Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement, named in honor of President Emeritus Dr. E. LeBron Fairbanks and former First Lady Dr. Anne Fairbanks. The event took place on October 17, marking a significant milestone for the university's commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and global service.
The center aims to advance MVNU’s mission by offering students opportunities for global engagement and community service. According to MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman, "This center stands as both a tribute and a testimony: a tribute to the Fairbanks’ faithful leadership, and a testimony to God’s ongoing faithfulness in shaping this community for His mission in the world."
Since its inception, the center has facilitated over 200 student trips alongside faculty and staff leaders to various destinations worldwide. It has also secured substantial endowment support from donors and engaged nearly 250 students in community-based learning initiatives with numerous partner organizations.
The Fairbanks Center currently supports eight active Collaboratory projects, which aim to connect academic learning with real-world challenges across different regions, including Knox County, Ohio, and Milange, Mozambique. The center's initiatives include awarding scholarships, developing new courses abroad like one in Morocco, and planning a FaithWorks trip to Spain.
Dr. Fairbanks expressed his enthusiasm at the dedication ceremony: "Anne and I were elated when we heard the plans for Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Center for Global Engagement." He highlighted their shift in endowment giving to support the center's development.
Dr. Brenita Nicholas-Edwards, Director of the Fairbanks Center, emphasized that it provides transformative learning experiences that benefit both students and communities globally.
The center operates through three strategic pillars: on-campus engagement, off-campus programs such as study abroad opportunities and FaithWorks service trips, and collaborations with global partners like the Global Church of the Nazarene in various countries.
Looking forward, MVNU plans further expansion of the center with an "Academy for Global Learning and Praxis" as part of Phases Two and Three. This aligns with MVNU’s motto established by founding president Dr. Stephen Nease: "To Seek to Learn Is to Seek to Serve."
For more information about the Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, visit their website at http://mvnu.edu/fcge.
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