Faulkner University Alumni

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Faulkner graduate Dana Barber for being recognized among the 2026 class of Women Who Shape the State! 👏

Barber, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services State Coordinator for Blind Services, was honored earlier this month during a luncheon at The Club in Birmingham.

A 2006 graduate of Faulkner University with a bachelor’s degree in management of human resources, Barber has built a career marked by leadership, service and a strong work ethic. We are proud to celebrate her accomplishments and the impact she continues to make across Alabama!

https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/harpersvilles-dana-barber-honored-among-women-who-shape-the-state-21c8d580/

05/28/2026

For working professionals who want to advance their careers without putting life on hold, Faulkner offers a fully online Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) program that blends flexibility, academic rigor and Christian values.

The program is designed to meet the needs of established business professionals who want to grow their leadership skills and prepare for upper-level positions while maintaining personal and professional responsibilities. Unlike a traditional MBA, which often focuses on foundational business concepts, an executive MBA emphasizes advanced strategies and leadership practices.

Read more here- https://www.faulkner.edu/news/balancing-life-and-career-with-an-executive-mba/

05/22/2026

Since 1942, Faulkner University has been committed to preparing students to lead lives of purpose through Christ-centered education.
Now, you’re invited to be part of that mission by visiting https://www.faulkner.edu/1942-society/
Join The 1942 Society—a community of believers investing in the future of faith-driven leadership.

✨ Two ways to get involved:
• Legacy Partner – Give $19.42 monthly
• Founder Partner – Make a one-time gift of $19.42
Together, we’re shaping futures and transforming lives.

05/22/2026

Share this with your congregations!

Leaders Connect is a leadership retreat for elders, deacons, preachers, church leaders and Bible class teachers (and their wives). It will take place June 19-20 on the campus of Faulkner University.

The cost per person is only $75 and includes 4 meals plus 1 night lodging on campus. If staying off campus, the price per person is $50 and includes 4 meals.
To learn more and to register visit- https://www.faulkner.edu/leaders-connect-june/

05/21/2026

Get ready for the ACC Summer Reunion happening in June!!
Registration info is in the graphics below ⬇

You must pre-register to attend!

05/21/2026

Make your plans now for Faulkner University's 2026 Annual Benefit Dinner!
This year’s event will feature two internationally recognized leaders in national security and global affairs: the 70th U.S. Secretary of State and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore.

📅 Thursday, October 8
📍 Renaissance Convention Center in Downtown Montgomery
Purchase tickets here: https://www.faulkner.edu/2026-benefit-dinner/

Join us for an important conversation on national security, global affairs and the future of technology—all while supporting student scholarships at Faulkner University. See less

05/19/2026

Faulkner University alumnus Matt Oliver was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the 2026 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department.

Oliver, a native of Augusta, Georgia, moved to Montgomery to attend Faulkner University, where he earned a degree in legal studies in 2020 before continuing his education at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. He graduated with his Juris Doctor in 2023.

Today, Oliver serves as an associate with Swatek, Vaughn and Bryan, an Alabama governmental affairs firm where he has worked in various roles since 2019. The firm represents a wide range of clients across multiple levels of Alabama government.

“My time at Faulkner actually led me to my current job through internships and connections,” he said. “Faulkner helped me learn a hard work ethic and how to best focus my time outside of academics. I couldn’t be more thankful for those seven combined years.”

Read more here-

Faulkner University alumnus Matt Oliver was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award during the 2026 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department. Oliver, a native of Augusta, Georgia, moved to…

05/14/2026

A faithful pillar of Faulkner University for more than 47 years, Wilma Phillips was celebrated as the 2026 Alumna of the Year during the annual Marketplace Faith Friday Forums.

Vice President of Advancement Billy Camp presented the award to Phillips saying she represents what it truly means to serve with dedication, integrity and heart and that honoring Phillips in this way was “long overdue.”

“Many people help institutions succeed through bold ideas and public leadership,” Camp said. “She did it through consistency, loyalty and an unwavering sense of responsibility. She showed us that leadership doesn’t always come with applause – it often comes with long hours, hard work and choices and steadfast resolve.”

Read More here-

A faithful pillar of Faulkner for more than 47 years, Wilma Phillips was celebrated as the 2026 Alumna of the Year.

05/12/2026

In March 2001, the Faulkner University men’s basketball team returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship Tournament after reaching the Elite Eight the previous season. The 2000-01 team entered the year with momentum and the belief they could bring home the coveted national championship red banner.

Head coach Jim Sanderson said he sensed early that the season would be special.

“Before school started, the Lord laid on my heart during the month of July that our team would win the national championship,” Sanderson said. “With all the ups and downs of a season, He continued to assure me that it was going to happen. It was an amazing journey.”

In January 2026, Faulkner University celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2001 NAIA men’s basketball national championship team. Every player and most of the team’s staff returned to campus where they were inducted into the Faulkner Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025-26.

Read more by Robin "Bird" Bradford about their amazing championship journey here- https://www.faulkner.edu/news/an-amazing-journey-championship-season/

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Faulkner University graduate Michael Baygents on becoming chief of the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

We’re proud to see another Faulkner graduate step up to leading their department as chief.

The City of Tuscaloosa officially welcomed Baygents during a swearing-in ceremony on May 4.

A Faulkner University alumnus, Chief Baygents earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2018 and a Master of Science in Justice Administration in 2019. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class of 2023), a distinction earned by fewer than one percent of law enforcement professionals nationwide.

Baygents brings 26 years of experience with the Tuscaloosa Police Department and has said his time at Faulkner helped prepare him for the responsibilities that come with serving as chief.

He has served in Uniformed Services, Criminal Investigations, and the Training Division, and was a member of department’s SWAT team from 2002 until he was named Chief in April.

A longtime instructor at the APOSTC Law Enforcement Academy, he has helped train more than 1,000 officers throughout his career.

We know he’ll do a great job leading the Tuscaloosa Police Department, and we’re glad to have played a part in preparing him for this role.