Samford University’s recent recognition as the nation’s No. 2 institution for character development by The Wall Street Journal highlights a mission deeply rooted in its academic and community initiatives.
The character development category, new to The Wall Street Journal’s rankings this year, measures students’ sentiment on how college equips them to make meaningful contributions to society, including moral courage, hopefulness, resilience, wisdom and a sense of justice.
This distinction underscores the transformative work of Orlean Beeson School of Education, which systematically weaves character-building curricula into its programs and outreach efforts. The school’s innovative commitment to establishing communities of character reflects Samford’s pledge to cultivating values-driven leadership among students, faculty and community members alike.
Dean Anna McEwan expressed pride in the role the school plays in advancing character education.
“We believe that character development is foundational for all learning,” she said. “Our programs are designed not only to prepare educators but to shape leaders who will influence their communities with integrity and purpose.”
Integrating Character into Education
The school’s character education initiatives offer professional development opportunities, resources for educators and ongoing research into effective strategies for teaching character. The school equips future educators to create classrooms where students develop ethically and academically, fostering environments that promote respect, empathy and moral reasoning.
At the core of this effort is a curriculum that emphasizes ethics and leadership as essential components of education and healthy communities. Faculty members model these values, ensuring students receive mentorship grounded in a commitment to excellence. This approach is embedded across all programs, from undergraduate studies to advanced degrees.
Clara Gerhardt, the Distinguished Beeson Professor and Character Scholar in Residence, emphasized the importance of this focus. “Character isn’t an add-on in our school—it’s the lens through which we approach everything,” she said. “Our graduates leave Samford not just as educators, social workers, counselors, ministers and the like, but as people who inspire integrity in others, a mission which is vital to health of our communities and schools, especially now.”
As the national teacher shortage continues, Orlean Beeson School of Education is committed to preparing graduates who are not just equipped to fill vacancies in school systems across the country, but those who are equipped to lead with excellence in a social and political climate that has never been more chaotic for those working in it.
“What we are seeing across classrooms and communities in the nation is striking, to say the least,” McEwan said. “Increasing classroom sizes, changing demographics with changing needs, security risks, funding issues and fewer and fewer educators and community advocates prepared to deal with this crisis. However, our school remains determined to send out the very best who are ready for these challenges.”
In the 2022 edition of Leadership, Research & Innovation in Education, Blair Inabinet, Samford alumna and principal of Liberty Park Middle School, researched the importance of character education in schools where it was prioritized and regularly practiced.
Her findings led her to make an important inference, “Our work with character is not about promoting any value system at the expense of others, it's not about elevating certain beliefs above others, and it's not about spotlighting some kind of educational trend,” Inabinet said. “It's about working with kids who are developmentally learning how to function as human beings. If we don't recognize that it's important for us to guide them through how to make good decisions and good choices for themselves and in partnership with others, we’re missing a really valuable opportunity.”
Community Engagement and Outreach
Beyond campus, Orlean Beeson School of Education actively partners with schools and organizations to extend its character-focused mission into local communities. Workshops, seminars and collaborative projects aim to foster values such as kindness, perseverance and service among students and educators.
Notable examples of this outreach are the annual Character Convening conference and the quarterly Coaches for Character workshops.
The Character Convening event invites scholars from across the country to participate in seminars and hear addresses from keynote speakers, while establishing innovative tactics for supporting the work of character development and one another.
Additionally, the Coaches for Character quarterly workshops are aimed at establishing character in student-athletes, on and off the field. As part of this initiative, Laura Casey ‘24, assistant athletic director at Vestavia Hills High School, Dean Anna McEwan, Keylor Chan, Samford Volleyball head coach, and Todd Yelton, Samford Women’s Soccer head coach work with cohorts of local middle and high school coaches.
Recognition Aligned with Mission
Samford University’s ranking by The Wall Street Journal affirms the university’s longstanding dedication to character education. Orlean Beeson School of Education plays a pivotal role in achieving this recognition, consistently producing graduates who embody the principles of integrity, service and leadership.
This accolade aligns with Samford’s broader mission, as outlined in the university’s strategic plan, Fidelitas, which emphasizes faith-informed education, service and cultivation of character. The School of Education’s work with character exemplifies how these values translate into action, fostering an environment where ethical decision-making is prioritized.
For students like Thomas Vaccaro, a sophomore majoring in Secondary Education and Social Studies, this emphasis has been transformative.
“Samford doesn’t just teach us how to teach—it shows us how to lead with purpose,” he said. “I feel confident that when I leave here, I will be prepared to make a difference in the lives of my future students.”
Vaccaro is one of the first undergraduate students to participate in the School of Education’s professional development group, Areté; so named from the ancient Greek, meaning excellence. Areté is a standing committee, established to provide structure and promote shared leadership for the advancement of character education initiatives for Orlean Beeson School of Education. This year it welcomed undergraduate students to its membership, developing a holistic approach to working with all levels of the school in its mission to develop qualified leaders of character.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Orlean Beeson School of Education remains committed to expanding its impact. Plans include developing new partnerships with schools, pursuing school of character recognition, increasing access to character-focused professional development, and furthering research on the long-term effects of character education.
“Seeing Samford recognized on a national level is an honor, but it also motivates us to further embody Christ-like character each day,” said McEwan.
With its holistic approach to education, Orlean Beeson School of Education exemplifies the transformative power of character-driven learning. Samford University’s #2 ranking for character development is more than an accolade—it is a reflection of a community dedicated to fostering leaders who serve with integrity, compassion, and faith.
