What makes a meaningful life? How can we strive for excellence in our work without giving in to pride or competitiveness? Join us for a lively discussion and Q&A with Dr. Miroslav Volf, director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, as we explore the role of ambition in a life well-lived.

Note: This event is an informal opportunity for students to interact with Dr. Volf. He will be speaking to community members later in the evening at the Fall Celebration.

Join us on October 22nd at 3:45 pm to hear from a panel of Christian physicians at UNC, featuring Drs. Rick Stouffer, Benjamin Vincent, and Louise King. The discussion will address questions about the theology of health and medicine, as well as how these physicians' faith informs and guides their practice. Whether you are pre-med, in med school, or even just curious, this is a great time to bring your questions!

Spend an evening with Dr. Michael Kruger, a leading scholar on the New Testament and the origins of the Bible as we know it. We’ll have light refreshments as we unpack difficult questions, like: How did the Bible come to be? Does it hold up to its critics? Can we trust our English translations? Whether you’re a skeptic or committed Christian, take advantage of this opportunity to learn from a renowned expert about the most influential book of all time.

During the Wellbeing Day on Tuesday, October 6, join us at 203 Battle Ln from 9:30 a.m. to noon for a solitude retreat. This is a great opportunity for spiritual refreshment, as we'll spend some guided time alone in reflection with the Lord.

We hope you’ll join us for a Parent Tailgate on the lawn of the Study Center on Saturday, October 3! The tailgate will take place a few hours before kickoff, and we’ll share the exact time as soon as it’s announced.

Come join us for a Working Genius Assessment session on Friday, September 25th from 12:30–1:30 pm! This interactive workshop will help you uncover your natural working genius — where you find energy, joy, and effectiveness in your work and teamwork. Space is limited to the first 40 students, so don't wait to save your spot. Open to all students — bring your own lunch. Please RSVP below.

Join us for a lunch conversation with practical theologian and ethicist, Dr. Brian Brock. A leading scholar in disability theology and Christian ethics, Brock’s latest book, Joining Creation’s Praise, unpacks the first chapters of Genesis and the profound implications behind our often-limited ideas of creation and creaturehood. Does life ever feel dull and God feel distant? Join us for a Q&A on creation, technology, and God’s role in the world today, as we seek a broader imagination for our lives as created beings.

About the Speaker

Brian Brock (Ph.D., King's College, London) is chair of moral and practical theology at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. He has written scholarly works on the use of the Bible in Christian ethics, the ethics of technological development, and the theology of disability, including Singing the Ethos of God: On the Place of Christian Ethics in Scripture. He is managing editor of the Journal of Disability and Religion, founder and managing editor of the T&T Clark Enquiries in Theological Ethics, and president of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics.

Charlotte Parents, Alumni, and New Friends — We hope you can join us for a Charlotte Community Event on Thursday, September 10!

Join us for an evening of stories, community, and celebrating all that God is doing in Chapel Hill through the North Carolina Study Center at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. You can click here to learn more and please RSVP below by Friday, August 28.

Come join us for Leverage Your Summer on Friday, August 28th from 12:30–1:30 pm! Open to all students, this session walks you through the Engage → Reflect → Storytell practice — turning your summer (internship, trip, job, or otherwise) into an honest page of reflection and a confident 2-minute story you can carry into any interview, using the C-A-R (Context-Action-Result) technique. Open to all students — bring your own lunch. Please RSVP below.

Come join us for Your Carolina Experience on Friday, August 21st from 12:30–1:30 pm! Open to all students, this workshop is about formation, not just information — who you're becoming, not just what you accomplish. We'll dig into a small-group conversation exercise, a frame for the year, and a checklist to help you say yes widely, reflect regularly, and make the most of your first year. Open to all students — bring your own lunch. Please RSVP below.

Come join us incoming Carolina Way Camp (CWC) Families & Students for our first CWC Family Open House on Wednesday, August 12th from 5:30-7 pm! This is an opportunity to meet Study Center Staff, as well as other parents and students. We will have light refreshments and are looking forward to seeing you! Please RSVP below.

Are you a new parent of an incoming freshman? If so, we hope you can join us for our New Parent Welcome Call on Tuesday, August 4th from 4-5 pm on Zoom! This will be an opportunity to get to know other parents, Study Center Staff, and our Parents Council Co-Chairs. Please RSVP below.

Come join us Seniors & Families to celebrate graduation on Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 am - 11:30 am! We will have light refreshments and are looking forward to seeing you!

