have Walked With The Living God is scheduled to release May 19, 2020, and will be available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other national book retailers.
Celebrating 90 Years On March 22, Dr. Robertson celebrated his 90th birthday. Plans were well underway to commemorate this milestone with our Regent family and friends when sadly, the coronavirus forced a change in plans. In light of travel restrictions and concerns over the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Robertson and the Regent Board of Trustees made the decision to cancel all birthday celebration activities to take the necessary precautions and ensure the safety of all guests, students and staff. Despite this disappointing change of events, we still want to celebrate our founder and chancellor and his incredible life of walking boldly with God in the face of every circumstance! Help us bless Dr. Robertson by supporting the vision that he has carried all these years — to build a school for God’s glory and raise up Christian leaders to change the world. If you would like to share a personal birthday greeting with Dr. Robertson or give a special gift in his honor, please visit regent.edu/happy90.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” PSALM 91:1-2
REGENT WORLD CHANGER Dr. Kelly James (SPC ’11) is a lot of things to a lot of people — radio host, professor and published author. But to those she has served for more than two decades in the mental health field, she is the hope doctor.
Dr. Kelly James (SPC ’11)
Licensed Professional Counselor, Professor & Author | Top Mental Healthcare Professional, IAOPT, 2019
“My business cards read, ‘Love your future by healing your past,’” James says. “Holding hope for a client when they are not able to do it for themselves is a privilege that I take very seriously.” James should know. She’s not only an expert in her field, but a survivor as well.
“God showed me that all the pain I had in my life was for a reason,” she says. “He helped me out of a painfully abusive marriage where I ended up in the hospital. He took care of me through that time, eventually leading me to Regent University.” James earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from Regent in 2011 — an education she says, “far exceeded any I could have gotten elsewhere.” “It was hard,” James shares. “I was working two jobs while being a full-time doctoral student, but the challenge of juggling all of that made me more determined to succeed.” And succeed she has. James was named the Top Mental Healthcare Professional for 2019 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. In addition to having a private practice, James is also a full-time professor, mentor to graduates, sought-after public speaker, and co-author of a recently published book titled, Why Aren’t You Over This by Now? How Trauma Messes You Up and What to Do About It. She also hosts a weekly live radio show by the same title. And James’ legacy at Regent continues, with her son now a student, pursuing a degree in biblical and theological studies. To him and others, she offers this advice: “Learn all that you can while you are a student. Take everything the professors say and learn from their wisdom and expertise, because soon you will be the leader in your field.”
You can learn more about Dr. Kelly James on her website: drkellyajames.com. Her live radio show airs every Tuesday at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).
You are not alone WE ARE THE REGENT FAMILY ––––––––––
As we hunker down in our homes and physically distance ourselves from family and friends, your family at Regent University will be reaching out to check-in, see how you are doing, and pray with you. Please feel free to also send us your requests at regentalumni.org/alumniprayer or email us at alumni@regent.edu. We are here for you.
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The Chancellor’s Message Dear Friend, If there’s one lesson I’ve learned throughout my 90 years of living and over 60 years in the ministry, it’s to not despise small beginnings. God has plans for us way beyond where we are looking. Plans to prosper us and to give us a good future. When I founded Regent in 1977, we started out with just seven faculty and 77 students. Today, we’ve grown to 139 full-time faculty and 600 adjunct faculty — including distinguished faculty such as former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. We’ve graduated over 27,000 alumni who are serving God all over the world, and per Impact’s cover story, we’re attracting some of the nation’s best students through our Scholars Weekend and the launch of our new Honors College that begins this fall. In fact, I believe that this Honors College will quickly become one of national distinction in undergraduate honors education in the United States. It will be the college of choice for students seeking a rigorous Christian education. God is good! And even though I wasn’t able to celebrate my 90th birthday here on campus due to the impact of COVID-19 that’s affecting so many nationwide and around the world, I want to encourage you to continue trusting the Lord for good things. Don’t be afraid to step out and don’t fear the future. When you step into the future, you step into the hands of a loving God. I’m boldly stepping out and believing for God to do so much more — but I need your help to accomplish it! Through your prayers and financial gifts, Regent University can continue to build Christian leaders who are changing the world. With the seeds that you sow, God will be faithful to produce a harvest of blessings in your life. Thank you for your partnership that is changing lives! Sincerely,
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson Founder, Chancellor & CEO
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. PROVERBS 3:5-6, NKJV
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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. ADV200218
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