Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education

In this episode of Saints Together, Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry talks about something we cannot afford to ignore: if Christian higher education is going to be healthy, then we must care for the faculty and staff who carry the mission every day.That includes human resources, professional development, salary, benefits, sabbaticals, academic freedom, workload, morale, and the overall health of our workforce. Those are not just business topics. They are mission topics. A university cannot ask people to pour into students year after year and never ask whether those same people are being supported, encouraged, and strengthened for the work. Taking care of employees is not a luxury. It is stewardship. At Randall, our people are our greatest strength. Buildings matter. Programs matter. Enrollment matters. Budgets matter. But people carry the mission. Faculty and staff are the ones who teach, advise, recruit, coach, counsel, clean, fix, lead, pray, and walk with students through the ordinary and extraordinary moments of college life. We cannot become so focused on the mission that we forget the people God has called to carry it.

In this episode of Saints Together, Dr. Jay McCurry visits with Dr. Brandon Trueblood, Chair of Psychology at Randall University, about the growing mental health challenges facing today’s college students. Together, they discuss anxiety, depression, loneliness, identity, social pressure, and the unique role Christian higher education can play in offering students truth, care, community, and hope.This conversation reminds us that students are more than minds to educate. They are whole people created in the image of God. At Randall, mental health is not just a counseling issue; it is a discipleship, community, and mission issue.

In this episode of Saints Together, Dr. Jay McCurry explores what Gen Z is really looking for in a college experience. This generation wants more than a degree, more than amenities, and more than a polished marketing message. They are looking for value, clarity, belonging, authenticity, and a real connection between education, calling, and life after graduation. Drawing from current higher education research and the distinct mission of Christian higher education, this episode challenges colleges and universities to think deeply about how to reach, serve, and form students in a rapidly changing world. If Christian higher education is going to matter in this moment, it must do more than enroll students. It must help shape them.

In this episode of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry sits down with Todd Brandt, Executive Director of Alumni Relations at Southern Nazarene University, to talk about why alumni engagement matters so deeply in the life of a Christian university. We discuss building real alumni culture, the power of storytelling, meaningful communication, strong events, helpful systems, and practical steps presidents and provosts can take to strengthen alumni connection, trust, and long-term mission alignment.

In this episode of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry explores the growing influence of artificial intelligence in colleges and universities through the lens of Christian higher education. From tools like ChatGPT and Claude to broader questions of ethics, learning, and human formation, this conversation looks at both the opportunities and the dangers AI presents in the classroom and beyond.This episode considers how Christian institutions can respond with wisdom, conviction, and discernment—embracing helpful innovation without surrendering truth, integrity, or the central task of forming students in a biblical worldview. Whether you are a faculty member, administrator, church leader, or student, this discussion will challenge you to think carefully about what it means to lead faithfully in an AI-shaped world.

In this episode of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry is joined by Pastor Daniel Sweet, lead pastor of Calvary Church and Chair of Randall University’s School of Christian Ministry, for a meaningful conversation on the calling of faculty as shepherd-scholars. Together they explore how Christian educators can do more than transfer knowledge—they can shape character, mentor students, model a biblical worldview, and help form the whole person for kingdom service.From mentoring and worldview integration to character formation and faculty culture, this episode offers practical encouragement for anyone who cares about the mission of Christian higher education.

Faith, Formation, and Competition: Athletics at Randall University In this episode of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry sits down with Randall University Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer Joe Fidelie to talk about the role of athletics in shaping campus culture, student development, and Christian discipleship.They discuss Randall’s place in the NCCAA Division II, what makes Christian collegiate athletics distinct, how coaches are selected, what recruiters look for beyond talent, and how athletics can become a powerful setting for spiritual formation. From discipline and teamwork to identity, adversity, and leadership, this conversation highlights how Randall is committed to building more than athletes—we are building men and women of character rooted in Christ.Whether you are a student, parent, alumni, supporter, or simply care about Christian higher education, this episode offers an encouraging look at how faith and competition can work together for a greater purpose.

This episode speaks directly to what we see every day: graduates want more than a paycheck—they want a life that makes sense. We explore how Christian higher education helps students connect vocation and faithfulness so they graduate with identity and purpose:“I belong to Christ, and my work belongs to Him too.”

