GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University will build on the success of its new Discipleship Living-Learning Center with the infusion of additional dollars from a recent grant from a local organization.
Left to right, Nour Nabi, Josh Rowe and Rio Little, three residents of the male house, stand outside.
The Tweed Family Foundation, a Christian entity that focuses on the physical and spiritual needs of humanity, recently awarded a grant that will enable Tusculum to start renovations on a third house for the center. The center, which falls under the umbrella of the university’s Christian Leadership Institute, currently has two houses – one for females and the other for males.
“We are grateful to the Tweed Family Foundation for this generous gift, which will result in drawing even more students closer to Christ,” said Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “College is a formative season, and we want our students to be grounded in a meaningful relationship with God. When students live in community with others pursuing similar faith goals, that shared journey amplifies spiritual growth and transforms the college experience.”
The university launched the Christian Leadership Institute and the Discipleship Living-Learning Center in 2025 to further deepen the roots of faith-based education that has been at the core of Tusculum since its founding in 1794.
The Discipleship Living-Learning Center is housing 15 students in its first year. The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects, and the Office of Admission are spreading the word about the program. They are attracting additional students who plan to enroll at Tusculum in the fall. To accommodate the growth, Tusculum has eyed renovating another university-owned house on campus.
That led Tusculum to approach the Tweed Family Foundation about the grant. The university’s Office of Institutional Advancement prepared the grant application with assistance from Dr. Cook and Swatsell.
“The Discipleship Living-Learning Center has come together nicely and allowed these students to help each other in their walk with God,” Swatsell said. “We have enjoyed seeing the camaraderie within the houses because it helps students in their early years of college have a sense of belonging, which is vital to their success. We are excited to grow this initiative and support more students in their faith journey.”
Left to right, Danielle Dugger, Analise Kotynski, Abby Counter, Jasmine Johnson and Kieley Smith, who are five of the residents in the female house, pose inside.
Through Bible studies, mentorship and ministry engagement, the center provides a Christ-focused environment where first- and second-year students are discipled, strengthened in their faith and formed for lives of service and leadership. Supporting them are peer mentors, older students who also live in the house, and Swatsell, who foster and encourage further opportunities to grow in their faith.
Students who reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center qualify for an annual $2,000 academic scholarship.
A key component of the center is the Sunday night Bible study session. The students who reside in the two houses come together to learn more about biblical teachings from Dr. Cook and Swatsell and apply those insights to their daily lives. They also have the opportunity to conduct their own Bible studies within their houses and participate in additional spiritual development through other programs on and off campus.
One of the projects the students completed in the fall semester was participation in Operation Christmas Child, an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse. Through the leadership of Dr. Kathleen Crisp, assistant professor of chemistry, the students packed 50 shoeboxes with essential items and gifts for children in need across the globe.
In the future, Tusculum plans to host a discipleship weekend for high school students. Students from the center will serve in a variety of camp-type leadership roles during that weekend to help the event run smoothly and enrich the lives of attendees.
Students who reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center stand by the shoeboxes they helped stock in support of Operation Christmas Child.
“These shared experiences foster a deeper understanding of Scripture, encourage accountability, and develop a personal commitment to following Christ,” Swatsell said. “As students grow in their faith, they influence their peers and campus culture by modeling a Christ-centered lifestyle. Many participants describe the DLLC as a turning point in their spiritual journey. For some, it is the first time they have experienced a Christian community that actively challenges and supports them in living out their faith. This environment nurtures both individual transformation and collective witness.”
In addition to this grant from the Tweed Family Foundation, the Discipleship Living-Learning Center has received extensive support from the community. The university conducted a successful fundraiser that enabled the male house to be named after the late Chuck Bowlin, a highly respected Christian business leader. Community members also provided donations to stock the houses with needed items, including furnishings and appliances.
Anyone who is interested in supporting the Discipleship Living-Learning Center can email Swatsell at eswatsell@tusculum.edu. More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.