SOB Academic Newsletter (Fall 2021)

2021 Fall Academic Newsletter

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4-5

New Faculty Dr. Averin Professor Boyce Dr. Lehrfeld Dr. Vranes

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Club Spotlight

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Alumni Spotlight

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New Residential Programs

American Marketing Association Kendra Jalbert

Humanitarian Aid Supply Chain

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New Online Program MBA: Six Sigma

School of Business Events and Special Features Equity for Africa Summit Business Healthcare Summit Bloomberg Terminals

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Faculty Spotlight

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Center for Cyber Excellence

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Professor Frichtel

Center for Financial Literacy

DR. DAVID BRAT: DEAN We are thankful to the entire Liberty University community for the tremendous success of our graduation this spring!

We are renewed with a spirit of courage and hope from the Lord that all can return to excellence this fall.

We hosted a CEO Summit on campus this summer that will lead to hundreds of new internship and hiring opportunities for our upcoming graduates.

Our team is diligently working with alumni, Career Services, and others to build relationships that will enhance our mentorships and all of the business and technology clubs. We especially invite freshmen and international students looking to make new friends. We celebrate our faculty who minister along with student leaders to reach out and make all feel loved and welcome at Liberty. Our clubs and centers are a great way for students to network and explore their callings as we continue rebuilding campus life in the fall, and as always, we will be reaching out to new world-class leaders and speakers who can guide us in the latest in business and biblical wisdom.

DR. ANITA SATTERLEE: ONLINE DEAN The Online School of Business administration, staff, and faculty serve an amazing group of students and alumni, and our continued mission is to help them succeed. Regardless of the program of study, we are focusing on the future and providing the foundation needed for students to excel in their current jobs or prepare them for the leap to a new career.

Our programs prepare graduates to become leaders who are enriched by the educational process and have the knowledge, abilities, and ethical foundation to meet any challenge.

Alumni serve organizations and communities around the world, and we are always proud to hear of individual accomplishments. As the online programs continue to grow, how we can best serve our students and alumni is always at the forefront of each decision we make. As noted in 1 Thessalonians 1:2, “[w]e always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”

N E W F A C U LT Y “God has entrusted us with His most precious treasure — people. He asks us to shepherd and mold them into strong disciples, with brave faith and good character.”

JOHN ORTBERG

PROFESSOR BOYCE DR. AVERIN Dr. Alexander Averin joined the School of Business in July 2020. Dr. Averin moved to the Lynchburg area from New York with his family. He and his wife, Lizabeth, have been married for over 22 years and are blessed with two sons: Michael (21, a senior at Vassar College) and Nikolai (18, a freshman at Liberty University). Dr. Averin earned his B.A. in Economics at Vassar College in 1997, his M.B.A. at Marist College in 2006, and his Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Regent University in 2018. His scholarly work includes research and presentations on leadership in multicultural environments and employee retention.

Dr. Averin’s professional and academic experiences encompass a broad array of over 19 years of service in nonprofit administration, which includes positions of chief financial officer, head of school, director, treasurer, and others, as well as multiple faculty appointments at various colleges. Teaching and investing in the lives of others for God’s glory are his passions, and he is excited to be a part of Liberty’s mission of Training Champions for Christ!

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Professor Kristin Boyce is joining us from Delaware this fall. She most recently comes to us from the Christian radio world where she served at 88.7 The Bridge (Bridge of Hope) for the last seven years as the director of donor development. She has worked with many Christian artists on concerts and events and helped the radio station grow in revenue, listenership, and signals. Prior to her time in radio, Professor Boyce served as a vice president with Bank of America for ten years, filling a variety of roles.

Her family is excited to now call Forest, Va., home. She and her husband, Thad, have three beautiful daughters — Madison, McKinley, and Malaney. Madison will be attending Liberty in the fall, and McKinley and Malaney will be attending LCA. They are a soccer family and look forward to games together. They also enjoy family time together at Smith Mountain Lake.

