NetVUE grant will support undergraduate leadership development through faith-centered mentorship, vocational discernment, and community engagement
COLUMBIA, SC – April 15, 2026- Benedict College has been awarded $59,996 from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) to support the FaithForward Leadership and Mentoring Initiative, a new program designed to cultivate purpose-driven leadership among undergraduate students. The College will work in partnership with the Rev. Dr. Jamie O. Graham of Saint John Baptist Church to develop the curriculum. The initiative will officially launch this summer and aims to equip students with the tools, mentorship, and experiences necessary to serve effectively in faith-based and local communities.
“This grant is more than funding, it is a divine confirmation that the work we are doing at the intersection of faith and education matters,” said Dr. Leon T. Geter, Dean of the School of Communications, Arts and Social Sciences and principal writer of the grant. “The FaithForward Initiative will give our students the tools, mentorship, and spiritual grounding they need to lead with integrity and serve with purpose right here in our community.”
The FaithForward Leadership and Mentoring Initiative will engage undergraduate students through structured workshops, mentorship opportunities, and hands-on community involvement. Through these experiences, students will be guided in exploring their sense of vocation while developing leadership skills that prepare them to positively influence their communities and professions.
Centered on the holistic development of Benedict’s undergraduate population, the program will provide students with intentional opportunities to reflect on faith, purpose, and service. Participants will work alongside faculty mentors, community leaders, and faith partners as they gradually assume greater leadership roles in campus, church, and community initiatives.
“This grant affirms Benedict College’s enduring commitment to nurturing both the intellect and the spirit of our students,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “The FaithForward Leadership and Mentoring Initiative reflects our belief that leadership grounded in faith, service, and purpose can transform communities. Through this initiative, we will empower our students to discern their calling, lead with integrity, and make a lasting impact wherever their journeys take them.”
By combining mentorship, reflection, and community engagement, the FaithForward initiative will help strengthen pathways for vocational discernment and long-term impact among Benedict students. The program also reinforces the College’s mission to prepare graduates who are not only academically prepared but also spiritually grounded and socially responsible leaders.
The FaithForward Leadership and Mentoring Initiative will begin recruiting undergraduate participants later this spring, with workshops and mentoring activities beginning in the summer term.
Photo: Dr. Leon T. Geter, Dean of the Benedict College School of Communications, Arts and Social Sciences and principal writer of the NetVue grant.
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Benedict College
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and voted the number one Gold Winner in The States’ BEST College or University in 2025.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.