Faith and learning are woven throughout the Samford student experience. They work hand-in-hand to shape research agendas, inform classroom discussions and guide learning opportunities that challenge students to think deeply about the relationship between Christian faith and business. Across disciplines, business faculty are helping students explore a foundational question: How should Christian faith influence the way we lead, serve and make decisions in business?
At Samford University’s Brock School of Business, faculty answer that question in different ways. Some are conducting research that serves vulnerable populations, others are implementing faith into course curriculum, leading study abroad experiences or creating new opportunities for students to put their faith into practice through business.
Exploring Faith and Vocation
For several business faculty members, faith integration begins with examining their own work as Christian educators and scholars.
Reggie Harris, associate professor of management, and Kathryn Boyd, instructor of business, are participating in Samford University's Christian Scholar-Teacher Program, a three-year faculty development initiative led by Bryan Gill, director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation.. Through the program, faculty members explore questions of faith, vocation and scholarship while considering how Christian conviction informs their teaching, research and service.
Nathan Kirkpatrick, associate professor of management, has invested significant time in helping students understand the relationship between faith and work. To support that effort, he regularly engages with the Tim Keller Center for Faith & Work in New York City, an initiative that equips Christians to think deeply about vocation, leadership and the integration of faith into professional life. The center brings together scholars and practitioners from fields including business, finance, marketing and law to explore how the Gospel shapes work and service in the marketplace.
That commitment has also shaped Brock School of Business' course curriculum. Kirkpatrick recently completed a significant revision of the undergraduate Managerial Values course, expanding opportunities for students to examine work, ethics and leadership through a Christian worldview. He also partnered with adjunct professor Scott McCrory to strengthen the MBA course Managing Corporate Integrity, deepening conversations around faith, ethics and organizational decision-making.
Research That Serves Others
For Sara McCarty, associate dean and the Margaret Gage Bush Distinguished Professor of Economics, and Courtney Peters, assistant professor of marketing, faith integration has taken shape through research focused on serving vulnerable populations. As part of Christian Scholarship Partners, McCarty and Peters joined a research initiative connected to the Samford Anti-Trafficking Project and led by David Smolin, the Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and director of the Center for Children, Law and Ethics, in Cumberland School of Law. Working alongside the Institute for Survivor Care, the team gathered data from shelters serving women and children who have escaped human trafficking.
Their research seeks to provide data that can strengthen survivor care efforts and inform services for women and children rebuilding their lives after trafficking. Peters recently received a Hull Grant to lead the next phase of the project, allowing the work to continue expanding its impact.
Learning Through Global Engagement
Faith and learning also intersect through Samford's study abroad programs.
During a Spring 2026 study abroad experience in London, Nathan Kirkpatrick also incorporated The Gospel in Life discipleship curriculum into his International Management course. As students explored business practices in a global setting, they were encouraged to consider how the Gospel shapes work, leadership and cross-cultural engagement.
Investing for Kingdom Impact
One of Brock School of Business' newest initiatives gives students the opportunity to put those principles into practice.
Led by Jeremy Thornton, the Dwight Moody Beeson Chair of Business, the Brock Impact Investment Fund (BIIF) and its accompanying Private Equity and Impact Investing course provide students with hands-on experience managing investments in mission-driven enterprises.
The student-managed, donor-advised fund focuses on venture capital-style investments in organizations seeking economic, social and spiritual transformation. Students conduct due diligence, evaluate opportunities, develop investment strategies and help manage real investments while learning the fundamentals of private equity and venture capital.
The initiative builds on Brock School of Business' longstanding commitment to social entrepreneurship and offers a distinctive approach to experiential learning. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Impact Foundation, students help direct capital toward high-impact ventures serving communities around the world, particularly in underserved regions. For students, the experience demonstrates how business and investment can contribute to human flourishing when guided by Christian conviction and a commitment to serving others.
"At Brock School of Business, we believe considering the whole person, mentally, physically and spiritually, leads to a more complete understanding of both individuals and organizations," said Brad Lail, dean of Brock School of Business. "Our Christian faith is central to who we are, and I'm encouraged by the many ways our faculty and staff use their God-given gifts to invest in our students and serve the business community. That commitment allows students to explore business through a broader lens and better understand the people and organizations they will lead and serve."
These experiences help prepare students to lead with competence, conviction and a clear sense of purpose as they enter the workforce. Samford's recognition by The Wall Street Journal (2026) as the No. 3 university in the nation for career preparation, No. 5 among Most Recommended Colleges and No. 7 for Learning Opportunities reflects the transformative experiences available to students across Brock School of Business. Through the guidance of faculty who intentionally integrate faith and learning, business students are equipped to use their talents, influence and careers to serve others, address complex challenges and make a difference in the world for God's glory.