Professor Boyce shares her excitement about becoming a Liberty family with her husband and children and is looking forward to pouring into the students at the School of Business this fall.

DR. VRANES

DR. LEHRFELD Dr. Michael Lehrfeld comes to Liberty University with 25 years of industry and academic experience. He began his career in the public sector as a developer, project manager, and professional technical trainer. As a trainer, he discovered his passion for helping people understand complex topics and solving problems using technology. He then moved into academia where he would lead and teach networking and security topics.

After earning his Ph.D., he moved to Tennessee as the primary cybersecurity expert for Liberty. In 2020, he felt a call from God to move to Lynchburg and join the School of Business as the executive director of the Center for Cyber Excellence.

As the executive director, Dr. Lehrfeld provides vision and oversight for Liberty’s cybersecurity curriculum across six different degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His charge is twofold — to enhance cybersecurity excellence within the computer science department and provide cybersecurity opportunities and awareness across all disciplines at the university. Dr. Lehrfeld believes that cybersecurity is something for which everyone has a personal responsibility. Liberty is uniquely positioned to provide the technical background to be successful in today’s global economy while wrapping a biblical worldview around this training to enable students to be ethical leaders in their fields of study.

Dr. Jason Vranes now serves as an online chair in the School of Business. Since earning his M.B.A. from Liberty in 2006, he has had a desire to join the Liberty faculty. While Dr. Vranes is from Knoxville, Tenn., his wife attended Longwood University, and they were married over 25 years ago just outside of Farmville, Va. Thus, coming to work at Liberty has been a homecoming event.

Prior to joining Liberty, Dr. Vranes had over 20 years of experience in the United States Army where he served as an Air Defense (PATRIOT) Officer. His military assignments took him around the world, including Germany for over 12 years. During his military tenure, he held numerous leadership roles — including a battery commander of 180 soldiers and a battalion executive officer of over 650 soldiers. Before retiring from the service, he served as a professor of military science where he led a cadre of staff that administered over 150 ROTC cadets. After retiring, Dr. Vranes started three businesses in the digital marketing sector while completing his doctoral studies near Fort Worth, Texas. He recently served as the chief advancement officer and dean of graduate studies at a private Christian college in Knoxville, Tenn. He and his wife have six children, ranging in ages from 21 to 4 years old, and they are excited to serve God in the Lynchburg community.

His spiritual inspiration is Hebrews 4:12 — “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

School of Business

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Club Spotlight — American Marketing Association Members of the Liberty University American Marketing Association (LU AMA) chapter have excellent opportunities in the marketing and sales fields. Students meet weekly to engage with industry leaders, learn about various certifications, participate in competitions, work on real marketing projects for local businesses, and help other clubs on campus with their marketing needs. Students routinely interact with Liberty alumni who are in the marketing and sales field or who own their own businesses.

“Students who are active in the LU AMA have a tremendous advantage in that the concepts they learn in the classroom are regularly being reinforced through participation learning, through hands on experience,” explains Dr. Chris Huseman, associate professor of marketing and faculty advisor. “When we help local businesses, the students’ efforts are judged by the free market. When they go to take a certification exam, the only way they pass is by how much they can apply the lessons they learned. How much they benefit from the LU AMA is based on their initiative and participation. So what they can experience with the LU AMA is one of the most reallife preparations they can get.”

Competitions put students among their peers and challenge them in every way. One of the more notable challenges is the AMA National Collegiate Case Competition, which includes more than 300 collegiate chapters in the U.S. and Canada.

“The AMA National Collegiate Case Competition is a great opportunity for students to work together as they would in

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C O N TA C T US Students and alumni who are interested in getting involved with the LU AMA can contact Dr. Chris Huseman at PHONE (434) 592-5775 or ENVELOPE cdhuseman@liberty.edu and visit MOUSE-POINTER LUAMA.org for more information.

a marketing agency. They conduct research, develop a strategy, identify a target audience, create the promotions and advertising strategy to reach the audience, and so much more,” says Dr. Huseman. Students spend nearly four months conducting marketing research and a marketing strategy for a sponsor company. Winners of the competition present their strategy in person at the International Collegiate Conference each year.