Attention incoming Tar Heels and parents from the Charlotte area!

The North Carolina Study Center invites you to join us for this special evening to connect with other incoming freshmen students and parents, to learn from current students about the UNC student experience, and to hear from Study Center staff members about opportunities to get plugged into Christian life at UNC.

It is open to all incoming Tar Heels and their families: Please feel free to pass along the invitation! Be sure to RSVP below & we will email you more information once the event gets closer. Light refreshments will be served.

Attention incoming Tar Heels and parents from the Raleigh area!

The North Carolina Study Center invites you to join us for this special evening to connect with other incoming freshmen students and parents, to learn from current students about the UNC student experience, and to hear from Study Center staff members about opportunities to get plugged into Christian life at UNC.

It is open to all incoming Tar Heels and their families: Please feel free to pass along the invitation! Be sure to RSVP below & we will email you more information once the event gets closer. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us to play Mahjong on April 16th from 7:00-8:30pm at the Study Center! If you would like to learn how to play, come at 6:00pm for a lesson! Everything you need to play Mahjong will be provided.

Join us for a Wilberforce Symposium on Faith and the Rise of AI at the Study Center on Tuesday, April 14th from 6-8PM!

We will hear from a variety of leaders and students about how to understand AI and the changes, challenges, and opportunities we are likely to encounter in the coming years.

Our keynote speaker will be Mark Sears of Sprout AI Studio (formerly founder and CEO of Cloud Factory). Mark will be speaking as a hopeful Christian who has worked in the tech space and is now dedicating his professional life to finding redemptive uses for AI, while also remaining realistic about the hazards and difficulties ahead.

6PM - Dinner and Discussion

7PM- Keynote with Mark Sears (CEO of sprout AI)

While this world is indelibly marked by the goodness of God, it is rife with unspeakable evil. How do those who follow Christ navigate this world, and how do they respond to atrocities committed against themselves or loved ones?

On April 13, we will have a unique opportunity to hear the stories of Christians who have so suffered, and to consider together the call of Christ to love God and neighbor in “this present evil age.”

Join us to hear from Rachael Denhollander and John Ramsey.

Space for this evening is limited to 35 people. To confirm attendance, click RSVP below. Light refreshments will be served.

Speaker Bios

Rachael Denhollander is an attorney, author, and nationally recognized advocate and educator on sexual abuse. She first gained international attention in 2016 as the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar, helping spark a movement in which more than 300 survivors came forward, ultimately leading to his life imprisonment and major institutional reforms at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Through her advocacy, she played a key role in securing landmark settlements for survivors and has since advised corporate leaders, universities, and policymakers on ethical leadership, crisis response, and abuse prevention. A sought-after speaker and media commentator, she has testified before legislative bodies, contributed to major publications, and spoken at leading universities and institutions. Her impact has earned her numerous honors, including recognition in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, and she continues to educate and equip others to value and protect survivors while pursuing justice and systemic change. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband Jacob and their four young children.

John Ramsey is a businessman whose daughter was tragically murdered in an unsolved homicide case, as recounted in the recent Netflix documentary, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey. A former Navy officer and CEO of Access Graphics, he later moved to Michigan and has remained active in advocating for new DNA testing to solve his daughter’s case.

How do we think about how our faith informs our vocation? How do we navigate identifying a career path, setbacks, and living into a Christian ethic in an overworked society? Please join us for a Wilberforce Leadership Program Discussion & Networking Event with the Study Center’s Board of Advisors! Breakfast & lunch will be provided.

Join us for a taste of the Fellows Program! Dr. Andrew Borror will give a sample Fellows lecture via Zoom, offering a glimpse into what Tuesday nights in the program are like for Carolina students. It’s a great opportunity to experience the kind of thoughtful teaching and discussion that shape the Fellows community. RSVP below to receive the Zoom link.

What is and isn’t Scripture meant to do? What’s its role in the Christian life? Why are some of the stories in the Bible so weird?

Join us for an evening with theologian, writer, and professor Brad East as he helps us think deeply and practically about the Bible—what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Whether you're new to reading Scripture or have grown up with it your whole life, this is a night to ask big questions and hear fresh insights.

We’ll have free dinner beforehand at 6:30 pm for those who RSVP in advance. Feel free to invite a friend! Community members are welcome.

Speaker Bio

Brad East (PhD, Yale University) is an associate professor of theology in the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is the author of many articles and books, including The Doctrine of Scripture (Cascade, 2021), The Church’s Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context (Eerdmans, 2022), The Church: A Guide to the People of God (Lexham, 2024), and Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry (Eerdmans, 2024).

