Registration Open, Summer Workshops, Forming Institutions that Flourish: Integrating Faith and Academic Administration

Lead Facilitators: Donna Elkins, Campbellsville University; Robert Woods, CCSN Executive Director

Additional Presenters/Roundtable Discussants: Tom Carmody (Vanguard University); Shane Garrison (Campbellsville University); Jeff Groeling (Taylor University); Kate Mead (East Texas Baptist University); Perry Glanzer (Baylor University)

Date/Time: Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT

REGISTER HERE

Description: Administrators shape the conditions under which Christian teaching, scholarship, and community life either flourish or quietly erode. Many campuses emphasize faith‑and‑learning integration for faculty, yet far fewer help administrators reflect theologically on hiring, budgeting, decision‑making, or the daily stewardship of institutional mission. This workshop invites Christian administrators to think rigorously and prayerfully about their work as a calling—one that requires wisdom, virtue, and a clear understanding of the distinct sphere of education. Participants will explore how Christian character, institutional priorities, and mission‑aligned practices can animate administrative leadership. Through guided reflection, case studies, and collaborative discussion, attendees will learn how to discern the difference between data‑informed and data‑driven decisions, how to resist mission drift, and how to cultivate administrative habits that foster shalom, justice, and flourishing across their institutions. Administrators will leave with a clearer theological framework for their work and practical tools for aligning policies, budgets, and personnel decisions with a Christ‑centered academic mission. Questions the workshop will include but are not limited to the following:

• What distinguishes the sphere of Christian higher education from business, church, or family life?
• How do Christian virtues shape administrative judgment, priorities, and tone?
• How can budgets, policies, and hiring practices reflect and advance a Christ‑animated mission?
• Where are administrators most vulnerable to mission drift, and how can they guard against it?
• How do administrative challenges in higher education help develop personal spiritual characteristics?

Donna Elkins (PhD, University of Kentucky) serves as Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Professor of Communication at Campbellsville University.  She joined CU in July 2023. In addition to her doctorate in communication from the University of Kentucky, she holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Louisville, a MA in Mass Communication from Morehead State University, and a BA in Journalism and Government from Morehead State University. She is currently pursuing a MA in Biblical Studies/Theology at Kentucky Christian University. Prior to joining Campbellsville University, she was Dean of Online Education, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and a Professor of Communication at Spalding University. Donna also served as Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Communication at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Learn more about Donna.

Robert H. Woods Jr. (PhD. JD, Regent University) served as Professor of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University for 20 years. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (CCSN) (www.theccsn.com), a non-profit network providing resources and training on faith-learning integration in the field of communication studies. He is the editor-in-chief of the CCSN’s imprint, Integratio Press. Dr. Woods has served as the President of the Religious Communication Association (RCA) and was named Scholar of the Year by RCA. He is the recipient of multiple research and scholarship awards and the editor/author of over a dozen books. Most recently, Dr. Woods is the co-author with Paul Patton on Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways and Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-learning Integration in Public Universities. His book co-authored with Kevin Healey (University of New Hampshire), titled Ethics and Religion in the Age of Social Media: Digital Proverbs for Responsible Citizens received the Book of the Year Award from RCA. He recently served as a visiting scholar at Trinity Western University. Connect with Robert here.

Tom Carmody (PhD, Regent University) currently serves as a Professor of Communication in the Communication Department of the Patty Arvielo School Business and Management at Vanguard University where he has taught for over 35 years. His research focus ranges from nineteenth-century American sermonic rhetoric, comic books and graphic novels to Anglican Studies. He is an ordained Anglican priest in the Anglican Church in North American and serves both the diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO) and his local parish, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, in Costa Mesa, CA. As CCSN’ Chaplain in residence, Dr. Carmody will provide prayer, reflection, and other devotional material and activities to address the intellectual work and spiritual lives of those serving in the Academy. We are blessed to have him. Learn more about Tom.

Shane Garrison (EdD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of Educational Ministries, and Dean of Online Education at Campbellsville University. He has served at Campbellsville University since 2008. Shane has served in church leadership roles in KY and TX as youth minister, minister of education, and associate pastor. He has served numerous churches as interim and transitional pastor as well, and is a staff trainer, content developer, and camp pastor for LifeWay Christian Resources CentriKid camps. He is married to Jennifer Garrison, also a faculty member in the School of Theology and they have two teenage sons. Learn more about Shane.

Jeff Groeling (PhD University of Kentucky) has 30 years’ experience in higher education with six years of senior level leadership as the Vice-Provost, six years as the Dean of Online Learning and Instructional Technology at Taylor University, and fifteen years of experience in Information Technology leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. For the past few years he has been teaching in the Communication Department at Taylor University and have served as department chair the last two and a half years. Learn more about Jeff.

Kate Mead (PhD, Liberty University) serves as Assistant Dean of the School of Communication and Performing Arts and Associate Professor of Communication at East Texas Baptist University. In addition to her doctorate in communication, she holds an M.A. in Communication (Northern Illinois University) and a B.A. in Communication Studies (Olivet Nazarene University).  Prior to working in academia, Kate was employed in a variety of corporate and non-profit organizations. All of these experiences helped her cultivate a strong desire to intentionally use communication and service to impact an organization’s culture. Learn more about Kate.

Perry Glanzer (Ph.D., University of Southern California) is a professor of Educational Foundations at Baylor University and a Resident Scholar with the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. He has coauthored authored, or edited seventeen books including most recently, Unleashing the Image of God: Discovering Your Identity, Purpose, Vocation, and Character. In addition, he has written or co-written over one hundred forty journal articles and book chapters on topics related to moral education, faith-based higher education, and the relationship between religion and education. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Christian Scholar’s Review and edits the Christ Animating Learning blog. His primary scholarly and teaching interests pertain to moral education and the relationship between Christianity and education. Learn more about Perry.

Registration Fee: $45.00

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