51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

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January 2026

Architecture provides tie to WBU learning

Jacob Burke was almost destined to become a 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ student, given that his mother, father, two aunts and an uncle had all attended the university years earlier. A few cousins came before him, so though he applied to a few state schools, following the family legacy just made more sense.

“In the end it was thinking about staying close to home, but also I just knew I would come to

51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ,” reflected Jacob, a 2005 graduate of the Plainview campus and an architect in Asheville, N.C. “I had a lot of family in the area, and the history of the school, plus being able to have a job day one in the print shop was a no-brainer too.”

While 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ was a great fit for Jacob, his current career was a bit more of a journey of discovery. Academically, Jacob studied psychology, minoring in religion. During his behavioral science courses, he was intrigued about how humans experience spaces and the psychology behind design.

“We talked about color and how color in space can affect how people act. Specifically, we discussed how fast food restaurants use red and yellow because they want people to feel agitated and leave really quickly,” he recalled, noting his early interest in design. “In my head I thought that was all interesting and thought maybe I’ll use psychology to do something with spaces and people."

After graduating from WBU, Jacob looked into counseling programs as a natural continuation of the psychology study, but didn’t feel strongly led there. He and wife Liz, a 2006 WBU graduate, moved to Anchorage to work at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s campus there for a few years and be closer to her family in Alaska.  While there, Jacob said they began thinking about building a home and looking through design magazines. That’s when the bug bit, and he began digging deeper into where he could study architecture.

That led the Burkes to North Carolina State University in Raleigh, a new adventure for the family and

a three-and-a-half-year journey for Jacob toward a new career. Just before earning the master’s degree in 2012, he joined Frank Harmon Architect firm. From there, he contributed to projects with Vines Architecture and Clearscapes before joining Clark Nexsen in their Asheville office as a smaller place to raise their two daughters, Helen, 11, and Frannie, 6.

During his graduate coursework, Jacob’s early study in psychology came back around.

“The professor was talking about how we see, how our eyes and our brains see things in buildings and make it into certain things or connect lines and dots that aren’t there,” he said. “And again, I thought back to some of the courses that I had about gestalt psychology and how our minds connect things and realized I can talk about this. I understand all this. I may not know anything about design yet, but in that moment, I thought, I can do this. There is such a human element to architecture and understanding that piece was pretty important.”

Jacob noted that while architects may choose a focus for their work or an area in which they wish to specialize, he has chosen to keep his experience broad. He’s completed projects for universities, yoga retreat centers, a library, custom homes, and even a special chimney for roosting birds. His firm

works on all types of projects as well, and he’s been pulled into team projects for some larger jobs during his 13 years in the profession.

Among his favorite architecture projects are a small home on the South Carolina coast that called for creativity due to its size, the chimney swift roost and a library renovation and addition in downtown Durham. All in all, he’s found the work very rewarding.

“I really love the beginning of a project, the abstract thinking and the piece that the psychology really keys into well. But I also love the build, the detailing and working out how it’s going to be built and drawing out everything so the contractor knows how to do it all. Those are all very different ends of the process.”

“As I practice longer, and mature as an architect, I really appreciate the role that I can look out in 20 years and know that something I worked on, that I’m putting effort into, is still there and serving others.”

Jacob said the issue of sustainability and good stewardship of natural resources is also a big part of his job as architecture firms consider the environment in each project. Renovation projects to existing and often historic buildings are also enjoyable because there is an inherent recycling involved and preservation of the character and uniqueness of those older structures.

While at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, Jacob worked for his uncle Eddie Turner in the campus bookstore’s printshop and was active in the Baptist Student Ministries, serving as lead vocals for the praise band at the weekly worship services. He was also part of a Christian band with a few other students, playing at Disciple Now weekends and other youth events in the area.

These days, the Burkes are settling into their new city and determining what ministry looks like in

this season. He predicts working with children or youth programs through a local church, and would like to get back into music at some level.

This spring, Jacob will join the adjunct faculty at Montreat College to teach some basic design courses as the Presbyterian school he said reminds him of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ. He has also done some lectures for other architecture professors, sharing his expertise.

