Annual Report 2018-2019 We Believe: a Commitment to Christian Community

e Believe” is the theme for Southern’s $50 million Campaign for Excellence in Faith and Learning, the largest fundraising effort in our “Wuniversity’s history. That’s quite an undertaking. As a partner with Southern, you’ve played a significant role in our success to date. Thank you! And if the dollar amount alone isn’t enough to inspire pause and reflection, I often marvel at the beautiful simplicity of our two-word phrase connected with the campaign: We Believe. Southern isn’t immune to the confusion that comes from living in a sinful world. We experience headaches and heartaches when things don’t go as planned, whether it’s with budgets or buildings, students or staff. However, I am forever grateful to be leading a university that, despite these unavoidable distractions, works hard to remain true to its mission. Southern’s core values are rooted so firmly in the foundations given to us by Christ that during critical decision- making moments, the university isn’t easily swayed by the influence of popular opinion. When challenges present themselves, we listen, discuss, research, and react. But above all, We Believe. We Believe in our mission. We Believe in the potential and the calling God has for our students and staff. We Believe He will continue to bless, despite any obstacles or missteps. And We Believe wholeheartedly in our alumni, friends, and parents. I see that same unflappable commitment in you. You Believe, too. Hopefully, you can see that God is working on our campus and that you trust us to be good stewards of the Lord’s blessings. I hope that the stories in this annual report—each one representing a different impact area of the Campaign for Excellence in Faith and Learning—further demonstrates our shared commitment for building and maintaining an environment where Christian community nurtures the next generation of leaders. Everyday lives are profoundly shaped by those two simple words: We Believe.

Learn more about the Campaign for Excellence David Smith, PhD in Faith and Learning President southern.edu/webelieve

We Believe in Student Life Students Help Shape the Bietz Center Design

s blueprints give birth to steel and concrete, buzz surrounding construction of the 40,000-square-foot Bietz Center for Student Life is at an all-time high. AWe can’t wait for you to see the finished building! This critical project’s preparations have taken several years, which means many students on campus during that planning stage will have already graduated when the doors open in fall 2020. This doesn’t dampen their enthusiasm for the Bietz Center. One reason students remain engaged is because they’ve been invited to take an active role in shaping the building’s design and features. For example, students in a three-dimensional graphic design class were asked to imagine what a new Campus Shop bookstore would look like if relocated to the Bietz Center. They broke into teams and over the course of several weeks picked a new name, interior design and color schemes, layout and displays, and even a new logo. The winning concept, called “The Hub,” was produced by Bethany Beckford, ’18; Rachel Brouhard, ’18; and Tia Huff, ’18. “I plan on coming back to campus for the Bietz Center’s grand opening and am excited to see the changes they made while putting The Hub together,” Huff said. “I hope the space is relatable, comforting, and inspiring for students.” Another exciting Bietz Center feature influenced by student interest is an interactive Student Missions board. A large touchscreen monitor on the building’s second floor will allow users to locate current student missionaries and interact with them electronically. This $15,000 project has been designated as a class gift funding emphasis for seniors in each of the past three years. Student gifts will account for approximately half of the interactive board’s cost. Seeing this project become a reality provides special incentive for Rhidge Garcia, ’19, to stop by the Bietz Center in future years. “Watching something that was once only an idea come into fruition always inspires me,” Garcia said. “Plus, this is a great way to build strong bonds between different generations of the Southern family and plant the seeds for future mission work.” There is also student passion surrounding the Bietz Center’s environmental footprint. While other buildings on campus are already eco-friendly, the Bietz Center is on track as the first at Southern to receive an official certification. This achievement is the result of collaborative work between the university’s Enactus club and green|spaces, a Chattanooga nonprofit. You play an important role in the Bietz Center, too. Gifts from donors not only support the building’s construction, but also model a generous spirit that students will learn from and adopt in the years ahead. Thank you! We Believe in Faithful Giving New Scholarship Provides Immediate Tuition Relief