Join us for a free lunch, and learn more about seminary classes offered at the NC Study Center!

How can we have confidence that Christianity is true? How do we make the case for Christ in a culture that defaults to cynicism and mix-and-match spirituality? This semester J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church, will join UNC history professor Molly Worthen for three conversations about faith and doubt. We invite you to submit your questions in advance so we can focus on the issues that you think about most.

The format for this event will be a 30-45 minute conversation, moderated by Luke Elliott, a UNC senior and president of our campus chapter of Ratio Christi, followed by audience Q&A. Fill out the form below to RSVP and submit your questions!

Speaker Bios

J.D. Greear

J.D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Under Pastor J.D.’s leadership, the Summit has grown from a plateaued church of 300 to one of over 12,000. Pastor J.D. has led the Summit in a bold vision to plant one thousand new churches by the year 2050. So far, Summit has planted over 700 churches and sent over 2,000 church members to be part of those church plants, including 762 members who have been sent internationally.

Molly Worthen

Molly Worthen received her B.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University. Molly Worthen is a professor of history at UNC who writes and teaches about American religion, politics, and global Christianity. Her most recent book, Spellbound, is a history of charisma in America from the Puritans to the Trump era. She also writes about religion, politics, and higher education for the New York Times and other publications. In 2022, she converted to Christianity from a nonreligious background.

Please join us for our first annual Parents Night March 6th from 5:30-7:30 pm!

Please email Patterson (patterson@ncstudycenter.org) with any questions.

Please join us for a house concert with Trailand Eltzroth in collaboration with Porchlight, a nation-wide art + hospitality network, on Sunday, February 15th at 6:30 pm with guest opener The String Beans!

Artist Bio

Trailand Eltzroth is a rising indie songwriter from Jackson, MS. Since 2023 Trailand has been touring from coast to coast sharing beautiful and relatable story songs. He has three self-produced albums titled Yesterday’s Normal, Ascension and For My Friends and Family. Trailand is a gardener, birder and stargazer.

Right now, 1 in 6 U.S. families spend at least half of their income on housing, and 60% of Americans cannot afford a $300,000 home. In 2022, only 10% of new homes sold by price were under $300,000, and there's a severe shortage of 3-6 million housing units.

What do these trends mean for us, our families, and our communities? How might the shifting housing trends in our communities create opportunities for followers of Jesus to love their neighbors?

Join us to learn more from Jonathan Reckford about the meaning of home in our current cultural moment. This event is in conjunction with our Wilberforce Leadership Program.

Speaker Bio

Jonathan T.M. Reckford is CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. He has served as CEO since 2005. Under his leadership Habitat affiliates in all 50 states and in more than 60 countries have grown, helping millions of people each year build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Named the most influential nonprofit leader in America in 2017 by The NonProfit Times, Jonathan is the author of Our Better Angels: Seven Simple Virtues That Will Change Your Life and the World.

This event was partially funded through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation via the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation.

How do we remain faithful in our vocation under pressure and how do we serve others in our work?

Come join us as we listen to Former Congressman Mike McIntyre share about his experiences working in law and politics and how to approach our vocations with a faith and service mind-set. This event is in conjunction with our Wilberforce Leadership Program.

Speaker Bio

Recognized in the newest edition of Best Lawyers in America, Mike McIntyre is Senior Advisor for Government Relations & Economic Development with the law firm of Ward and Smith. Before joining this firm, he held the position of Congressman of North Carolina's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving for 18 years.

A former Morehead Scholar at UNC, Mike went on to receive numerous awards and honors including the H. Brent McKnight “Renaissance Lawyer Award” from the NC Bar Association in 2024, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by UNC-Chapel Hill "for outstanding accomplishment in public service” in 2023, and the Distinguished Public Service Award in 2013 from The Secretary of the Navy, the highest civilian award given by the Navy, for his exceptional leadership and work on behalf of the Navy and Marine Corps.

In Congress he co-chaired the Congressional Prayer Caucus and was Founder & Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports. He served on the Board of the US Naval Academy and was a member of the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as "the Helsinki Commission".

He and his wife Dee have two sons, Joshua and Stephen, and three grandchildren: Hamilton, Will and Ruth. Stephen practices law in Lumberton, and his wife, Angelica, is Chief District Court Judge for Robeson County. His son, Joshua, who also is an attorney, is Senior Director for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and his wife, Sarah, practices family law in Durham.