New Residential Programs

HUMANITARIAN AID

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.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

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 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.