dwin and Mary Belle Martin serve as a powerful example of planning for the future and sharing a legacy of generosity. They demonstrated their love and Ecommitment for Christian education by including a gift in their estate plan that is providing $100,000 annually for student scholarships at Southern over a five-year period. The Martins might appear as unusual candidates to become champions of higher education; they enjoyed successful and financially rewarding careers in long-term care even though Edwin never earned a college degree. Despite this, they recognized the immense value of education and the doors it can open for young adults entering the workforce. This included their three children who all went to Southern: Bobby Martin, ’70; Mary Hagen, ’72; and Judy Wilcox, attended. This ability and compassion to see the bigger need existing outside of their own circumstances led to the creation of the Edwin and Mary Belle Martin Scholarship. During the 2018-2019 academic year, the Martins’ gift helped 49 students receive the financial support necessary to enroll or remain at Southern without adding to their burden of student loan debt. Scholarship amounts vary, with most beneficiaries receiving $2,000-$2,500 per year. Joelle Kanyana, ’19, graduated in May as a double major with degrees in international studies and finance. She studied hard in academy to earn merit-based scholarships at Southern. Once enrolled, Joelle faithfully worked to help pay for school, regularly putting in 20 or more hours per week on top of her internships and academic course load during the semester. Without the Edwin and Mary Belle Martin Scholarship, it would have proven even more difficult to complete her senior year and transition into a new job as a financial analyst with AdventHealth Orlando. “I’m overcome with gratitude every day for the scholarships Edwin and Mary Belle Martin that Southern and its donors provided for students like me,” Kanyana said. “I can start my career oriented toward service and not survival because I’m leaving Southern debt free. No words can express the impact that donors like the Martins have had on my life!” Edwin and Mary Belle Martin

Scholarships helped Joelle Kanyana, ’19, graduate with degrees in international studies and finance. Holly Gadd, PhD, is the inaugural AdventHealth Chair of Nursing Education, a position housed in beautiful Florida Hospital Hall. We Believe in Endowments AdventHealth Gift Completes Funding for Nursing Chair

arbara James, ’74, PhD, recently retired after 28 years as nursing faculty and dean of the School of Nursing. A $1 million gift from AdventHealth for the Bdepartment makes her transition out of academia a little easier, confirming her confidence that the program is in great shape for years to come. The $1 million gift completes $2 million worth of endowment funding to create the AdventHealth Chair of Nursing Education, a new title that belongs to James’ successor, Holly Gadd, PhD. Some of the chair’s responsibilities include becoming knowledgeable about AdventHealth’s mission, purpose, and reach, as well as fostering a good professional relationship between AdventHealth and Southern. Much of this work is supplemental, as a healthy partnership already exists between the two institutions. The AdventHealth Chair of Nursing Education is more than a job title. James sees the organization’s investment in Southern as testament to a vision shared by donors like you, the university, and businesses. “The funds are obviously helpful and provide funding for operations,” James said, “but this named chair also validates Southern as a valuable partner of AdventHealth. Both organizations are committed to having highly skilled nurses at all levels who live the values of their university and employing organization.” AdventHealth engages Southern students in a variety of ways over the course of their studies here. Opportunities include nursing leadership internships, AdventHealth’s participation in Southern’s Meet the Firms (an on-campus recruiting event), and even a “Heritage Hire” event—with the name acknowledging our shared Adventist beliefs— where the organization flies students to Florida for in-depth job interviews and site visits. A similar partnership in 2016 led to the AdventHealth Chair of Business Administration at Southern. AdventHealth maintains a network of health care services across more than 130 facilities nationwide, including hospital campuses, urgent-care centers, home-health and hospice agencies, and nursing homes. We Believe in Academic Growth Brock Hall Renovations Add 4,000 Square Feet of Classroom Space

