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John Brown University
2000 W. University St.,
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
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About JBU
Christ Over All Since 1919
Founded in 1919 by the evangelist John Brown Sr., JBU is a Christ-centered, Biblically faithful university that educates people to honor God and serve others. JBU has been recognized as a leading university by the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, US News and World Report, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
JBU’s mission is summarized in its two historic mottos, “Christ Over All,” which conveys the primacy of our Christian commitment in our educational mission, and “Head, Heart, and Hand,” which defines our mission to educate the whole student — intellectually, spiritually, and professionally.
JBU requires all board members, faculty and staff to annually affirm their commitment to JBU’s
statement of faith
, its
employee expectations
, and their active involvement in a local church. Even though JBU does not require students to sign a statement of faith, a significant majority of them are Christians. JBU does require all students to commit to live by the appropriate community covenant (
undergraduate community covenant
or
graduate/online student expectations)
. JBU identifies itself with and primarily serves the global, interdenominational, Protestant, and evangelical church (
JBU’s evangelical identity
). Consistent with its evangelical identity, JBU’s board of trustees has also articulated certain
institutional commitments
to address commonly asked questions.
More than a degree.
Educational Philosophy
Education at John Brown University has never been merely academic. John Brown Sr., founder and first president of the institution, was committed to a well-rounded philosophy of
Christ-Centered
studies that focused on the holistic development of students –
head, heart and hand.
Head
Learn to think critically and pursue truth
. A JBU education is not about facts that you'll soon forget. It's about training your mind to think creatively and solve complex problems so that it can serve you well for the rest of your life.
Heart
Engage in faith and community.
You'll connect with others, experience profound personal growth and develop a way of life in which you are deeply aware of God's calling and choose to live in response.
Hand
Develop practical career skills and serve others.
We train you to be excellent in your profession but more importantly to honor God and serve others in every facet of life.
On-Campus Undergraduate
JBU offers 52 majors for high school graduates and transfer students seeking a traditional college experience at our main campus.
Online Undergraduate
Designed for working students who are looking to earn their bachelor's degree fully online, JBU offers eight
online programs
Graduate
Earn a master's degree
in business, education, cybersecurity and counseling, with many programs offered fully online.
Explore Academic Programs
More about JBU
Who We Are
We are a top-ranked Christ-centered, interdenominational university committed to integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.
Established in 1919 by evangelist Dr. John E. Brown Sr., JBU was created to combine Christian liberal arts education with an emphasis on specialized vocational training. While we may not train airplane mechanics today, a "head, heart, hand" education with "Christ Over All" is still our focus.
The university has no denominational affiliation and admits students of any faith. JBU is a vibrant and growing independent Christian university of the arts, sciences and professions.
What We Believe
As a Christian institution, John Brown University holds to the interdenominational doctrinal position identified by the following statements:
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals.
Mission, Vision, Values
Mission
John Brown University provides Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives. JBU’s mission is summarized in its two historic mottos: "Christ Over All" and "Head, Heart and Hand."
Vision
A Christ-centered, interdenominational university that leads the nation in integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.
Values
Christ-centered.
We pray and worship together as a community; we submit to God’s truth and authority as expressed faithfully through His inspired Scriptures; we seek to restrain evil and to promote good through our work and service; and we educate students to serve Christ and His Kingdom because we are followers of Jesus Christ, the incarnate and visible person of the triune God.
Pursuit of Learning.
We educate students to seek, and exemplify ourselves, a globally-aware, holistic, curious and lifelong pursuit of learning because God created the world good and it is part of our worship of God to learn as much as we can about Him and His world.
People.
We make decisions that benefit students; we extend hospitality to strangers; we recognize the God-given gifts of our colleagues; we act and treat each other with integrity; we respectfully engage and encourage a variety of differences among people; we nourish relationships; and we study and learn in community because God has created people in His image.
Service.
We listen and learn from others, recognize and meet their needs and engage and create cultures to imagine new opportunities for people to flourish because God has called us to love our neighbor.
Stewardship.
We strive to be wise stewards of our time, talents, and financial and natural resources because this world belongs to God.
Excellence.
We seek to do all things well and then strive to do them better because God calls us to do all things in honor of Him.
