Lipscomb University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to the recent Student Scholars Symposium winners from the History, Politics, and Philosophy Department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Lipscomb University!
🏆 Oreoluwa Ajiboye was recognized for her presentation, "The Marginalization of Religion in International Relations: A Content Analysis of International Organization (2000–2024)," mentored by Dr. Susan Haynes.
🏆 Cambryn Crumpler and Katherine Haralson were honored for their presentation, "Measuring Implicit Associations Involved with Militarized and Non-Militarized Law Enforcement Equipment," also mentored by Dr. Susan Haynes.
The Student Scholars Symposium is an annual spring event that brings together students, faculty, parents, and community members for a day of learning, discovery, and networking. We are proud of these outstanding students and grateful for the mentorship that supports their academic success. Join us in celebrating their achievements!

We are thrilled to celebrate seven students from Lipscomb's English and Modern Languages Department who achieved something extraordinary — becoming published authors before earning their degrees! 🎉

Congratulations to Allison Aardsma, Layla al Sadoon, Diane Brown, Miller "Mac" Chamberlain, Megan Gables, Emily Golembiewski, and Maxwell Kuecker for publishing poetry and essays in literary journals across the country this year!

Two students — Layla and Mac — also earned full tuition to top-20 MFA programs at the University of Michigan and UNLV. What an incredible achievement for these talented Bisons and their dedicated mentors, Dr. Jan Elaine Harris and Dr. Brandi Kellett! 💜

Check out our links for the full story.

We have exciting news from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences! 🎉

Lipscomb University is proud to announce the founding of the Iota Gamma Chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, a National Chemistry Honors Society, and the induction of its very first members this spring!

To earn membership, students must be nominated by faculty and meet high standards in chemistry credit hours, chemistry GPA, and overall GPA.

Congratulations to our inaugural inductees: Kiomi Tanakura, Riley Richardson, Elena Harvey, Kamden Lawson, Clinton Hutchins, Andrew Todd, Deron Young, Belle Delani, Lily Robinette, Caroline King, and Jake Skidmore. 💜

We couldn't be more proud of these outstanding students!

Ciao from Italy! 🇮🇹✨ A group of Biology and Nursing students recently wrapped up an unforgettable study abroad experience to various sites in Italy for a 2-week short-term travel course; The Art of Anatomy, Culture, and Healthcare. They toured dissection theaters in Padua and Bologna, had a viewing of the David sculpture in Florence, and the Capuchin Crypt in Rome along with visiting several Italian hospitals. Students were able to utilize Lipscomb's villa in Florence as their home base.

The new travel course, led by Jill Stafford, M.S.N. and Jill Kirby, DPT, offers students the opportunity to fit global learning into a rigorous academic schedule.
From ancient history to cutting-edge science, Italy delivered the ultimate real-world classroom. Combining academic rigor with cultural immersion, this trip is a testament to the transformative education happening right here at Lipscomb's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Interested in joining the next cohort? This incredible opportunity is offered every other year — so start planning now!

We are so proud of our graduate students from the Lanier Center for Archaeology, recognized for Best Graduate Paper Presentation at the Lipscomb University Scholars Symposium!

Gabrielle presented "The Collision of Israel and Judah: The Region of Benjamin as a Borderline in the Divided Kingdom" — a testament to the rigorous scholarship happening in our College of Archaeology. Thank you to Dr. Steve Ortiz for his mentorship in this process. We're so proud of you, Gabrielle!

Samuel presented "The Ark in Absence: Sacred Memory and the Top Panel of the Magdala Stone" — remarkable work made possible with the guidance of Dr. Chris McKinny. Well done, Samuel!

Stay tuned as we continue spotlighting our outstanding CLAS scholars!

Congratulations to Dr. T. Brian Cavitt, Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Lipscomb University, who has been awarded a sabbatical for Spring 2027! Dr. Cavitt was recognized for his sabbatical award at Lipscomb's recent Faculty/Staff Award Day (photo below).

Dr. Cavitt will dedicate his sabbatical to expanding and enhancing two sophomore-level organic chemistry laboratory manuals into second editions, incorporating current pedagogical best practices. The revised manuals will update experimental procedures, broaden the scope of hands-on experiments, and introduce a learner-led, research-based synthesis experience designed to give students a taste of real undergraduate research. True to his love of God's creation, Dr. Cavitt plans to do much of his writing and research from state and national parks — finding clarity and focus in the great outdoors.

With over two decades of teaching and research experience, Dr. Cavitt exemplifies the innovative scholarship and commitment to student success that define our College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Goode on receiving the Bledsoe Award for Faculty Excellence in Humanities and Arts, presented at Lipscomb's recent Faculty and Staff Awards Day! As a professor of History at Lipscomb, Richard brings a rare combination of rigorous scholarship and deep compassion to everything he does.

A chapter is closing — and a new one is beginning. 💜💛

As of June 1, CLAS is officially saying goodbye to the Departments of Psychology, Counseling & Family Science, and Social Work & Sociology as they move to their new home in the College of Health Sciences. These departments are joining a college whose identity and future direction are a natural fit, and we're excited for the new collaborations and opportunities that lie ahead for them there.

As part of that transition, Dr. Shanna Ray will depart as Executive Associate Dean (a role she has held since 2022) and move with her department to a new role in Health Sciences. Managing this social media account has been part of that role all along, so you'll be welcoming a new voice behind CLAS social media this summer!

Last month, the CLAS community gathered for a reception honoring Dr. Ray and the much-loved Jenna Vance, who has also recently left CLAS. We wish them both all the very best.

Stepping back from behind the curtain for a moment to use my own voice: It has been a genuine pleasure to serve this college and use this little corner of the internet to celebrate our students, faculty, programs, and everything that makes CLAS special. Thank you for being such a wonderful community to cheer for!
— Shanna Ray

The School of Communication (and friends) recently gathered to celebrate two incredible colleagues whose contributions have shaped the department in lasting ways, and to wish them well on exciting new chapters ahead!

Alan Griggs is stepping into a well-deserved retirement after a remarkable career. As a former investigative reporter and news director at WSMV-TV Nashville and WBZ-TV Boston, Alan brought real-world credibility into the classroom. His journalism career earned honors that include three Peabody Awards, two National Headliner Awards, a duPont-Columbia citation, and the Robert F. Kennedy Award. After serving ten years as Department Chair and more as a faculty member, his legacy is woven into everything this department is.

Sarah Gibson is leaving Lipscomb to launch her own AI consulting business. As Director of the School of Communication, Sarah brought vision, creativity, and forward-thinking leadership, positioning this department at the cutting edge of the field. Her pioneering work in AI at Lipscomb has helped lay the groundwork for how our university approaches this emerging technology. The communication world — and the AI world — is lucky to have her.

Together, Alan and Sarah leave behind a department that is stronger, more relevant, and better prepared for the future than ever before. We are so grateful for their work. As we celebrate their next chapters, we look forward with excitement to the future of the Lipscomb School of Communication and the great things still to come.

Meet our 2026 J.S. Ward Society Research Fellows! 🎉

Pictured left to right: Kiomi Tanakura, Emerald Cole, Katherine Kidd, Saja Al-shaweily, Divid Abdelshahid, Beaman Adel, and Bryson Lovorn. Each of these outstanding students has been awarded a Ward Fellowship, which includes a summer research stipend and a placement in a research program, either on campus or at a partner institution. We’re so proud of their dedication to academic discovery and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make this summer!