hink back to your first few days in a new school or at a new job. You’re late for the next event on your schedule and navigating unfamiliar surroundings Tis complicating an already stressful day. If only more of your meetings were in the same building or even the same floor! After 12 months of designing and five months of construction, Brock Hall is now home to several new classrooms. These first-floor renovations—made possible by gener- ous friends like you—repurposed space once occupied by Classical 90.5 WSMC before the radio station moved across Colcord Drive to its own building. From a location standpoint, the $325,000 project most directly impacts the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC); the classrooms are behind the SJC office suite, and one of the spaces is a new photography studio. However, the five new classrooms are already being used by a wide array of majors taking speech and English courses. Professors are thrilled to be in the new space. This spring, the English Department team, led by Keely (Kuhlman) Tary, ’97, PhD, taught more than 20 English courses in three of these new rooms. Aside from convenience for professors, the additional classrooms have simplified life for students, as well—especially new students. “It amazes me that just a few renovated classrooms can have such a significant impact,” Tary said. “At the beginning of previous semesters, we often had students wandering around Brock looking for their English classes, and they would be surprised when we looked up their section and told them their class met in Florida Hospital Hall, Daniells Hall, Summerour Hall, or even Hulsey Wellness Center—pretty much anywhere but Brock Hall! Being in Brock makes more sense to students, even though we’re still not teaching on the third floor where English Department offices are located.” The Brock Hall classrooms aren’t the only recent project highlighting Southern’s commitment to academic growth. Unrestricted donor funds are helping to support the creation of two new film studios in the Art Annex this year. These facility upgrades may seem simple compared to building an entirely new structure—Southern still has plans for a larger, $1 million broadcast journalism and film studio in the future—but their impact transcends brick and mortar measurements. “You can ask the question: when is a building more than just a building, and I don’t think you have to look very far to find an example,” said David George, ’98, MFA, associate professor in the School of Visual Art and Design. “Your home is more than just a building when your family is there; it’s all the experiences you have with people!” Pablo Fernandez, assistant professor for the School of Journalism and Communication, teaches in a renovated classroom. Student workers helped faculty identify, measure, and tag different tree species on campus. We Believe in Campus Life Student Researchers Help Arboretum Take Shape

t might be easy for you to imagine Southern’s campus always looking as beautiful and peaceful as it does today, but that’s not the case. Students and employees Iare forever in debt to the visionary leadership of those who champion efforts to maintain and improve the university’s rich natural resources. One such example dates back more than half a century. In 1949, under the direction of Ambrose Suhrie, a retired professor and educational consultant with Southern, the college cancelled classes for Arbor Day to allow hundreds of students to plant 10,000 pine seedlings, 300 dogwoods, and 200 azaleas on White Oak Mountain. A similar process repeated itself again and again in the early 1950s. This enthusiasm and respect for nature remains an important part of Southern’s ethos and can be seen, once more, in the ongoing creation of a campus-wide arboretum funded by donor gifts. Since 2017, student workers and faculty have been identifying, measuring, and tagging different tree species on campus, including some that are nearly 100 years old. The project affords biology majors the opportunity to earn academic credit and acquire valuable research experience while getting paid to work on an exciting educational project for the community. “I’ve learned a lot of things while working on the arboretum and gained insights beyond scientific research,” said McKenzie Martin, senior biology major. “I learned how to better communicate with my peers and professors in a work environment, gained a sense of independence and confidence in my ability to make decisions that affect others, and I even learned that I’m allergic to poison ivy!” This past year, students finished gathering data regarding the trees on Southern’s central campus and have moved on to the surrounding areas. Although student workers are collecting data from nearly every tree on campus, only a select group are scheduled to be included in the official arboretum. These will receive tags with QR codes that nature enthusiasts can use to interact with a related online entry containing encyclopedic details. Several of the QR codes will have a personal touch as well, documenting the stories behind Southern’s memorial trees, which have been planted and named after retired employees, alumni, and supporters. We’re anxious for you to visit our arboretum in the coming months and experience Southern’s beautiful campus again. Witness firsthand how community-minded donors like you have helped transform our green spaces into an improved tool for education and enjoyment. Fact Sheet