Leadership
JBU President Dr. Charles Pollard oversees the mission of JBU — educating the whole person "head, heart, hand." During President Pollard's tenure, which began in 2004, the university has been
blessed to receive over $312 million in gifts, to grow its endowment from $50 million to over $160 million, and to complete 17 major building projects.
The following are members of the
Presidential Cabinet
Dr. Kim Hadley, Executive Vice President
Dr. Jim Krall, Senior VP for University Advancement
Dr. Ryan Ladner, VP for Enrollment Management
Dr. Robert Norwood, VP for Academic Affairs
Mrs. Anne Tohme, VP for Student Development
Mrs. Julie Gumm, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Dr. Ted Song, Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer
Our Programs
Traditional Undergraduate
Nearly 1,200 students are enrolled in one of JBU's more than 40 traditional undergraduate programs where we are committed to providing them with an academically-challenging educational experience.
Online Undergraduate
JBU Online allows students with no prior college credit to earn their bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, management, liberal arts and psychology completely online.
Graduate Programs
JBU offers master’s degrees in professional disciplines through full-time or part-time enrollment. Graduate programs include degrees in the areas of business, counseling, education, higher education and cybersecurity. Classes are offered in Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock, Siloam Springs and online, depending on the program.
Arkansas' #1 University - Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal has ranked JBU as Arkansas' #1 university in the 2024 College Rankings.
(We claimed the spot in 2020 and 2022 as well.)
JBU is also third among Christian schools.
U.S. News
In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, JBU ranked 13th out of 102 southern regional universities, making it the top-ranked Arkansas school in that category for the eigth consecutive year.
Best Value
Money named JBU the best value private university in a six-state region. (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri)
Forbes Financial Ranking
Forbes gives John Brown University an A+ Financial Ranking,
the same grade as Ivy League schools around the country.
The rankings assess college's balance sheet health and operational soundness using nine measures.
Great Colleges to Work For
JBU has achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for eight years by the Great Colleges to Work For program. In 2022 JBU was named to the Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year that are highlighted most across the recognition categories.
Campus Locations
Siloam Springs
Home to our traditional undergraduate programs and graduate classes in counseling and education.
2000 W. University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
Little Rock
Located on the campus of Mosaic Church, the JBU Little Rock Center offers a master's degree in counseling and regional support for online undergraduate students.
Mosaic Church
ATTN: JBU Little Rock Center
6221 Colonel Glenn Rd A,
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 771-9000
LittleRockCenter@jbu.edu
News from JBU
JBU Choir to Present Spring Concert
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (April 10, 2026) — John Brown University’s music & theatre department invites you to the Spring Choir Concert on Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Ozarks on the JBU campus.
Experience a moving evening centered on God’s mercy as the Cathedral Choir, University Chorus and Community Choir unite for a program that consoles, uplifts and renews hope. Enjoy the serene embrace of Duruflé’s “Requiem,” Byrd’s penitential “Miserere Mei,” Bach’s poignant “Crucifixus” and Vierne’s radiant “Kyrie.”
The concert will feature soloists Jillian Wedfeldt (mezzo-soprano) and Heath Stark (baritone), with Paula Philips (flute), Annette Funk (piano), Bradley Vogel (organ) and Easton Hubbard (cello).
Contemporary voices deepen the theme. Chilcott’s “Thou Knowest, Lord” offers tender assurance. Brahms’ “Lass dich nur nichts nicht dauren” counsels courage. Arnesen’s “Even When He Is Silent” affirms faith in darkness.
"The spirit of mercy blossoms in American hymnody and gospel," said Seung-Won Cho, director of choral activities at JBU. "Works like 'It Is Well with My Soul,' 'For the Beauty of the Earth' and Dorsey’s 'Precious Lord' stand out. The Cho Bros add a prayerful lens with 'Prayer for Ukraine.' Hassler’s joyful 'Exultate Deo' leads into luminous spirituals like 'The Battle of Jericho,' 'Blessed Assurance,' 'John Saw the Number' and the triumphant 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.' This concert promises to renew your faith in God’s mercy that never fails."
Doors open at 7:10 p.m. with free admission, and all are welcome to attend.
For more information about JBU’s music programs and upcoming events, visit
jbu.edu/academics/music
/ or call (479) 524-7382.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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April 10, 2026
Music & Theatre to Present Honors Showcase and Faculty Recital
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (April 2, 2026) — John Brown University's music & theatre department invites you to its Honors Showcase and Faculty Recital on April 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the Berry Performing Arts Center in Siloam Springs.
