Lipscomb’s latest endeavor seeks to build a partnership with Metro and to spark new leaders with a desire to serve in the downtown Nashville community.
University President Randy Lowry announced the program, the off-campus Spark center in downtown Nashville, Tuesday morning on the SunTrust Plaza, which is right across the street from the 20,100-square-feet space the Spark Center will soon occupy.
Lowry said the program is an initiative to make Lipscomb downtown Nashville’s university. The new program will focus on graduates who have a desire to serve, and it will train the next generation of public sector leaders. Located at the corner of 4th and Commerce, the new Downtown Spark will open in January or February 2017.
Lowry said John Lowry, vice president of Development and External Affairs, is the energy, spark and visionary for the Spark initiative. Lipscomb started its first off-campus Spark site in Cool Springs almost four years ago.
“He saw what could happen in Cool Springs, and he knows what can happen downtown,” Lowry said.
“I envision 10,000 visitors a year coming to this center and being educated. I envision about 300 graduate students in work-place related programs. All of this will spark their creativity, spark their education, spark their careers and spark our city.”
John Lowry said that the Spark program will allow students to experience a Lipscomb education in a prime, downtown location.
“It will be a place where people come to advance their careers and to have their lives influenced by the Lipscomb faculty and a Lipscomb academic program,” John Lowry said.
The Spark program will offer academic programs and leadership training as well as provide space for events and meetings.
“It’s a place where companies and organizations will come to develop their next generation of leaders. It’s a place where groups large and small will be able to have really important conversations, to inspire collaborations and to be a place where they can do some very creative things.”
Several notable guests were there, including the new neighbors of the Spark building: Rob McNeilly, president of SunTrust bank and Joelle Phillips, president of AT&T.
Phillips referenced how the Spark initiative will aid the Drive to 55 mission, which was implemented by Governor Haslam to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025.
“When we see innovative, exciting projects like this one, it’s very reassuring to us that we are going to make it to the Drive to 55,” Phillips said. “This program is going to have such a key part in helping Tennesseans find the power of education in their lives.”
President Lowry then introduced Mayor Megan Barry, who highlighted his achievements since he became Lipscomb president, and alsohighlighted the partnership’s positive effects for Metro and Lipscomb.
“You have led a transformation at Lipscomb that is incredible,” Barry said. The university is now bigger in every sense, not just with this [Spark]. There’s almost twice as many students; you’ve implemented many new programs, and the mission that you have embodied empowers everyone and me.”
Barry also said the partnership will allow Metro to get the leaders it needs who understand the importance of a public service component.
President Lowry announced that The Well (coffee shop with a mission) is coming downtown with Spark as well. This will be The Well’s third location.
“Every time someone walks into The Well, not only will they be nourishing themselves, but they will also helps us drill wells in Africa,” Lowry said.
Lowry referenced his school mantra as he talked about the growing partnership Lipscomb has with Nashville.
“I’ve said for 11 years at Lipscomb that the city is our campus and the world is our classroom,” Lowry said. “When the students get here, they are going to see that Nashville is a vital, exciting city and Lipscomb is a vital, exciting university. That together makes an excellent education.”