Food and Fellowship

Each month, Julie and I host a meal for employees who are celebrating birthdays. It’s a chance to gather faculty and staff members from across campus who don’t always know each other, to celebrate what each brings to our collective work, and to eat birthday cake!

One question I’ve asked celebrants to answer when introducing themselves is the location of their favorite spot on campus. A common answer is the Caf—that iconic space on the top floor of the University Center where students and employees have gathered for decades to eat, fellowship and form community. Current students and alumni also report that memories from the Caf are top of mind when they reflect upon their time at Samford.

This summer, as part of a new and aspirational plan to elevate Samford’s already wonderful campus, the Caf is undergoing its most comprehensive renovation since its opening in 1973. The improved facility will be ready for the start of the fall semester, which means construction crews had to get started immediately after spring commencement. Students and employees are excited about the new space and its open, accessible and modern design. Even though the space will look and feel different, I’m sure that Bulldogs will continue to lovingly refer to the space in the same way we have for nearly 50 years. “Hey, let’s meet up at the Caf,” will still be a common refrain heard around campus for decades to come.

In the Samford spirit,

Beck A. Taylor, Ph.D. President

The Caf is undergoing its most comprehensive renovation since its opening in 1957. Designed to be more like a food hall, the space will be accessible to the entire Samford community—whether one plans to purchase a meal or use the space to gather with friends.