Seapointe College Disrupts the Norms of Education

Dr. Sarah Hummel seeks to disrupt the norms of education with Seapointe College. Nestled in the inner-city of Norfolk, VA, the school is positioned to impact the community by partnering with local organizations and making the campus available to community leaders for meetings, occasions, etc. As President Hummel steps into this new venture, she reflects on her love for God, education, and Hampton Roads.

The educational landscape has not been significantly disrupted since Dr. John G. Sperling pioneered online learning when establishing the University of Phoenix. Sperling shook up the higher-education world by making education for working adults available. He realized a need that the market had not thought about and the public sector frankly did not care about. He really tapped into education as a needed commodity in a way that nobody else had done.

Dr. Hummel spent the last 15 years educating, equipping, mentoring, and discipling Christian leaders. She is passionate about connecting students to affordable education and the power of resources in the community to help solve problems and set them up for long-term success. She has a proven record of leadership development, team and culture building, community engagement, and strategic planning.

Seapointe College was born to disrupt the educational norms. The mission of this organization is to educate people of faith through a biblical approach to academic excellence, discipleship, and community collaboration that will equip them to positively impact their community. It is built through the labor of experienced mentors and credentialed academic leaders. It is strengthened by the Hampton Roads community and the networking power of relationships forged over many years. According to the school’s president:

As I shared my vision for a college that educates students through the strength of biblical leadership training and the network of experts found in Hampton Roads, a friend of mine reminded me of a prayer by Rev. Robert Hunt, part of the crew that first landed in Cape Henry, who claimed, ‘from these very shores the Gospel shall go forth’. Hunt then asked the Lord to remind the generations of this covenant. This is why I chose the Cape Henry Lighthouse as our symbol. It is the reminder of the call of the next generation to understand the Bible, understand our times, and carry the Gospel forth.

After reading articles and watching the trends that show many students are not finishing college, young people are leaving the church in droves, and colleges are not preparing students for careers. I am here to use my education, experience, and skill sets, along with the strong resources of this community, to make a difference in these areas.

Discipleship, followership, diversity Resilience and Community are the school’s five core values that guide the leadership and board of directors. Discipleship is the hands-on discipleship approach and scholarly biblical training to equip students to understand what Jesus taught, and how to follow his great commission in today’s culture. Followership shows leaders how to be servants and teaches followers how to leave a meaningful contribution to the community and world at large.

Seapointe’s diverse staff, faculty, and student body bring a wide range of thought and experience to the classroom to provide a holistic opportunity to learn from and empower each other. The Bible is clear on the importance of being in unity and loving our neighbor. Research shows that diverse perspectives give us greater clarity.

The more minds we can put together, the stronger we are.

Resilience is paramount to the success paradigm. Seapointe’s curriculum combines important agility concepts such as tolerance of ambiguity and curiosity with strategic competencies for leadership. We are designed to do life in community. At Seapointe students not only learn academically, but also the privilege to discuss those facts in a community setting, surrounded by peers who want to help stretch their thinking and see you succeed. Upon graduating from Seapointe, students will have networking skills and a host of support as they continue the journey of life and ministry.

Just as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, John Sperling and other visionaries, President Hummel has an unwavering passion and burden to create a disruptive pattern. Her loftiest goal is to make sure students graduate with zero debt. By soliciting, donors and crowdfunding, she is building the foundation for an amazing educational experience. Hummel’s commitment to community care is something that is not common to the field of Christian education. Seapointe College’s president believes she is called to raise up world changers who will fight for justice and follow the passion of their faith.

Seapointe College exists to disrupt the educational norms. The time has come to challenge the status quo and revolutionize the way we approach education. The current paradigms have served students well, but they fall short in preparing students for the complexities of the modern world. It is time to foster creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability in today’s learners.

President Hummel is reshaping education into a force that empowers individuals to navigate uncertainty with confidence, compassion, and innovation. She is encouraging learners, old and young, to break free from tradition by creating a new era of education that prepares our students not just for careers, but for a fulfilling and impactful life. Are you ready to be the architects of change? Seapointe College has room for you!

Written by Cherese Jackson

Source:

Seapointe College: A message from our President

All Images Courtesy of Seapointe College – Used With Permission