Liberty’s chapter received an honorable mention for their most recent strategy submission. Starting in the Fall 2021 semester, students can enroll in BUSI 430 and receive three credit hours for their work on the case competition throughout the semester.

The LU AMA chapter has grown from approximately 10 members to more than 60 paid members in the last four years. “Every member of the LU AMA is now also a member of the American Marketing Association national organization,” says Dr. Huseman.

“This gives them so many additional benefits, from weekly podcasts to marketing seminars, marketing tools and online communities, micro-internship opportunities, job postings for sales and marketing opportunities, and much more. Right now, a membership is $29 a year, which is a great value.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: KENDRA JALBERT Undergraduate: I came to Liberty in the fall of 2015 for my undergraduate career for two reasons: it felt like where I was supposed to be, and I had landed a spot on Liberty University’s cheerleading team. I cheered at Liberty for 3 years, all while managing my own education. By the time I graduated, I had completed 4 different degree programs (Project Management, Sales Management & Professional Selling, Digital Marketing & Advertising, and Marketing Analytics) and received a minor in Sport Management while also participating in Liberty’s LEAD Fellowship program and cheering.

Graduate School: I chose to pursue a graduate degree in Digital Marketing & Advertising from Liberty.

During that time, I started a baking business and was able to encourage students and assist teachers as a graduate student assistant. The field of marketing is continually growing, and my education provided a deeper understanding of effective marketing tactics, utilizing integrative communication and digital channels. I graduated among an amazing team of individuals who never failed to help each other, and I am excited to see what they achieve.

Favorite thing about Liberty: My favorite thing about Liberty was that as you go through each year, you are growing and learning more about how to incorporate God into your daily walk by having many friends, classmates, and teachers sharpen you for the future.

My plans for the future: I have big dreams, and I hope to accomplish a lot of God’s work. I will begin by pursuing a career in marketing — helping businesses and organizations effectively communicate their missions. I also want to create a nonprofit business dedicated to helping individuals with special needs. I want to connect individuals and teach students how to apply their knowledge in the real world.

Stepping out into the real world is a little scary, but do not be discouraged. The time and effort you put in at college helps you to analyze and provide valuable insight to your employers. Build your network and take the opportunity for internships and jobs that help you to pursue your passions. Challenge yourself to learn new skills throughout your time at Liberty. If that looks like practicing what you are learning in the classroom or learning a new skill set outside, do it. Your experience is always going to be what you put into it.

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New Residential Programs H U M A N I TA R I A N A I D

The School of Business was pleased to announce the beginning of a new specialization in humanitarian aid in Spring 2021.

This program is designed to teach students about the impact of natural and man-made disasters and how to respond not only with needed goods and services but also with compassion and cultural sensitivity. The specialization was built with input from Samaritan’s Purse team members and includes courses such as Humanitarian Affairs, Nonprofit Management, Supply Chain Management, and Conflict Resolution and Negotiation. It also requires completion of a related internship. The internship can be served with Samaritan’s Purse or another humanitarian aid organization.

Program Director Dr. Roger Bingham is excited to connect the hearts and minds of Christian college students with people

in crisis in the U.S. and around the world. Bingham states, “I can think of no better way to be the hands and feet of Jesus than through the delivery of aid to those in need. Providing for the material needs of people gives you an opportunity to build trust. In a trusting relationship, it becomes much easier to explain that while you are taking care of their physical needs, Jesus is the one who provides genuine and lasting peace.”

Students are also excited about the program. “Helping people in a meaningful, long-lasting way while doing something I am good at is my heart’s desire, and when the School of Business added the Humanitarian Aid specialization, I knew that this was a door God had opened for me to do just that,” says Lydia Vernon, a junior from Forest, Va.