46% 2,942* Undergraduate and Graduate Students

White (non-Hispanic) 7% Hispanic Asian 11% Black (non-Hispanic) Other groups 12% 24% *based on fall 2018 enrollment

Degrees Awarded Academic Offerings 2018-2019 1 doctoral degree Undergraduate degrees: 579 10 master’s degrees Graduate degrees: 149 64 baccalaureate majors 17 associate majors

502 New Full-Time Freshmen Enrolled in Fall 2018 Alumni and friends have given Average High School GPA 3.5 $48.9 million to the Campaign Average ACT Score 23 for Excellence in Faith Average SAT Score 1,104 and Learning, nearly ACT and SAT scores are above national averages 98 percent of its $50 million goal. 97.8% Students Came From 48 States and 39 Countries southern.edu/webelieve National Rankings 13:1 • Listed as Top Tier by U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” guide for the 17th consecutive year • Ranked as one of Princeton Student-Faculty Ratio Review’s “Best Regional Colleges” multiple times Nearly 1,200 students participated in LifeGroups (student-led small group Academic Departments Bible studies). with Highest Enrollment 1. School of Nursing Hundreds of 2. School of Business 3. Biology Department Students Went 4. School of Education and Psychology on Mission Trips 5. School of Visual Art and Design Long-term missionaries: 71 1,300 acres (800 are forested) Short-term missionaries: 124 with nearly 40 miles of hiking Evangelistic Resource Center: 88 and biking trails Countries served: 30 1,537 students 982 students and worked 551,713 employees hours, earning participated $4,857,753 in MLK Service Day

Tuition and fees at Southern cost 39 PERCENT LESS than the national average for private colleges and universities. Year in Review

Campus Responds to Devastation Caused by Hurricanes in the Southeast In the aftermath of last fall’s hurricanes, Southern students and employees jumped into action, going in teams to the affected areas. This rapid response was possible thanks to a new partnership with 2Serve Disaster Training and Response, which helps train and prepare students and employees to lend aid after natural disasters. Those who participated came back to campus tired and sore but inspired. “After we had ripped out soggy carpet and put furniture back in place on the swept concrete floor for an older couple, we prayed with them and then shared hugs,” said Elaine Hayden, employee in the School of Education and Psychology. “The reward of seeing tearful people thanking us after seeing young people and others give so cheerfully is something I will carry with me forever.” by Southern Staff

Social Work Partners with Police to Break Down Barriers Southern’s School of Social Work has partnered with the Chattanooga Police Department to conduct poverty simulations that demonstrate what it would be like to live in poverty for a month. The first exercise involved 75 students, alumni, community partners, and police academy cadets. This initiative is funded by a multi-year grant from Versacare, Inc. “This simulation made me realize that there are so many people who are just trying to get by, and our communities take advantage of people living in poverty,” said Denise Angel, a social work graduate student. “It helped me see all the outside factors that impoverished people experience and gave me resources to use so I can help them in my future career.” by Oksana Wetmore, ’18 Community Joins Together for Intentional Prayer This year, Southern and the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists partnered in a special way to surround the campus with intentional prayer. Julie MacLafferty, ’19, worked with Pastor Dave Ferguson, PhD, and Southern’s Chaplain’s Office to identify volunteer prayer warriors. She gave each volunteer a list of 10 specific Southern students to pray for, ensuring that every university student was blanketed in prayer. This culminated in 10 nights of prayer and revival called Praxis, which means “practice, as distinguished from theory; the Greek word for acts.” Modeled after the example found in the book of Acts, the team provided a structure for prayer over specific areas in participants’ lives. Small groups from Praxis continue to meet together once a week, sharing stories, testimonies, and lifting each other up in prayer. by Natalie Boonstra, junior public relations major

