If you walk up to the second floor of Ezell on Tuesday evenings, you’ll hear the strains of age-old gospel music ringing out from Ezell Chapel. Lipscomb University Gospel Choir has been gathering around the stained glass window in the chapel for the past five years now, practicing every Tuesday night. The choir has gotten multiple opportunities to sing at Lipscomb and on the road, and have released several singles. This past week, the choir hit a new milestone, releasing their very first album, “In His Presence.” Herd Media sat down with Gospel Choir’s director and founder, Dr. Aaron Howard, whom all the choir members affectionately call “Doc,” to talk about the album. “I said ‘let’s just do a worship album live in Ezell,’” said Howard. “We’re gonna be right in the place where we rehearse every week. We’re gonna be comfortable cause we’re used to that space.” When it came to the choices he made for the music, he explained, “we’ve found the greatest responses are when we go into our worship songs… That’s when the presence of the Lord really comes in and people really feel moved.” The album, an 11-song work featuring well-known pieces such as “Holy Forever” and “Worthy of it All,” started out with a goal to show people that gospel was a part of the worship music sphere. “I said, ‘Let’s do a worship project, but let’s do it so that we reimagine worship music so that gospel music is included,’” Howard said. “Most people think of worship as CCM, but gospel music is a part of it too.” The choir recorded the album with both audio and video, to simultaneously create the album and a series of videos for the choir’s YouTube channel. Yet it was for more than views, that Dr. Howard decided to film the recording as well. “I wanted people to actually see and experience what was happening. There were spontaneous things happening and you can see it on the videos.” The album has been out for a week now, and though its had some outreach, Dr. Howard and the rest of the choir are hoping for more. “It’s our heart to go global, because I want… people to be able to sense the power of gospel music. It’s worldwide,” Howard explained. “I would love for [people] to be able to see the power of gospel music to touch hearts and change lives globally. God’s doing something larger than this university.” Some at Lipscomb, however, have already listened to the album. “I listened to it all last weekend,” said Bible Professor J.P. Conway. “It was so powerful. I felt like I was in the room with y’all.” Gospel Choir is not done releasing music with this album. They have an original song, “Ephesians 3:20” that they’re planning to release sometime in the next few months. “This song is a banger. It’s hot!” Howard said with a smile. “We also have a grant this year to do a ten-hymn album,” Howard leaned forward in his chair. “We’re actually gonna do a retreat with the choir, and part of that will be writing a hymn of unity and racial reconciliation.” “I see us bringing multiculturalism to the gospel space,” Howard said. “I see us as being trailblazers and I see us hopefully having a global presence. I see us being something that attracts people to Lipscomb, that sets Lipscomb apart and has people going ‘wow, I see something unique going on there.’” Gospel Choir has many things in store for the coming year, and big dreams for the future beyond that. “I see us being like… a breath of fresh air,” Howard said. “Bringing a new sound and a fresh anointing to the music industry… My dream is for us to have a global presence and see the world that God has created through the beauty of gospel music.” He laughed, adding, “we could be in Korea, Japan, London, doing what we do in Ezell Chapel.” But no matter what happens moving forward, Howard and the other members of Gospel Choir are determined to stay true to the heart of the choir. They will continue to foster the community and family the choir represents, and the desire and fire for God that pervades the group. Howard said that was one of the reasons the album is so special, because it’s full of that aspect of the choir. “This album is raw, it’s authentic,” he said. “We didn’t do a lot of overdubs… just [one song] has a few here and there. Everything else, as you hear it, is just like it was recorded that night.” This is something, he said, that is rare for live albums, which are often “messed with” in post-production before they’re released. “Whatever you hear pretty much is just like we recorded it, so [it] captures the heart, the soul, the Spirit of God that was in the room.” “It’s not about the album, it’s not about the mics, it’s not about any of that,” Howard said. “It’s about what we do as a choir the best, and that’s worship God. That’s who we are.”
