Higher Education, Higher Purpose

When Dr. Paul Maurer became president of Montreat College in 2014, the institution was quietly drifting. Theological language had been softened, the statement of faith had been narrowed, and the school sat on the kind of financial cliff that has ended the story for many small Christian colleges. A decade later, Montreat is a different place: record enrollment, a nationally recognized cybersecurity...

Provost Dr. Christina Schnyders of Malone University joins host Keith Ramsdell for a conversation that pushes past the easy assumptions about faith integration. It is not, she argues, a verse stapled to a syllabus or a prayer offered before a lecture. Drawing on William Hasker's enduring definition, Christina describes faith integration as the integral relationships that already exist between Chri...

What if students could attend college without paying a cent upfront, and instead, give back after they graduate? In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, we sit down with Nicole Dunteman, Director of the Hope Forward program at Hope College, to explore a bold new approach to college funding. Hope Forward flips the traditional tuition model on its head by offering students a...

In this episode, Dr. Paul Maurer shares the extraordinary transformation of Montreat College during his tenure as president. Once on the brink of closure, the college experienced a dramatic turnaround sparked by a timely and unexpected financial pledge—what Dr. Maurer describes as nothing short of divine intervention.  At the heart of Montreat’s revival has been a renewed, Christ-centered ide...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast host Phil Cook speaks with Dr. Greg Miller, President of Malone University. Dr. Miller shares how a Christian college offers not merely academic instruction but also a spiritual framework that significantly influences students' lives during formative years. He emphasizes the necessity for institutions like Malone to integrate faith in...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Dr. James Steen, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Houston Christian University. With over 19 years of experience at HCU, Dr. Steen discusses his journey from being a tour guide at Baylor University to leading significant enrollment growth and navigating a recent rebra...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Meghan Taylor, the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Redeemer University. Meghan shares her inspiring journey toward a career in Christian higher education and discusses her personal experience of making a significant college choice that shaped her professional path. Meghan highligh...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Dr. Dee McDonald, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Crown College. With over 15 years of experience, Dee highlights how a deep commitment to Christian values can lead to institutional growth and student transformation. He reflects on his personal story of initially resisting atten...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Joan Vos, the Director of Academic and College Counseling at Chattanooga Christian School. With over 35 years in education, Joan emphasizes the need for educators to "shoot at the heart," focusing on the unique gifts and callings of each student rather than simply adhering to rules and guidel...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Dr. Scott Van Loo, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Cedarville University. Dr. Van Loo shares his insights on the unique qualities that have contributed to Cedarville's recent success in Christian higher education. With a steadfast commitment to its mission and a vibrant campus com...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Amanda Slaughter, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bethel University. Amanda shares her inspiring journey from dropping out of high school to pursuing higher education and building a successful career in Christian education.  Phil, Heidi, and Amanda discuss the challenges face...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm speak with Willem de Ruijter, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Geneva College. Willem shares his unique journey and how attending a Christian college offers an environment for personal and spiritual formation during a pivotal time in young adults' lives. Willem reflects on his cr...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Mike Harper, Director of Vocational Guidance at Trinity Academy. Mike shares his insights on guiding high school students in discovering their vocations and the value of Christian higher education. With nearly a decade of experience at Trinity, Mike emphasizes the importance of helping stu...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Dr. Mildred Similton, the Administrator for Student Services at Hickory Grove Christian School. Dr. Similton shares her unique faith journey and how a transformative experience in her young adult life led her to a profound commitment to Christian education. She outlines her engagement with NACCA...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm sit down with Dr. Anthony Turner, a prominent figure in the field of enrollment management. Dr. Turner shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leading voice in Christian higher education. Phil, Heidi, and Dr. Turner discuss the vital importance of networking, data-driven decision-making,...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm talk with Dean Wilson, a multifaceted professional with a rich history across various sectors, including finance, real estate, ministry, and media. Dean reflects on his past, including his tenure at Westmont College and his triumphant battle with addiction. He shares powerful lessons on resilience, hope...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm talk with Dr. Marcus "Goodie" Goodloe, the keynote speaker for the upcoming NACCAP annual conference at Westmont College. From his roots in South Central Los Angeles to his esteemed academic and advisory roles, Dr. Goodloe brings a message of excellence and influence shaped by the teachings of Jesus. Ph...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast hosts Phil Cook and Heidi Sturm delve into the critical world of college scholarships with scholarship strategist Monica Matthews. Revered as the "Scholarship Mom", Monica comes with a wealth of experience in helping parents and students secure college scholarships. She discusses her smart method for standing out in scholarship applic...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, we reflect on the NACCAP organization's achievements in 2023 and outline our plans for 2024. We discuss successful events, the launch of Wednesday webinars, and the amazing addition of Janet Pargeter to our team. We talk about the importance of research in Christian education and the continuation of NACCAP's primary research projects...

NACCAP: 2023 in Review In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, we speak with Tami Peterson, former teacher, counselor, administrator, and director of college advising. With decades of experience in the field of education, Tami is the founder and CEO of Life Architects Coaching, where she provides coaching services to Christian secondary schools, universities, and working p...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Ed Recker, Director of High School Relationship Management with Sallie Mae. Ed discusses the changes happening with the FAFSA and why it is undergoing significant changes to simplify the application process and integrate it with the IRS to automatically retrieve tax information. Ed shares why it is importan...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Janet Pargeter, a retired guidance counselor with 22 years of experience. Janet shares her insights on the importance of networking and building relationships with other counselors to share knowledge and experiences, as well as to provide support and encouragement. She also discusses the benefits of being a...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Chris Singleton, a former professional athlete, an inspirational speaker, and a best-selling author. Chris has been sharing his story and a message of unity and racial reconciliation since the loss of his mother in a racially motivated mass shooting in 2017. Chris shares his journey of choosing forgiveness...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Jen Hensen, aka The Goal Digger and a nationally sought after test prep expert specializing in the ACT test. Jen talks about the recent changes in testing and what it means to prospective college students. She also discusses the difference between the ACT and SAT and if a student should take both.   “I...

In this episode of the Higher Education, Higher Purpose podcast, host Phil Cook speaks with Renee Lopez, author, speaker, trainer, and coach. As a seventeen-year coaching veteran, Renee is an expert in the college recruiting process, leadership training and team culture development. She shares why it’s important for the prospective student athlete to communicate with the college coaches and why Ch...