a student meets rep. john lewis on the steps of the u.s. capitol

college of leadership & public service

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where tennessee turns for leadership

to be a transformative, innovative leader in today’s world requires more than knowledge. you need the confidence, practical experiences, and most importantly, the integrity and heart to lead others toward a common goal and a better future. lipscomb’s college of leadership & public service is “where tennessee turns for leadership” by intentionally addressing local, national and global issues to prepare leaders to navigate, shape and steer the direction of matters affecting communities and people around the world. our college is comprised of four institutes and one school, all of which focus on both outreach and academics. through our distinctive approach to leadership and public service, built on a model of civil discourse, innovation and bold action, you will graduate ready to speak your mind and advocate for new ways to serve others. you will be ready to take immediate action that makes a lasting difference.

a student at an event

undergraduate programs

be ready to affect change. our undergraduate programs model the highest standards of professional practice, public service and community engagement. by choosing a discipline within our college of leadership & public service, you will receive the specific skill sets, theoretical foundations and practical expertise that will prepare you to successfully live out your calling as a leader in communities around the world.

view undergraduate programs
students studying

graduate programs

our graduate programs in conflict management, leadership and public service, and sustainable practice offer experiential academics and skills that will help you succeed in serving the common good. we offer graduate awards in transit and mobility, education policy, diversity and inclusion, immigration, civil discourse and regional prosperity.

view graduate programs
class in nashville

regional scholars program

to equip leaders and prepare them to govern in rural areas and small communities, the regional scholars program gives public servants from various regions across tennessee the opportunity to earn a discounted master’s degree and take their education back to their communities to better serve their constituents. our aim is that communities would be changed and lives transformed across tennessee through this program.

about the regional scholars program
alum grant mathis with community members

reaching the community

the college of leadership & public service provides a number of opportunities for you not only to get involved in organizations within the community, but also to develop innovative solutions and compassionate action to address problems affecting our city. we serve the region and nation by partnering with national leaders, providing citizen education through seminar training, offering conflict management training and much more.

people

meet the key people that make up the college of leadership & public service.

  • steve joiner headshot

    steve joiner

    executive director icm and dean, college of leadership and public service

    steve joiner is the dean of the college of leadership and public service and executive director of the institute for conflict management at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 . joiner also serves as professor...

    meet steve joiner
  • laura encalade headshot

    laura encalade

    executive director school of public policy/assistant professor

    laura encalade is an experienced educational leader with deep expertise in strategic planning, innovative program design and implementation, and consulting. she is passionate about supporting communities and organizations to advance...

    meet laura encalade
  • dodd galbreath headshot

    dodd galbreath

    professor and director, institute of sustainable practice

    in the fall of 2007, professor galbreath founded the institute for sustainable practice, the southeast's first, comprehensive, academic sustainability program. as the director of graduate programs, his teaching primarily focuses...

    meet dodd galbreath
  • emily stutzman jones headshot

    emily stutzman

    associate professor

    with a m.s. in rural sociology and ph.d. in forestry from auburn university, emily stutzman joined the institute for sustainable practice in january 2015 as our full-time academic director. she...

    meet emily stutzman
  • kimberly mccall headshot

    kimberly mccall

    associate dean of academics and director of fred d. gray institute for law, justice & society

    kimberly l. mccall was named the academic director for the fred d. gray institute for law, justice and society effective january 1, 2021. in march 2023, mccall was named associate...

    meet kimberly mccall
  • randy spivey

    randy spivey

    adjunct faculty

    randy spivey serves as an adjunct professor for the fred d. gray institute for law, justice & society. spivey began his legal career as a law clerk for judge david...

    meet randy spivey
  • barry stephens

    barry stephens

    barry stephens, d.min., is an adjunct professor in the institute for conflict management at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 where he has taught the conflict in religious settings and readings courses since 2012....

    meet barry stephens
  • william turner headshot

    william turner

    distinguished professor

    turner holds a distinguished professorship in the college of leadership and public service and is special counsel to the president for equity, diversity and inclusion. an expert in family, community,...

    meet william turner

news

liza corso team usa
students
august 22, 2024

from tokyo to paris: corso set to represent team usa in paralympics for second time
lipscomb bibles
faith
august 22, 2024

new undergraduate students receive bibles to begin new academic year
craig bledsoe and scott bledsoe portrait
faculty
august 21, 2024

father and son professors co-taught summer ph.d. course
freshmen gather in bison square following the morning questweek assembly.
students
august 19, 2024

世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 sets freshman enrollment record for second consecutive year
more news

events

solar wind poster
event
sep 5 / 5:00 pm

hutcheson gallery presents 'solar wind' - september 5, 2024 - university
more events

blog

conflict management: a graduate’s perspective on why lipscomb’s institute for conflict management stands out

conflict is an inevitable part of daily life. it is something that can take place on a large scale, such as a workplace dispute, and or a small scale, such as deciding where to eat. the way someone approaches, navigates, and engages in each of these daily conflicts will have substantial...

wed, 08/14/2024 - 12:18
posted by grace evans

you get to decide

as a former football coach and player, i've had my fair share of experiences with adversity and challenges. one of the things i heard over and over from the men who coached me and what i tried to pass on to those young men in my charge was to control...

mon, 07/08/2024 - 14:45
posted by grace evans

david french & free speech

college of leadership & public service's newest professor, david french, taught a special topics course, "foundations of free speech" this term.    the argument of what people can and can't say has been going on for centuries and no one can quite agree on what we should be allowed to say and...

thu, 05/02/2024 - 09:27
posted by grace evans

more blog posts

undergraduate programs

discuss and engage with current issues through the many academic and outreach opportunities offered by our college of leadership & public service. our programs also feature events and visits from national and international leaders related to the work of the college. this unique, creative engagement approach to undergraduate education will help prepare you for successful leadership, no matter what field you pursue.

graduate programs

lipscomb’s college of leadership & public service offers degree programs that will prepare you for a multitude of impactful, action-oriented careers from day one, including careers in policy, advocacy, elected offices, community engagement, corporate social responsibility and more.