Students Help Local Refugee Families Pursue the American Dream Fleeing war-torn Iraq, Wahab and Jinan settled in the Chattanooga area looking for the American dream. They hoped to start over with a small restaurant in the back of a gas station. When Southern’s Enactus students stepped in, they had already lost nine times their revenue. The team worked to restructure the restaurant into a catering business, organized financials, and launched a marketing campaign. As a result, monthly sales increased 500 percent and the couple’s client base rose 300 percent. Wahab pointed students to another need in the refugee community: improving children’s scholastic performance. In order to increase interaction and linguistic communication with young people, the Enactus students launched “Just for Kicks,” a weekly soccer event involving more than 30 youth from diverse backgrounds. In addition, they obtained a $3,000 grant to offer tutoring in core classes. Enactus is a student-driven organization with chapters in universities around the globe, developing students with a head for business and a heart for the world. Southern’s Enactus chapter goes a step further: “We see our projects as missional opportunities,” says Michelle Doucoumes, ’05, ’10, Enactus director and associate professor in the School of Business. by Southern Staff Your Impact

Southern Grants and Scholarships Awarded in 2018-2019 • 90 percent of students receive a portion of more than $15 million in Southern aid awarded annually. • More than 200 students received approximately $1.7 million in financial support from funds generated through named endowments. • $203,015 was contributed by alumni and friends through gifts of $100 or less. • 2,068 alumni and friends are recognized as Loyalty Circle members for making an annual gift for three or more consecutives years. • 491 alumni and friends have chosen to support Southern through planned gifts and are recognized as Legacy Society members. To learn more visit southern.edu/plannedgiving. • 945 alumni and friends gave $168,574 during Southern’s Giving Day campaign. 2018-2019 Total Giving: $7,707,431.93 3,371 alumni and friends contributed

Capital Projects $3,220,131.13 Named Endowed Scholarships and Chairs $1,174,135.80 Assist and Partnering for Eternity Programs $1,353,220.65 Non-Endowed Scholarships and Awards $588,484.50 Academic Areas $411,483.38 Missions $366,311.06 Campus Support $210,629.42 WSMC $169,743.53 The Southern Fund $151,729.37 Gifts in Kind $40,825.61 Special Projects $15,908.98 Other $4,828.50 Grand Total $7,707,431.93 Employees Inspired by Alumni Giving 69 Percent of Faculty and Staff Make Financial Gifts

“I am an alum of Southern and received a substantial scholarship in order to attend; it allowed me to go on to graduate school without the burden of debt. I’ve always been grateful for that assistance and have committed to giving back to my undergraduate institution, one that treated me very well. I also give to Southern because I’m inspired by our alumni who give just a little bit of money regularly, especially the ones who might not be able to afford much.” - Lisa (Clark) Diller, ’96, PhD chair, History and Political Studies Department

“Southern has made a real impact on my life as a student and employee. I know firsthand that Southern provides opportunities for people to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. The programming at Southern can literally change people’s lives. My hope is that students will be blessed by attending Southern for years to come! I recently gave to one of Southern’s endowment initiatives and am convinced that others need to be made aware of how important strengthening our endowment is to the future success of Southern.” - Randy Bishop, ’94 associate professor, Biology and Allied Health Departments

“I’m thankful to be able to share my resources to help someone else who may not otherwise have the privilege to attend a Christian school. God blesses us to be a blessing to someone else.” - LaShawn Horton, ’90, PhD associate professor, School of Nursing

President David Smith Send address changes to Vice President for Advancement Carolyn Hamilton Advancement Director of Planned Giving Carolyn Liers Southern Adventist University Director of WSMC Scott Kornblum, ’15 Post Office Box 370 Director of Alumni Relations Evonne Crook, ’79 Collegedale, TN 37315-0370 Associate Director Robert Bovell Associate Director Kenny Turpen, ’09 Phone 423.236.2829 Strategic Partnerships Lucas Patterson Fax 423.236.1829 Annual Giving Coordinator Sandra Delgado Email [email protected] Donor Records Coordinator Candy Reichert Website southern.edu Power for Mind & Soul

Advancement — 60400 Post Office Box 370 Collegedale, TN 37315-0370