S U P P LY C H A I N M A N A G E M E N T Do you ever wonder how Tesla sources parts globally from over 300 suppliers to produce a Model S? Or how drug companies like Pfizer and Moderna respond to rapid surges in product demand and deployment?

Supply chain management encompasses the integrated planning and execution of the processes required to optimize the flow of materials, information, and financial capital in the areas that broadly include demand planning, sourcing, production, inventory, and transportation.

The School of Business has introduced a new supply chain management program. In today’s world, supply chain management is recognized as a key source of competitive

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advantage and differentiation. As Forbes has written, “Tomorrow’s CEOs will come from the supply chain.”

The new specialization within the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration will teach students essential supply chain management skills, including Six Sigma, supply chain mapping, supply chain digitization, and data analytics. It will also include studies in the emerging field of interplanetary supply chain networks.

Courses in the new specialization include Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Technology and Analytics, Advanced Supply Chain Application and Policy, and an essential course for today’s global leader: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.

New Online Program: MBA — Six Sigma If you’ve ever looked at a process and thought, “There has to be a better way,” then you understand the goal of Six Sigma. With new technology and production processes entering the market every day, it is important for businesses to not only implement new methods but also to make sure these processes are as streamlined as possible.

The purpose behind Six Sigma is to use data and statistics to continually improve and eliminate defects in a process, product, or service. Liberty’s online MBA – Six Sigma allows students to focus on this highly regarded methodology so they can bring further value to their companies.

In this program, students learn about the various methodologies and best practices for process management. In addition to courses focused on risk, quality, and project management, students explore the concept of Lean Six Sigma. This topic focuses specifically on identifying areas of waste and eliminating all defects to increase overall performance.

General MBA courses provide advanced study in major business topics like marketing, finance, accounting, legal, and operations management. Students will also complete a capstone course at the end of the program. This will allow students to put their studies into practice and walk away more confident in their new skills, ready to lead with authority.

Learn more about all our programs at MOUSE-POINTER Liberty.edu/Business.

School of Business

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Equity for Africa Summit In April, the School of Business and the Standing for Freedom Center hosted an Equity for Africa Summit. During this summit, American business leaders connected with African heads of state and other officials.

CONNECTING CONTINENTS Summit increases cooperation, support, and aid from American businesses LOGAN SMITH The Liberty University School of Business, in partnership with Liberty’s Standing for Freedom Center, organized and implemented one of the most groundbreaking summits in school history April 13-15, bringing in top government and business trailblazers from across Africa to discuss ways to orchestrate and deliver Judeo-Christian foundational change for all economies involved.

These African leaders, either attending in person or through videoconferencing, included the vice president of Nigeria, president of Ghana, former president of Malawi, vice president of Liberia, and other political and economic heads of state. Members of the Congo parliament, the governor of South Sudan, and an ambassador to Rwanda also participated. Many other countries wanted to attend, like South Africa, but were prevented by absolute COVID-19 shutdowns.

American leaders included CEO of Hobby Lobby Steve Green; former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; former Secretary of

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Defense Christopher Miller; former NFL star and business entrepreneur Jack Brewer; former NASA Director Jim Bridenstine; World Bank Director Erik Bethel; former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence Marc Short; and Congressman Ted Yoho, among others.

“This event was a herculean effort, and our whole team was blown away by what we saw,” said Dr. Dave Brat, dean of the School of Business and former U.S. Congressman. “The Bible says feed the poor. The only thing that feeds the poor in the millions is broad-based economic growth, and the major cause of economic growth is capital accumulation. … The goal of this summit was to direct capital investments to Africa.”

Within a week of the summit, many of the participants were holding business meetings to make those connections happen.

The summit included 20 panels that tackled a wide range of economic subjects — how countries can structure deals and implement goodwill diplomacy, emerging technologies

impacting developing countries, and how to end expropriation.