“The showcase is a celebration of our students and faculty. Students are selected by a competitive process to perform in this annual event," said Liesl Dromi, department chair and associate professor of music. "This year, the showcase will feature vocal, piano, guitar and theatrical performances in works by Bach, Schubert, Mangoré, Dave Malloy, Henrik Ibsen, Johann Strauss II, Duke Ellington and more.”
This event is free and open to the public.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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April 2, 2026
Turk Named Executive Director of JBU Community Counseling Clinics
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (March 20, 2026) — John Brown University has named Gentry Turk, Ph.D., the university’s executive director of Community Counseling Clinics, effective January 1, 2026.
Turk will oversee JBU’s Graduate Counseling program’s applied, clinical training at on-site Community Counseling Centers on JBU's main campus and in Little Rock. In this role, Turk plans the curriculum for and manages the provision of high-quality, well-supervised counseling services to the local community by our practicum students.
"We are deeply excited that Dr. Gentry Turk has accepted the role of executive clinical director of our clinics," said Emily Moore, dean of the College of Education and Social and Behavioral Sciences at JBU. "She’s an experienced clinician and excellent counselor. Just as significantly, she is a wonderful teacher who will be able to balance coordinating our graduate students' clinical training while ensuring that JBU’s clinic provides the highest-quality clinical care to members of the Northwest Arkansas community. Gentry is wise, compassionate and direct. We are deeply grateful to have her."
Turk discovered her calling to counseling during an undergraduate internship in the counseling department at Focus on the Family, leading her to pursue a master’s in counseling at Denver Seminary. After graduating, she focused on addiction counseling in community mental health, then co-founded a Christian private practice in Lakewood, Washington. To deepen her clinical expertise and invest in training future counselors, she completed a doctorate in counselor education and supervision at Denver Seminary, where she discovered her love for teaching future counselors. In June 2025, she was hired as a professor in JBU's Graduate Counseling program.
“As executive clinic director, I am excited to support our community through the meaningful work of counseling," Turk said. "The Community Counseling Clinic at John Brown University offers opportunities for people to experience hope and healing by engaging the impactful care of our counselors-in-training. By combining my previous experience as a clinician, supervisor and now educator, I look forward to developing unique programs and opportunities within our clinic to enhance the care provided to our community."
Turk is dedicated to cultivating a thriving counseling practice environment that challenges students to grow as clinicians. She is also committed to providing high-quality, low-cost counseling to Siloam Springs and the broader Northwest Arkansas region.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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March 20, 2026
Greg Robinson Releases New Book 'Leaders of Another Kind'
Greg Robinson, outdoor leadership professor and head of the Bible and ministry department, released his new book “Leaders of Another Kind: Living the Radical Paradox of Servant Leader” in January.
In his book, Robinson reveals that a leader’s identity determines how he or she leads more than learning any leadership technique.
“Mostly we use the same models to understand leadership regardless of the situation or context,” said Robinson, for whom leadership has been a 30-year focus. “For many who follow Jesus, we tend to use corporate models but put a moralistic spin on them or simply try to be nicer.”
Robinson explains in the book that the idea of servant leadership, which can be traced back to Jesus and was made popular in the modern age by Robert Greenleaf — an American business executive and leadership consultant and the founder of the modern servant leadership movement and the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership — has surfaced and retreated many times.
“Currently, much of what is being written about servant leadership defines it as a collection of behaviors,” said Robinson. “But Jesus and Greenleaf both seemed to believe that it starts with the kind of person you are.”
Robinson wrote the book as an exploration of Jesus’ formation process with his followers and the identity he revealed to them as a way to help us rethink leadership today.
“Christ-centered leadership is more than taking modern leadership models and attaching Bible verses to them,” he said. “It is about understanding the truly unique way of being that Jesus was both making possible and teaching his followers at the same time."
“Leaders of Another Kind: Living the Radical Paradox of Servant Leader” is available via Amazon.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
March 16, 2026
JBU Music & Theatre to Present 'Twelfth Night'
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (March 5, 2026) — John Brown University's music & theatre department invites you to a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night,” March 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. and March 15 at 3 p.m. at Jones Recital Hall on the Siloam Springs campus.
