The University of Lynchburg held its annual New Student Convocation at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, on the Dell in front of Hopwood Hall.
Over the past week or so, approximately 475 new students have arrived on campus. Forty are international students, hailing from Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Japan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and more than a dozen other countries. The newcomers also include 44 transfer students.
After an invocation by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Albert, University chaplain and assistant vice president for belonging, Lynchburg’s president, Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, welcomed the students to campus.
“This is a critically important journey because the world needs you,” she said. “You see, our vision as a University is to cultivate a world that is innovative, authentic, and inclusive, and everything we do here is to accomplish our mission of inspiring independent thinkers to become trustworthy effective leaders who shape caring communities.”
Morrison-Shetlar said the University also helps students find their “people, place, passion, and purpose.”
Speaking specifically about passion, she added, “When you discover that thing that you love to do, learn about, or stand up for, pursue it with all your heart. College is a time to explore your interests and find your unique voice — a time to be undeniably you.
“Take advantage of all the opportunities available to you, such as outdoor leadership, research projects, and study abroad programs. The more you engage with your passions, the more you’ll … grow as a person.”
The keynote address was given by Professor Jer Bryant ’03, ’10 MA, recipient of the 2025 Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching — one of the highest honors for faculty at Lynchburg.
Bryant, a two-time Lynchburg graduate, is the University’s associate chaplain and an associate professor of English and modern languages.
In his address, he encouraged the new students to get to know themselves and “be fully present during this journey called college.” He also urged them to follow their “life compass.”
“I was gifted a life compass,” Bryant said. “I believe that we all are. It is that little voice inside that guides us here and there. And on my particular compass were highlighted the points curiosity, courage, and compassion, among others.
“These three qualities have guided me all of my life. They have inspired me, not only to be a lifetime learner but to also be a compassionate human being. Truthfully, learning has helped me develop my life compass and explore my authentic self.”
Bryant went on to talk about how curiosity and courage led him to study Spanish, theatre, and political science at Lynchburg.
“What a combo, right?” he said. “Now, when people hear about my undergraduate studies, they sometimes raise their eyebrows or nod like they’re not sure what to say. But I … needed to learn about language and culture and governments and theatrical makeup and scriptwriting.
“I was in a college that allowed me to be curious, that allowed me to ask questions, that allowed me to be brave. I said I wanted to learn a lot, and I was told, ‘Go for it!’ And so I went for it.
“And when people asked me, ‘What are you going to do with all that after you graduate?’ I said, ‘It’ll work out.’ It worked out. I fully stepped into my authentic self.”
Bryant, Lynchburg’s first interfaith chaplain, describes himself as a “spiritual poet,” a “spiritual mentor,” and a “seeker.” In his classes, students read and study work from a variety of cultural and religious traditions.
“Education is not about producing homogeneity,” Bryant said. “Rather, it is about taking all that we are, all of the beautiful aspects of each other, and growing together. This is why I teach voices that may not be heard in high school classrooms: American Indian poet Joy Harjo, the late Buddhist West Virginian poet Irene McKinney, and the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hahn.
“Unique voices feed us. … Learning about the diverse voices of this world not only grows our minds and encourages us to be compassionate humans and global citizens, it helps some students, particularly [Black, Indigenous, people of color], religious minorities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, feel seen.
“It helps them feel heard and respected. My classroom is a safe space. Period. I bring my life compass. My students bring theirs. Together, we find a way.”
