Summit Faculty in The News–Winter 2019 Edition

GLS faculty alumni continue to impact the world of leadership. Catch up with those that made news in 2018 in this update.

1) Craig Groeschel’s (2018, 2015, 2012, 2008) Life.Church opened its 28th location in Catoosa, Oklahoma, the seventh in the Tulsa Metro Area. Life.Church broke ground on the 37,059 square-foot building in May 2017 and opened its doors in March 2018.

2) Bishop T.D. Jakes (2018, 2016, 2010, 2004) is preparing to bring an economic empowerment event to Atlanta this year.

3) Danny Meyer (2018) is spearheading a $20 million funding round for Goldbelly, a food delivery upstart that teams with notable restaurants across the nation.

4) Bryan Stevenson (2017) was presented with the People’s Champion Award, presented by John Legend at the E! People’s Choice Awards in November. He was recognized for opening the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a new memorial that opened in 2018, standing as a sobering reminder of racial inequality in America, from slavery to segregation to mass incarceration.

5) Brené Brown (2017, 2015), a Houston native, served as a social worker to victims of Hurricane Harvey and mobilized clothing donations through social media for Harvey evacuees.

6) Gary Haugen’s (2017, 2008) International Justice Mission has announced a partnership with Target Corp. to combat labor trafficking in India. Target is investing funds over three years toward social responsibility initiatives, enhanced policies to ensure safe migration for laborers and a grassroots prevention program. The program is designed to equip non-governmental organizations and empower survivors to become advocates with government leaders. The program also aims to engage the media to raise awareness about the prevalence of bonded labor.

7) Ed Catmull (2015) stepped down as president of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios on Jan. 1 and will stay on as an adviser through July 2019.

8) Joseph Grenny (2014, 2013) and The Other Side Academy won the 2018 EY Social Entrepreneur of Year Award in the Utah Region for creating a successful model of Entrepreneurship for the organization that creates a global “therapeutic community” available to all who need it.

9) Carly Fiorina (2014, 2012, 2009, 2007) launched a new podcast in November called By Example: A Leadership Podcast with Carly Fiorina , where she will sit down and talk with real leaders who are focused on changing the order of things for the better and solving real problems. Guests will include NBA star Baron Davis, Gen. and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Sen. Bob Dole, ESPN Commentator Jay Bilas and Gretchen Carlson.

10) Tyler Perry (2014) has been cast as Gen. Colin Powell in the movie Vice, the story of Dick Cheney as Vice President to President George W. Bush.

11) Tony Dungy (2010) returned to his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, this fall and presented the university with a commemorative Hometown Hall of Fame plaque, which will be on permanent display. Dungy’s hope is that students will see it as a symbol of what happens when committing themselves to greatness.

12) Blake Mycoskie (2010), founder of TOMS, has launched a new campaign to end gun violence in America by bringing voices together through a simple call to action. TOMS is also giving $5 million to organizations across the country committed to ending gun violence, which Mycoskie announced in November on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

13) Tim Keller (2009) has stepped down as senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan, New York. His retirement was part of a decade-long plan to transition the single Presbyterian Church in America congregation into three churches. Keller will work full-time teaching at the Reformed Theological Seminary and working with Redeemer’s City to City church-planting network.