Conceived by Kawme Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, this modern take on Shakespeare’s classic play tells a story of shipwrecked twins, a love triangle and mistaken identities. "Twelfth Night" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Liesl Dromi, associate professor of music (voice) and chair of the music & theatre department, said creating this version of “Twelfth Night” has been a wonderful collaborative process with students. Their vision for the show is to offer a Shakespeare experience that is accessible, exciting and inclusive.
“The genius of Shakespeare and the genius of this adaptation is that it is never just one thing,” said Dromi. “There are different levels of storytelling throughout. It’s rich and complex and a delight to work. The show really has a little bit of everything. We explore themes of identity, purpose, self-discovery and actualization — all in a setting that is fun, exciting, hilarious and feels like a nonstop party.”
You can purchase tickets at
jbu.edu/tickets
or at the door the night of the performance. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors, faculty and staff; $7 for children under 18; and $3 for JBU students.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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March 5, 2026
JBU to Host Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Feb. 25, 2026) – John Brown University will host former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft for its annual Ray and Laurine Barnett Civic Leadership Series to present "America250 and the Future of Liberty" on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in Simmons Great Hall B.
Ashcroft served as Missouri governor from 1985 to 1993 and as a Missouri senator from 1995 to 2001, before becoming the 79th U.S. attorney general under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005.
"John Ashcroft has served the American people at both the state and federal levels during defining periods in our nation’s history," said Daniel Bennett, Ph.D., professor of political science and director of the Center for Faith and Flourishing. "His visit reflects JBU's commitment to engaging with figures who have shaped American public life. We look forward to a thoughtful conversation about leadership, governance and the challenges facing the country today."
The Ray and Laurine Barnett Civic Leadership Series, established in 2016, is funded by an endowment created with gifts from the Barnett family and donations from more than 20 organizations and individuals. The series, which brings a speaker to JBU each academic year, focuses on Christian leadership and addresses the intersection of faith and public service.
Past speakers include Alveda C. King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr.; Mike Huckabee and Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas governors; Chief Judge Lavenski Smith; Philip Todd, JBU alumnus and chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security; Molly Rapert, associate professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas; Shapri LoMaglio, vice president for government and external relations at the CCCU.
The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Faith and Flourishing and JBU's student chapter of TPUSA. It is free and open to the public.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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February 25, 2026
JBU to Host Nadya Williams for Honors University Lecture
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Feb. 24, 2026) — John Brown University will host classicist and historian Nadya Williams, Ph.D., for its Honors University Lecture on Monday, March 2, at 3:30 p.m. in Simmons Great Hall C.
Williams will lecture on “The Classics and Spiritual Formation in the Year of America’s 250th: Why Jerusalem Still Needs Athens in the Age of AI.” She will examine what we lose when we neglect the classics and why America, a country founded by people who were grounded in the classics, still needs Athens in the age of artificial intelligence.
Williams is the author of "Cultural Christians in the Early Church" (Zondervan Academic, 2023), "Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity" (IVP Academic, 2024) and "Christians Reading Classics" (Zondervan Academic, 2025). She is books editor at Mere Orthodoxy, where she hosts the "Christians Reading Classics" podcast. She is also a contributor at Christianity Today, a contributing editor at Front Porch Republic and Providence Magazine, and featured author at Fairer Disputations.
"Dr. Williams is one of the best thinkers today on the relationship between the ancient classics and spiritual formation," said Ryan Butler, Ph.D., director of Honors Scholars Program. "The old question about the best of pagan learning and the Christian life — what Athens has to do with Jerusalem — is as relevant now as ever, and I’m excited that Dr. Williams will be taking up this topic with the JBU and wider community. She is a learned and trusted guide who pushes our thinking in all the right directions and especially so as we navigate the path of discipleship in the AI age.
Williams is a homeschool mom, writer and editor based in Ashland, Ohio, where she serves as interim director of the MFA in Creative Writing at Ashland University.
The lecture is sponsored by JBU's Honors Scholars Program. It is free and open to the public.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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February 24, 2026
JBU Music & Theatre to Present 'Treasure Island'
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Feb. 13, 2026) – John Brown University’s music & theatre department invites you to its production of Ken Ludwig’s “Treasure Island,” Feb. 19-20 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Berry Performing Arts Center on the Siloam Springs campus.
