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, w...

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....

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 educat...

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,...

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...

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—...

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 Randa...

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...

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 w...

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...

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 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, fa...

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...