A Conversation with Matt Burford
Dean Doug Sweeney sits down with Beeson alumnus Matt Burford to chat about his organization, Tactical Faith, and various events they're bringing to Samford's campus, and his organization, Real Taps for Real Heroes, which connects buglers to military families who need Taps played at the funeral of their loved one.
Alabama Governor Appoints Samford Professor, Carol Ratcliffe, to Statewide Health Coordinating Council
Carol Ratcliffe, professor and chair of Samford’s Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics, has been reappointed by Governor Kay Ivey to a second term on Alabama’s Statewide Health Coordinating Council. A respected nurse and health care executive, Ratcliffe will continue to advocate for health care consumers statewide through 2028.
Samford Pharmacy Professor Elizabeth Sheaffer Recognized with National Research Award
Elizabeth Sheaffer, associate dean in Samford’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, was part of the author team honored with AACP’s Rufus A. Lyman Award for a paper on improving pharmacy faculty workload equity.
Samford Nursing Faculty Member Receives National Award for Excellence in Health Care Reporting
Lisa Herbinger, associate chair and professor in nurse anesthesia at Samford’s Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, received the 2025 Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award for her article “Children and the Opioid Crisis: We Can Make a Difference,” published in the Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing.
Communication and Media Professor Receives Award for Outstanding Teaching
Ashley George, associate professor in Samford University’s Department of Communication and Media, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Alabama Communication Association’s (ACA) Award for Outstanding Teaching.
Biology Faculty Document Carnivorous Plant Discovery in Northwest Alabama
A recent publication from Samford University faculty members David Frings and Larry Davenport has brought attention to a rare species of carnivorous plant thriving in an unexpected corner of Alabama.
Rooted in Community: Samford Staff Embody Faith and Learning in Rural Ministry
When John Roland began preaching occasionally at Beulah Baptist Church in Sterrett, Alabama, during 2023, he never imagined he would become its bivocational pastor.
Longtime Samford Professor Larry Davenport Retires after Four Decades of Teaching, Research and Conservation
Larry Davenport, professor of biological and environmental sciences, has retired after 40 years of service to Samford University. His career shaped generations of students and left a lasting imprint on Alabama’s environmental landscape.
Colonial Dames Honor Samford History Students and Faculty
The Birmingham Center of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America recognized outstanding student scholarship and faculty achievement at its annual American Independence Awards luncheon held March 27.
McFarlin's "Infringing Uses, Not Works" Highlighted by NYU Faculty
Professor Tim McFarlin’s article, Infringing Uses, Not Works, which explores the implications of the Supreme Court’s Warhol copyright decision, was recently highlighted by NYU Professor Christopher Sprigman in Jotwell. Sprigman praised the piece as a valuable early contribution to the ongoing legal conversation around fair use and copyright infringement.
Remembering Boyd Christenberry: A Legacy of Leadership, Generosity and Shared Roots
When Elliott Dansby walked into his Samford University scholarship interview as a high school senior in 2005, he didn’t know the man across the table would forever shape his future.
Samford Appoints David Holcomb as Chair of Political Science Department
Following a national search, Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences has selected David Holcomb, PhD as the new chair of the Department of Political Science, effective August 2025.
Carson Article "Conflicting Canons of Construction: The Aftermath in Veterans' Law" Published
Assistant Professor Carlissa Carson, a distinguished veterans' law scholar and U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, has had a new article published by the Brooklyn Law Review. Her article “Conflicting Canons of Construction: The Aftermath in Veterans’ Law” is a must-read for anyone interested in administrative law, veterans' rights, and the evolving landscape of statutory interpretation.
Paul Hoffman Named Director of Samford’s Preministerial Scholars Program
Samford University has named Paul Hoffman as director of the Preministerial Scholars Program in Howard College of Arts and Sciences.
Emily Hynds Appointed as Samford’s Executive Director for Faculty Success
Samford University recently announced the appointment of Emily Hynds as the new executive director for faculty success, effective July 1, 2025.
Cumberland School of Law Announces 2024-25 Faculty Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching
Each year, Samford University Cumberland School of Law announces faculty award recipients. On Thursday, May 1, the Lightfoot, Franklin & White Faculty Scholarship Award and the Harvey S. Jackson Excellence in Teaching Award were distributed to well-deserving law faculty.
A Conversation with Mark Gignilliat and Heath Thomas
Dean Douglas Sweeney sits down with Beeson professor Mark Gignilliat and Heath Thomas, president and professor of Old Testament at Oklahoma Baptist University to discuss their new book, "Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture: A Literary, Canonical, and Theological Survey."
A Legacy Written in the Stars: Christenberry Planetarium Continues to Inspire at Samford
Bill Christenberry never expected to teach at Samford University, let alone in the shadow of a facility named in honor of his father.
