Unseen Hands: A Century of Samford University’s Legacy League
Countless acts of faithful service helped birth what is now known as the Samford University Legacy League, an organization built through camaraderie and charitable hearts serving students since 1925.
A Legacy of Generosity and Service
The lives of Harold and Elouise Williams, who died respectively in 2016 and 2023, exemplified a legacy of generosity and faithfulness. Through both their time and their resources, they served and supported the university with great dedication.
From Military Service to Capitol Hill
Sheri Biggs, DNP ‘24, is a lieutenant colonel, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, a graduate of Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, and now, a U.S. Representative for South Carolina.
Williams Finds Success in the European League of Football
Omari Williams, a former student-athlete and Birmingham native, has made a name for himself in Germany playing in the European League of Football.
Turning Analytics into Impact at WHOOP
For Emily Ehrnschwender ’17, data analytics has been a passion since her days at Samford. Now she channels that passion as senior analytics manager at WHOOP.
Bringing Baseball to Life at Rickwood Field
Alunmus Gaines Johnson has set out to create a league unlike any other with the formation of the World Baseball League, playing its games at the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham.
Doctoral Student Studies in Birthplace of the Protestant Reformation
Laura Henrich, MDiv ’23, is part of Beeson Divinity School’s first Ph.D. cohort in theology for the church and spent four weeks in Germany as a Wittenberg Student Fellow. Selected as one of 10 participants, she studied primary Reformation sources at the Wittenberg Center for Reformation Studies and visited key historical sites.
Paddles Up - Club Pickleball is on a Rapid Rise
Samford’s club pickleball team has quickly become one of the university’s fastest growing and most competitive club sports. Now in its second year, the team earned a top-four national ranking and competed in major tournaments from Las Vegas to Daytona Beach.
Preparing Purposeful Educators Through Immersive Partnerships
Orlean Beeson School of Education has transformed its teacher preparation model through immersive partnerships with Trace Crossings Elementary School and Homewood Middle School. These collaborations give Samford education majors extensive hands-on experience, from leading small groups to participating in professional meetings and on-site teaching labs. The approach bridges theory with practice and has earned national recognition. Students say the partnerships build confidence, deepen relationships and provide real-world insight that strengthens their readiness for the classroom.
Meeting the Needs of Business Students Today
Cooney Hall, opened in 2015 as the home of Samford’s Brock School of Business, was built to prepare future business leaders through innovation and collaboration. The building features advanced learning spaces, specialized labs and expanded entrepreneurship programming through Samford Startup. Over the past decade, Cooney Hall has become a hub for experiential learning and continues to support the growing needs of business students.
The Power of Character Education in Athletics
Laura Casey, MSE ’23, athletics director for Vestavia City Schools and a current Samford doctoral student, launched Coaches for Character in partnership with Orlean Beeson School of Education. The program equips young coaches with practical tools to build culture, confidence and leadership within their teams.
Study Abroad Program Combines Sport and Cultural Immersion in Japan
Samford University students traveled to Japan this summer for the Japanese Culture Through Sport course. Led by Patrick Marsh, assistant professor in the School of Health Professions Department of Kinesiology, the program combines academic study of sport with intentional cultural immersion across Tokyo, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
John Grass Embraces Chance to Lead Samford Football: 'God Opened This Door'
Introduced as Samford's new football coach, John Grass heralded the university's ability to attract talent and its Christ-centered mission.
Samford University Faculty Receive National Recognition for 2025 Books
Faculty in Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and the School of the Arts recently received national recognition from Christianity Today (CT) and the Southwestern Journal of Theology (SWJT) for theological books published in 2025.
Samford Graphic Design Professor Blends Typography and Scripture in New Art Series
Samford University is spotlighting a unique fusion of art, design and faith through Ampersand, a new calendar and poster series created by René Zimny, assistant professor of graphic design.
Welcome, Allison Combs!
We are excited to welcome Allison Combs as our new development officer for Parent and Family Engagement. Allison has 20 years’ experience in advancement, having served in various roles with the American Heart Association, the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and the Alabama Baptist Foundation. She brings so much joy and energy to our team!
Listening, Learning and Leading: Hill Family’s Gift Powers A New Samford Initiative
This fall, Samford University’s School of Health Professions launched the Listening and Spoken Language Focused Study Initiative (LSL-FSI), a program made possible by a transformative gift from Samford parents Andi and Steve Hill.
Samford Alumnus Judge Stephen Dillard Receives National Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence
Samford University alumnus Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard ’92, presiding judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, has been named the recipient of the 30th annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence.
Bulldogs Rally Late to Take Down Cornell
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's basketball team returned home to host the Cornell Big Red tonight. The Bulldogs played just their third game inside the Pete Hanna Center, and used a second-half comeback to overcome a 15-point deficit on their way to a 93-90 victory. Samford's record moves to 5-6 after the win, while Cornell falls to 5-5 on the season.
Samford Battles to Overtime in Narrow Loss to North Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —Samford women's basketball delivered a high-energy performance at the Pete Hanna Center on Sunday afternoon, pushing North Alabama to overtime before ultimately falling 68–66.
Bulldogs Return Home to Host Cornell Sunday Night
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's basketball team returns to the Pete Hanna Center Sunday night as they host Cornell. The game is set to tip at 6 p.m. as the Bulldogs enter the game with a 4-6 record while Cornell enters with a 5-4 mark on the season.
Samford Women’s Basketball Set to Host North Alabama in Home Return
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a five-game non-conference road stretch, the Samford women's basketball team returns to the Pete Hanna Center this week to host the North Alabama Lions.
Samford Falls on the Road to VCU
RICHMOND, Va. - The Samford men's basketball team returned to game action tonight as they faced Virginia Commonwealth on the road. The Bulldogs looked like the better side for the majority of the opening half, but were blitzed in the second half and fell 83-57. Samford's record drops to 4-6 after the defeat while the Rams move to 6-3 on the season.
Samford Track Opens Season at Bham Collegiate Ice Breaker
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford men's and women's track and field program opened its 2025-26 indoor season today at the CCG Bham Collegiate Ice Breaker at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