Crisis doesn’t ask permission—and in 2026, it’s rarely just the incident. It’s the group text five minutes later, the Facebook post with half the facts, the screenshot that never goes away, and the headline that travels faster than truth.In this episode of Saints Together, Dr. Jay McCurry (Provost & Chief Academic Officer at Randall University) shares a practical, faith-forward framework for leading through crisis with steadiness and credibility—drawing from lessons in Christian higher education and insights from his doctoral research on how stakeholders judge leadership communication in hard moments.You’ll learn:Why reputation is built in peacetime, not during the emergencyHow to communicate with Truth, Timing, and ToneWhy crises require one voice, one message, especially on social mediaHow to lead like a shepherd, not just a spokespersonWhat to repeat so people actually remember itWhy the post-crisis debrief is non-negotiable if you want trust to growJay also brings it home to Randall’s mission—responding with truth without cruelty, compassion without compromise, and clarity without panic—because in a crisis, leadership becomes witness.If this episode helps you, share it with another leader carrying the weight of responsibility. You don’t have to lead through hard moments alone.

Enrollment pressure can do strange things to good people—overselling, chasing the wrong students, making promises we can’t keep, and slowly treating image-bearers like numbers. In this episode of Saints Together, Dr. Jay McCurry (Provost & Chief Academic Officer at Randall University) tackles a question every Christian university leader feels right now: How do we recruit and enroll students without losing our soul?Drawing on today’s realities—families questioning cost and value, students hungry for meaning but skeptical of institutions—Jay shares a clear framework for recruitment as ministry, not marketing. You’ll hear three practical commitments that can reshape an admissions culture immediately: clarity over cleverness, fit over volume, and real value.Jay also offers a word to pastors and church leaders about helping students choose schools that strengthen faith rather than erode it—and closes with a challenge: Are we recruiting in a way we’d be proud to explain to Jesus?

Church partnerships are more than announcements and handshakes—they’re relationships built on trust, shared mission, and consistency over time. In this episode, I walk through practical ways Christian universities can serve churches well, build pipelines for students, and strengthen advancement without losing the heart of the mission. I also connect the conversation to our Free Will Baptist roots and the broader story of why denominational partnerships have mattered so much in Christian higher education.

In Episode 3 of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry keeps the conversation moving from “why we exist” to “how we lead.” This episode is a steady reminder that Christian higher education doesn’t run on hype—it runs on mission, unity, and leaders who can think clearly, communicate straight, and care deeply for students, faculty, and families.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Staying anchored when the pressure is highLeading people well while protecting the missionKeeping campus culture healthy, Christ-centered, and unifiedMaking decisions with wisdom—not noiseIf you’re carrying responsibility in Christian education (or you love someone who is), Episode 3 will encourage you and sharpen your leadership.Follow the show, and share this episode with a leader who needs a steady voice today.

In Episode 2 of Saints Together, Dr. Jay McCurry digs into what it really takes to lead in Christian higher education—when the pressure is real, the stakes are high, and the mission can’t be treated like a slogan. This is a practical, faith-grounded conversation about leading with clarity, caring for people, and keeping Christ at the center of campus life.If you serve as a president, provost, faculty member, staff leader, trustee, pastor, or supporter of Christian higher education, this episode will encourage you—and challenge you—to lead on purpose.Subscribe and share this with someone who’s carrying the weight of leadership right now.

In this first episode of Saints Together: Conversations in Leadership and Christian Higher Education, Dr. Jay McCurry launches the podcast and sets the tone for what’s ahead. You’ll hear the heart behind the show, why Christian higher education matters right now, and what it takes to lead with conviction while serving students and strengthening campus mission.In this episode, we talk about:The purpose of Saints Together and who it’s forLeadership lessons for the Christian college settingKeeping mission clear in a changing cultureWhy unity, prayer, and practical leadership still matterWhat you can expect in future conversationsWhether you’re a university leader, faculty or staff member, pastor, alumnus, parent, or friend of Christian higher education—this episode is your starting point.Subscribe, follow, and share with someone who cares about the future of Christian higher education.