Beacon Magazine: The Center for Calling and Community

Something exciting is taking root at Bushnell University­ – a bold, integrative step into the future that blends heart, scholarship, and service. This fall, the University is launching the Center for Calling and Community, an effort designed to strengthen Bushnell’s Christ-centered mission while extending its reach across classrooms, congregations, and communities.

The Center has four key pillars:

Ministry Training Excellence: The Center will integrate classroom instruction with hands-on service opportunities through Bushnell’s Bible, Theology, and Ministry programs. It will provide a bridge between intellectual pursuit and practical application of that knowledge in tangible, meaningful ways.

Spiritual Formation: The Center will impact the spiritual lives of students, faculty, and staff. Student chapel programs will significantly expand, and employee chapel and other initiatives will be tailored to integrate professional development with spiritual growth.

Community Engagement: The Center will help Bushnell strengthen ties with churches, partner with local and global ministries, and host signature events like Becoming Beloved Community.

Strategic Growth: The Center will actively pursue new funding streams and opportunities to recruit more students, ensuring Bushnell’s ministry programs remain affordable, accessible, vibrant, and deeply-rooted in purpose.

Meet the Leadership Team

Agam Iheanyi-Igwe, Ph.D. will serve as Director of the Center while continuing his role as Associate Dean of Bible, Theology, and Ministry programs. He will provide leadership for the Center’s overarching direction, integrating academic programs with spiritual formation efforts.

Troy Dean, M.A., is stepping into a dynamic new chapter as Director of Outreach. Dean will lead outreach and mission efforts and seek to build strong partnerships with churches, connect ministry students with meaningful service opportunities, and encourage the next generation to explore ministry as a vocational path.

Jennifer Little, M.A., will serve as Campus Minister for Student Formation. By applying her passion for spiritual growth, Little will take the lead on campus chapel programming and curate opportunities for students to deepen their faith throughout their Bushnell journey.

A Strategic Investment in the Future: Voices from Leadership

“The Center for Calling and Community embodies the heart of Bushnell University’s mission to develop students formed by wisdom, faith, and service. By aligning ministry training, spiritual formation for staff
and faculty, and engagement with the wider community, the Center helps us live out our calling as a
Christ-centered university in tangible, transformational ways.”  – President Joseph Womack, Ed.D.

“We are excited about the Center’s potential to foster a Christ-centered, beloved community that equips our students to meet the needs of their communities with hearts ready to serve and minds ready for the complex issues of our time.”  – Reed Mueller, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

To learn more about how you can support the Center, contact Keith Potter ’84, Vice President
for University Advancement at kpotter@bushnell.edu.