Liberty University launches Global Center for Human Flourishing to integrate faith and well-being

Liberty University has officially launched the Global Center for Human Flourishing (GCHF), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing the intersection of faith, human capacity, and mental health. Announced during the Spring 2025 All-Faculty Orientation in January, the center will spearhead research, education, and practical applications to foster holistic well-being through faith-based principles.

Liberty President Dondi E. Costin emphasized the center’s core mission: “Our goal is to establish a center focused on the ways in which our faith is fundamental to human flourishing. This vision aligns with the legacy of Liberty’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, by nurturing Champions for Christ who can thrive personally and professionally.”

Through research, training, and strategic partnerships, the GCHF aims to equip students, faculty, and the global faith community with evidence-based tools for resilience and well-being. The center will also contribute to national conversations on faith and well-being, influencing public policy and leadership discussions.

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell underscored the transformative power of faith in personal development and student success: “As Christians, when we serve and minister to students all over the world, we do so from a perspective of understanding the power and the presence of God in our lives and extending it forward to them to help them and encourage them in their growth. Faith in Christ is the key to human flourishing.”

As part of its commitment to evidence-based transformation, the GCHF will work in collaboration with expert scholars. These strategic partnerships position Liberty University and the GCHF as leaders in faith-based mental health research, expanding knowledge on how spiritual engagement enhances the many components of well-being.

The GCHF is led by Executive Director Dr. Tim Clinton and Associate Director Dr. Ron Hawkins, with guidance from renowned experts, including Dr. Harold Koenig of Duke University and Dr. Tyler VanderWeele of Harvard University. This collaboration positions Liberty at the forefront of faith-based mental health research and practice.

The center will build on the Global Flourishing Study, a collaborative project between researchers at Harvard and Baylor University, partnering with Gallup to collect extensive data on human flourishing across diverse countries.

The GCHF will play a crucial role in Liberty’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), focusing on “Faith in Human Flourishing” as part of the university’s reaffirmation process for institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The integration ensures that principles of human flourishing will be woven into academic curricula, student life programs, and faculty development efforts.

Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hicks highlighted the relational aspect of the initiative: “We are called to bear one another’s burdens together. This is a key concept for achieving human flourishing here at Liberty University and around the world. Our heart is to help students discover the full meaning of Jesus’ words found in John 10:10: ‘I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.'”

As Liberty University continues to expand its influence in Christian higher education, the GCHF stands poised to redefine human flourishing through the lens of faith, equipping future Champions for Christ to live abundantly and inspire transformation worldwide.