Adapted from the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the play is a thrilling, swashbuckling tale of double-crossing pirates, hidden treasure and adventure on the high seas.
Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of ‘Treasure Island’ is demanding every ounce of our collective theatre-making spirit,” said Josiah Wallace, JBU professor of theatre and certified actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. “The production is massive in scope — an epic coming of age tale of pirate ships, deserted islands and the thin, dangerous line between adventure and betrayal."
Wallace said JBU's full team of student designers is working tirelessly to create a sensory world of intricate props, period costumes and immersive sounds and projections. Beyond the lines and the blocking, he said the actors are stepping into emotionally intense and quirky character roles requiring the flexing of sword and knife fighting skills to bring this high-sea adventure to life.
You can purchase tickets at
jbu.edu/tickets
or at the door the night of the performance. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors, faculty and staff; $7 for children under 18; and $3 for JBU students.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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February 13, 2026
JBU to Host Paul Trebilco for 19th Abila Lecture
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Feb. 3, 2026) – John Brown University’s "Abila Lecture in Biblical Archaeology" series is pleased to welcome Paul Trebilco, Ph.D., to campus for its 19th lecture.
Trebilco will present
New Insights into Christianity in Ephesus
on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Ozarks. This lecture will provide attendees with the fascinating archaeological evidence of the Cemetery of the Seven Sleepers and the Cave of Paul and Thecla.
Trebilco is professor of New Testament studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand. From 2013–2017, he was the general editor of the Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, published by Cambridge University Press. In 2017, Trebilco was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
He has published work on the Jewish and Greco-Roman backgrounds of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Paul, Early Christians in Ephesus, the relationship of scripture and church tradition, and the self-designations used by the earliest Christians in the New Testament.
"Dr. Paul Trebilco is eminently qualified to give our lecture this year. He is a specialist in the New Testament and Early Judaism and has published extensively on the material cultural and literary world of Early Christianity, especially in Ephesus," said Dave Vila, Ph.D., director of the Abila Archaeological Project and JBU distinguished professor of religion and philosophy. "His lecture on the early Christian account of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and the Cave Church of Paul and Thecla is sure to be both interesting and informative. I’m so very happy that Dr. Trebilco is able to join us this spring at John Brown University."
Vila said the purpose of the "Abila Lecture in Biblical Archaeology" series is to connect both the JBU community and the broader community in Northwest Arkansas with the best and latest in the archaeology of the biblical and Early Christian worlds.
The biannual lecture series promotes the understanding of archaeology and history of the biblical world. Lectures in the fall semester typically focus on the Old Testament and its world, while lectures in the spring semester focus on the world of the New Testament and Early Christianity. The series is funded by donors to JBU’s Abila Archaeological Project, which excavates in Northern Jordan at Abila of the Decapolis. The project started in 1980 and was adopted by JBU in 2013.
The lecture is free and open to the public, and JBU invites students, faculty and community members to attend.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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February 3, 2026
JBU to Host Ryan Burge, Nationally Recognized Scholar of Religion, Politics and Public Life
SILOAM SPRING, Arkansas (Jan. 26, 2026) — John Brown University invites the community to the conversation “No Room for Compromise: Religious Polarization in the United States” with guest scholar Ryan Burge, Ph.D.
The discussion will take place on Monday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in Simmons Great Hall at JBU. The event, sponsored by JBU’s Center for Faith and Flourishing and department of political science, is free and open to the public.
Religious identity has become a powerful marker of political loyalty in the United States, and the distance between groups keeps widening. What does this mean for the future of American politics and society? Burge will show how decades of shifting allegiances, demographic changes and cultural conflicts have led to today’s climate of religious polarization and explain where we might go from here. If you want to better understand key forces reshaping American public life, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Burge is a nationally recognized scholar of religion, politics and public life. A professor of practice at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University, he is known for his clear and compelling analysis of how faith shapes American political behavior. He is the author of several books, including "20 Myths About Religion and Politics in America," "The Great Dechurching" and "The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us." Burge’s work regularly appears in major outlets such as the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and "60 Minutes."
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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January 26, 2026
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JBU's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness is based on the person and work of Jesus Christ
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John Brown University
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
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John Brown University
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.
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