African leadership also pitched economic opportunities within their countries, and American business leaders responded with possible solutions. Both days kicked off with Faith Factor events that brought all nations together in shared faith, worship, and friendship.

Pompeo delivered the keynote address, focusing on religious liberty and the need for Christ-centered principles in Africa’s economic growth.

“Every African, and indeed every human, wants the same basic things,” Pompeo said. “They want freedom and the ability to take care of their families, and they all understand that there’s very little that is more noble than the dignity that comes with a job and opportunity to work and to deliver on behalf of their families and community. And Africans who get the opportunity

to do so are obviously better, and their nation more prosperous and secure.”

He recognized the growing threats in Africa, including terrorist regimes and communism.

“Communism and socialism have failed every place they have been tried,” Pompeo said. “I hope that African nations will see that these failed socialist experiments should be of the past, and we should move forward to a new future based on a set of basic principles. … I’m supremely confident that together we can make the world better and make America better. And we are here to work on ways to make Africa stronger, more prosperous, and secure.”

The summit’s success prompted plans for a second Africa-themed summit, tentatively scheduled for late September.

MOUSE-POINTER Visit Liberty.edu/Business/Equity-for-Africa-Summit to watch the sessions and learn about upcoming events.

Business Healthcare Summit This academic year, the School of Business was excited to host a business healthcare summit. The healthcare industry is about 1/5 of the entire economy. As the demand for healthcare increases, so does the need for all of the training and jobs across many disciplines to keep goods and services flowing smoothly.

Senior Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer at Centra Michael Elliott

Guest speakers included the CEO of Johnson Health Center Gary Campbell and Senior Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer at Centra Michael Elliott. Guests offered students a highlevel survey of their industry and explained what the business of healthcare involves.

School of Business

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Bloomberg Terminals Within the School of Business, students have access to 12 Bloomberg terminals. This technology provides business and finance students with another tool to train for a growing, competitive, global business market. “There’s a need for datadriven efforts out in the workforce,” said Jason McGorman, a Liberty University business alumnus and equity research analyst at Bloomberg L.P. in Manhattan. “Having these tools, like the Bloomberg Terminal, really gives the students an advantage because the competition is tougher than when I graduated.”

Students have the opportunity to explore all the features of the terminal, which is utilized by roughly 330,000 users around the world every day. Students can even receive special Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) training and, with faculty supervision, use the terminal to trade in real time.

Bloomberg certifications are also available to residential students.

Faculty Spotlight: Professor John Frichtel Professor Frichtel has taught for the School of Business at Liberty University for the past 4 years. Prior to joining Liberty, Professor Frichtel was the vice president of operations for Yves Delorme, a French luxury firm. He was responsible for the launch of the U.S. E-commerce channel as well as the global supply chain and operations. Prior to his time with Yves Delorme, Professor Frichtel was a senior manager with J. Crew, where he served on the Madewell.com launch team.

He brings a wealth of knowledge ranging from international business, operations, and general business.

“Professor Frichtel is the epitome of a teacher, as he provides industry expertise, a conducive educational environment, and constructive feedback. More importantly, Professor Frichtel engages with students on a personal level, which allows him to embody grace and encouragement in the classroom. Professor Frichtel’s portfolio of technical and faith-based lessons provides students with practical tools for career success.”

– Bailey Craft, Class of 2021

“Professor Frichtel is a man of high integrity and articulate class. He taught me so much in the classroom, but he also challenged my thinking and the way I approach problems in business and in life. He prepared me for postcollege life by allowing me to understand what it takes to be successful and that success is not always more and more, or the A++ — sometimes it is the little things or the creative thought on something that allows for success. He taught me a lot.”

– Matthew Zaczyk, Class of 2022

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CENTER FOR C YBER EXCELLENCE Liberty University’s School of Business is home to the Center for Cyber Excellence. The center’s goal is to increase cybersecurity training and awareness for all Liberty students, including those enrolled in the 6 different cybersecurity degree programs. The center is located on the first floor of the School of Business building and provides a dedicated meeting place for students to work on projects or interact with business partners.