In all of it, Jacob said he remembers fondly his 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ education and has a great appreciation not only for the broad liberal arts basis he received but also the mentorship and Christian influence of professors who modeled living out faith in whatever profession is chosen.

“I’m reading a book that is about our nature as believers and what we were created to do, to form things and be partners with God to create the world,” he said. “So what is do is part of that. It’s not like we have our faith and our spiritual community and then our work or our career. It’s all the same thing at the end of the day.”

   

Devotional: New Beginnings-Stepping Into God’s Faithful Future

Scripture:“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

The turning of the calendar always invites reflection. A new year gives us a natural pause—an opportunity to look back at where we’ve been and ahead to where God may be leading. While the world celebrates new beginnings with resolutions and fresh goals, Scripture reminds us that true renewal begins not with our efforts, but with God’s grace.

Throughout the Bible, God is a God of new beginnings. He brought new life after the flood, called Abraham into a new land, delivered Israel into a new future, and ultimately offered us new life through Christ. God specializes in taking what is worn, broken, or unfinished and making it new again.

A new year doesn’t erase the challenges of the past, but it does offer a renewed invitation to trust God more deeply. Failures don’t have to define us. Regrets don’t have to hold us hostage. In Christ, we are not bound by yesterday—we are shaped by God’s mercy today and His promises for tomorrow.

As you step into this new year, consider this: God is already there. He goes before you, walks beside you, and remains faithful behind you. New beginnings aren’t about having everything figured out; they’re about moving forward with confidence that God is at work, even when the path isn’t clear.

Let this year be marked not just by new plans, but by renewed faith. Not just by new habits, but by a deeper dependence on God. Each day is a fresh opportunity to walk in obedience, grace, and hope.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the gift of a new year and the promise of new beginnings. Help me release what needs to be left behind and embrace what You are calling me into. Renew my heart, strengthen my faith, and guide my steps as I trust You with the days ahead. Amen.

Reflection Question:
What is one area of your life where God may be inviting you to experience a new beginning this year?

 

In the mix

One Campus, One Purpose: Academic Students, Student-Athletes, and Alumni at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

At 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University, students and graduates come from many paths, passions, and callings—but all are united by a shared mission rooted in faith, learning, and service. Academic students, student-athletes, and alumni each play distinct roles, yet together they form a powerful community that strengthens 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ today and shapes its future.

Academic Students: Focused on Learning and Leadership
Academic students at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ immerse themselves in classroom learning, research, internships, and service opportunities. They are preparing for meaningful careers in education, business, healthcare, ministry, and countless other fields. Their dedication to scholarship and faith-driven leadership fuels academic excellence and innovation across campus.

Student-Athletes: Excellence in the Classroom and Competition
Student-athletes meet the same academic expectations as all 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ students while also committing significant time to practices, competitions, and team responsibilities. Through discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, they represent 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ with integrity—building school spirit, modeling servant leadership, and uniting the campus through athletics.

Alumni: Experience, Support, and Connection
51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ alumni are the bridge between past, present, and future. Having once walked the same classrooms and competed on the same fields, alumni understand the challenges and opportunities faced by both academic students and student-athletes. Through mentorship, networking, internships, career guidance, and financial support, alumni help students turn their education into lifelong impact.

Alumni also play a vital role in fostering unity—cheering on student-athletes, supporting academic initiatives, sharing professional expertise, and serving as ambassadors for 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ in their communities. Their continued engagement reinforces the value of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ education and opens doors for current students.

 

Better Together: A Shared 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Family
Academic students, student-athletes, and alumni are not separate groups—they are one 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ family. They learn from one another, support one another, and celebrate one another’s successes. When alumni invest their time, talents, and resources, they strengthen both academic programs and athletics, ensuring future students thrive.

Strengthening 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s Mission—Together
Together, academic students, student-athletes, and alumni embody 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University’s mission of faith-centered education, leadership, and service. Each group contributes uniquely, yet all are essential in building a campus and community defined by excellence, integrity, and purpose.

At 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ, success isn’t measured by roles or titles—it’s measured by how we come together across generations to invest in students, honor our shared legacy, and prepare leaders who will make a lasting impact in the world.

 

 

 

 

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