In Pursuit of Excellence: Teaching in Christian Higher Education

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Dr. Bruce Bell, Adjunct Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Liberty University, for a rich conversation on the fruit of self-control in the life of a Christian educator. Together, they explore how self-control—when produced by the Holy Spirit—guides faculty through academic life, from grading deadlines to class...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Dr. Tom Doss, Project Manager in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on Growing in Gentleness: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching. Together, they explore how gentleness transforms the way educators lead, communicate, and care for students. This episode highlights how a spirit of gentleness...

In recognition of April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, cohosts Dr. Jerry Pitts and Jake Byrd sit down with Dr. Ester Warren, Executive Director of the Office of Disability Accommodation Support at Liberty University. Together, they talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities students with autism experience in higher education. The conversation offers practical guidance for inst...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Hope Graham , Educational Technologist in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on how kindness shapes teaching and learning in Christian higher education. Together, they explore how kindness—rooted in the fruit of the Spirit—can transform classroom culture and strengthen faculty-student relationships...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Jake Byrd welcome Dr. Melissa Clemmons, Teaching Consultant in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on Faithful Foundations: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching. Together, they explore how faithfulness, rooted in God’s unwavering nature, enables educators to remain steadfast in their calling, consistent in their care, an...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Dr. Brad Burgess, Department Chair in the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success at Liberty University, for a conversation on Guided by Goodness: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching. Together, they explore how goodness, rooted in God’s character, guides educators to model integrity, compassion, and excellence in every...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons sit down with Dr. Jerry Pitts, Assistant Director in the Center for Teaching Excellence, to talk about what it really means to practice patience as a Christian educator. They explore how patience, rooted in the Spirit, can help faculty respond to challenges with grace, build stronger connections with students, and reflect Christ in everyday a...

In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Justin Bamba, Educational Technologist in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on Peace in Practice: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching . Together, they explore how a Spirit-shaped peace can steady the heart of a teacher, set the tone for learning, and calm the anxieties stu...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons welcome Kjell Fenn, Author and Teaching Consultant in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on Joyful Teaching, Joyful Learning: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching . Together, they explore how joy—rooted in the Spirit—can energize instructors, uplift students, and create classrooms where both teachin...

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Dr. Melissa Clemmons sit down with Jake Byrd, Faculty Trainer in Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence, for a conversation on Love and Learning: How the Fruit of the Spirit Shapes Teaching . Together, they explore how demonstrating the love of Jesus can reshape teaching, strengthen connections with students, and create classrooms where learning and...

Dr. Tom Doss and Dr. Alexandra Barnett launch a new season with an introduction to this year’s theme: the Fruit of the Spirit in higher education. In this opening episode, they explore how the virtues of Galatians 5:22-23 can influence the work of Christian educators.

Join us in Fall 2025 for Season 3 of In Pursuit of Excellence !

Co-hosts Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Jake Byrd, Educational Technologist in the Center for Teaching Excellence. In this episode, Jake discusses how faculty can serve their HyFlex students through the use of technology, sharing practical tips on utilizing learning software, promoting accessibility, and preparing students for the future.

Co-hosts Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Jerry Pitts, Faculty Trainer in the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Pitts discusses how best to support adult student learners in higher education, highlighting the importance of flexibility, spiritual support, and technological preparedness.

Co-hosts Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Kjell Fenn, Teaching Consultant in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Assistant Professor of Education at Liberty University. In this episode, Professor Fenn discusses how to engage students in the classroom through the use of active learning strategies and techniques.

Co-hosts Dr. Alexandra Barnett and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Jerry Pitts, U.S. Army veteran, Faculty Trainer in the Center for Teaching Excellence, and Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Pitts shares best practices for serving and supporting military students and their families in their academic pursuits. 

Host Kjell Fenn welcomes Jake Byrd, Educational Technologist in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Byrd shares best practices for technological integration and tips on how to better serve students using technology.

Co-hosts Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Sarah Boettger, Assistant Professor in the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Boettger discusses the importance of cultivating student connections with their institution, with academic success, and with their skills, sharing practical tips from a developmental educator's perspective.

Host Kjell Fenn welcomes Dr. Alexandra Barnett, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Barnett discusses the importance of rest for faculty in higher education, sharing practical tips for establishing healthy boundaries between work and rest to ensure long-term sustainability. 

Host Dr. Tom Doss welcomes Kjell Fenn, Assistant Professor of Education and Teaching Consultant at Liberty University. In this episode, Professor Fenn highlights the importance of effective planning for the higher education classroom, sharing practical tips on organization and explaining the impact of good planning on classroom experience.

Co-hosts Jake Byrd and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Tom Doss, Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and an Associate Professor of Music at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Doss discusses how Christian higher education institutions can maintain their religious foundations while upholding academic excellence.

Co-hosts Kjell Fenn and Dr. Tom Doss welcome Jake Byrd, Educational Technologist in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Jake discusses the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom, sharing his insights into how to manage AI-generated content and encourage the healthy and appropriate use of AI in higher education.

Co-hosts Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Jerry Pitts, Faculty Trainer in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Pitts discusses teaching students with disabilities in online graduate programs, highlighting common struggles and solutions that online faculty can implement to promote the persistence and success of their students.

Host Dr. Tom Doss welcomes Professor Kjell Fenn, Teaching Consultant in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Kjell shares practical tips for sharpening educators' presentation skills, including how to integrate biblical principles seamlessly and both capture and maintain student focus in class.

Co-hosts Kjell Fenn and Dr. Alexandra Barnett welcome Dr. Tom Doss, Associate Professor of Music and Worship and Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Doss emphasizes the importance of mentoring students as Christian faculty, outlining biblical methods for effective faculty mentorship.