The Center for Cyber Excellence is also home to the Cyber Defense Club. The club is comprised of over 100 cybersecurity students who meet weekly to discuss and practice the tools, techniques, and procedures it takes to become a cybersecurity professional. The club is studentled, which provides a safe environment to cultivate student leaders in the discipline. Some of the activities that the club participates in are cyber capture the flag competitions and hack-the-box activities, as well as homegrown training and education.

The center also supports the school’s Cyber Competition Team. This team is comprised of cybersecurity students that have demonstrated excellence in their craft. Their goal every year is to win the collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

This past year, the team had an impressive 3rd place finish

at the regional competition virtually hosted at Johns Hopkins University. The competition team is student-led, mentored by Richard Bansley, and comprised of 10 students who become team members through tryouts.

The Center for Cyber Excellence also supports a formal relationship with the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA has designated Liberty as a Center of Academic Excellence. This prestigious award is presented to institutions that have demonstrated excellence in the domain of cybersecurity education. This partnership has also provided for over $500,000 in scholarships that go directly to cybersecurity students.

C O N TA C T US ENVELOPE cyber@liberty.edu instagram @LUCenterForCyberExcellence

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CENTER FOR FINANCIAL LITER AC Y

The Center for Financial Literacy exists to serve as the foremost leader in biblical financial stewardship through the education, collaboration, and integration of financial literacy in every facet of life for all constituents of Liberty University and the surrounding community. In partnership with the Ron Blue Library, the center provides resources and tools embedded with biblical principles that pursue the highest standard of excellence in integrity, stewardship, and generosity and generate confidence throughout the decision-making process.

The Center for Financial Literacy provides oversight for financial literacy efforts across campus and in the community, the financial planning degree program, and financial planning professional educational resources.

The variety of services it offers and the quality of content positions it as one of the top 50 financial literacy programs in 2020, according to LendEDU. Those working at the Center for Financial Literacy desire that every student, staff member, and faculty member will not only be educated but also engaged in integrating biblical financial principles that could dramatically change their future. With this goal in mind, they are continuing to create opportunities for collaboration.

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OPPORT UNIT I ES WI T H I N T H E CEN T ER F OR FIN AN CI A L LI TER A C Y Financial Literacy Courses

T3 Student Club

Approximately 20,000+ students are introduced to the center’s unique financial framework — Four H tool — every semester through residential and online undergraduate programs. The center also offers a free, 1-credit course (FNLT 101) as well as a stand-alone 10-hour course (Financial Hope) that provides a stepby-step process for creating a personal financial plan.

This club is open to all students interested in personal finance. Meetings explore topics related to finances and feature discussions with local financial advisors who share about their firm, professional experience, and/or market insights.

Free 1-on-1 Peer Financial Coaching For the past 2 years, the center has had 8-12 peer financial coaches training and serving in our free peer financial coaching program. This program is designed to help individuals set financial goals, create budgets, plan for the future with investments, and discuss anything related to personal finance. These coaches are passionate about creating a relationship with clients to serve as a mentor, coach, and/or accountability partner. This past year, coaches met with over 210 clients in more than 360 meetings for one-on-one sessions, either virtually or in-person.

This service is free for all Liberty students, faculty, and staff.

Personal Finance Workshops and Events The Center for Financial Literacy was able to conduct more than 30 presentations across campus in the 2020-21 academic year. The center partners with organizations across campus and is passionate about every individual learning essential financial principles from a biblical perspective.

Online Engagement The Center for Financial Literacy’s coaches and staff consistently share their thoughts and convictions about personal finance through the center’s blog, Simply Money, and through Facebook and Instagram at @LUCenterForFinancialLiteracy.

C O N TA C T US ENVELOPE CFL@liberty.edu instagram @LUCenterforFinancialLiteracy

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‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart And with all your soul and with all your strength And with all your mind’; And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

LUKE 10:27

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