Christ-Centered, Whole-Person Transformation
Is a college education worth it?
That’s a question more people are asking these days. At George Fox, we believe a college education is transformative, when it includes the development of the whole person.
The George Fox Leadership & Formation Program brings together faculty and staff to enhance the undergraduate student experience. It aims to promote a culture of Christ-centered character and leadership across the institution while also participating in and shaping a national conversation on undergraduate student development.
A Leader in Christian Education
George Fox University is one of 29 colleges and universities awarded a grant as part of the Educating Character Initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. and Wake Forest University. The Educating Character Initiative calls for new approaches to holistic student formation. The $500,000 grant, distributed over three years, will allow George Fox to build a program that further integrates the George Fox mission to help students grow spiritually, academically and professionally.
Joseph Clair
Associate provost
Faith integration ultimately revolves around embodying strong character, grasping ethical principles within the professional realms of business or medicine, and recognizing the impact that following Christ has on how you live and practice daily.
Christ is Our Cornerstone
The program is organized around a Christ-centered approach to the development of the whole person, using the framework of the head, heart and hands. By focusing on three biblical virtues – wisdom, moral courage, and neighbor love – we want students to integrate their classroom learning and faith, so they can lead with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion.
Head
Missional Aspect: Think With Clarity
Emphasis: Worldview
Key Virtue: Wisdom
Heart
Missional Aspect: Act With Integrity
Emphasis: Character
Key Virtue: Moral Courage
Hands
Missional Aspect: Serve With Passion
Emphasis: Vocation
Key Virtue: Neighbor Love
Our Vision
The process is underway to develop a robust experience that will touch every aspect of a student’s life at George Fox. Through ongoing collaboration and shared learning among campus leaders, we’re committed to developing a program where students can grow and thrive.
Our vision includes:
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Establishing character-focused residential living-learning communities
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Creating a comprehensive first-year experience centered on Christ-like character and leadership
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Forming new cohorts while providing support to existing ones dedicated to character development
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Launching a speaker series designed to inform and inspire interdisciplinary and cross-curricular discussions on campus regarding character formation
Our Team
Joseph Clair, PhD
Associate provost for the Division of Humanities, Honors, and Education
Co-director of the Program for Leadership & Formation
Travis Pickell, PhD
Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics
Co-director of the Program for Leadership & Formation
This project was made possible through the support of a grant from Wake Forest University and Lilly Endowment Inc. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of George Fox University and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wake Forest University or the Lilly Endowment Inc.