Lipscomb University students have elected Lydia Knobloch as their next Student Government Association (SGA) president, a leader who brings a deep commitment to action. For Knobloch, the role is more than a title, it’s a dream come true. “Being SGA president has always been a dream of mine,” Knobloch said. “Once I understood the mission of SGA, to enhance the student experience, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. Leading the entire organization is the best way to make a meaningful impact on campus.” Knobloch’s leadership approach centers on listening first, then taking action. She emphasized that her first priority is to ensure the student body feels heard and represented. “I think it’s important in this role to listen before acting,” she said. “If I’m just making decisions without student input, I’m not being an effective leader. I’ve already started talking to students across different majors—business, animation, arts, law justice and society—and I’m ready to act on what they’re telling me.” Sophomore Michael Polizzi said that commitment to listening is exactly what students need. “Having someone who can get things done, like improving dining options, increasing campus event variety and making my voice as a student heard is important to me because those are things that directly impact my everyday experience here,” Polizzi said. Knobloch’s passion for campus improvement is not new. During her time at Lipscomb, she has led several student-driven initiatives, including securing a new StairMaster for the campus gym and is in the process of adding a Smith Machine to the gym. This was an idea that came directly from peer feedback. “I’d hear people say, ‘We need this on campus,’ and that always stuck with me,” she said. “Back in my sophomore year, one of the first things I worked on was getting new fitness equipment. Junior year, people wanted a Smith Machine and I made sure that happened. It’s being delivered this May.” She credits her outgoing personality as one of her biggest strengths in connecting with students and learning what matters to them. “I’m a very social person, and that’s helped me hear directly from students,” she said. “During the campaign, people told me they wanted more snack options, more collaboration with the arts, and even an ice machine in Johnson Hall. Those ideas didn’t come from me, they came straight from conversations.” Reflecting on her campaign, Knobloch said the experience highlighted the importance of community and collaboration. “It really takes a village,” she said. “Sure, I was the one running, but I had so much support. A campaign isn’t something you do alone, and neither is SGA. I’ll be working alongside senators and other student leaders, and I’m excited to lead that team.” Driven by a strong sense of responsibility and follow-through, Knobloch promises to remain focused and accountable. “I’ve always been determined. When I set a goal, I do everything I can to accomplish it,” she said. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it.” As she steps into her new role, Knobloch hopes to inspire a stronger sense of involvement across campus. “I’m excited to lead a team of passionate leaders and get the student body excited about being a Lipscomb student,” she said. “It’s all about getting involved and making our campus the best it can be.”
Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson announced this morning that Lipscomb had found their new men’s basketball head coach, in former Trevecca Nazarene University Head Coach Kevin Carroll. With former Lipscomb Head Coach Lennie Acuff’s decision to accept the head coaching position at Samford University and return to Alabama, Lipscomb began a search for a new head coach for their men’s basketball team. Over the past week, Hutcheson met with dozens of candidates from coaching levels around the country to find the best fit for the team. Carroll coached under Acuff for four years as one of his assistant coaches, so not only is he known for transforming basketball programs, but he’s also known at Lipscomb. As Trevecca’s head coach for the past two seasons, Carroll has led the Trojans to the most wins in program history alongside the school’s first-ever South Region Poll ranking. He has experience with rebuilding teams and raising them to success, but he also embodies the values of Lipscomb, Hutcheson noted. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin back to Lipscomb,” Hutcheson said. “Kevin is an elite basketball mind. More importantly, he embodies the values of Lipscomb University and is gifted at building meaningful relationships with young people — as evidenced by the deep connections he maintains with former and current players. That says a lot about his character. He sees where the game is and where it’s going, and his ability to navigate change and elevate programs is exactly what we need at this exciting time for Lipscomb basketball.” Lipscomb President Candice McQueen also spoke highly of Carroll alongside mentioning that she was excited to welcome him and his family back to Lipscomb. “Coach Carroll has proven himself time and time again as a leader who builds programs the right way — with integrity, vision and a commitment to excellence,” said McQueen. “He understands the role athletics can play in shaping lives of student athletes and is a coach who lives out the values that define our community.” While Carroll will take on the coaching role for the Bisons in a season of change, following the departure of not just Acuff, but also five seniors, four of whom frequently started for the team. He follows one of Lipscomb’s most successful seasons while a Division I team – including the team’s second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, fourth win in the ASUN regular season championship and third consecutive 20-plus win season, something that has only been seen once before for the Bisons before they entered Division I. Despite coming after this season, and despite facing a team ready for a rebuild, Carroll is not daunted by the prospects. “I am honored and extremely humbled to have the opportunity to lead such a storied program as Lipscomb Basketball. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who have come before me and and the level of success that has been reached,” said Carroll. “My staff and I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard that everyone has come to expect while shining a light on one of the top Christian universities in the country. I can’t wait to get started…Horns Up!” According to a press release from the Lipscomb athletics department, Carroll is “a native of Wildwood, Georgia, with more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 12 as a head coach at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, he served as head coach at Trevecca, where he orchestrated one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college basketball during the 2023–24 season, increasing the team’s win total by 14 games and tying a school record for wins. The following season, Trevecca shattered program records in total wins, conference wins and earned its first South Region ranking.” “As head coach at Maryville University-St. Louis from 2010–2017, Carroll led the program through a successful transition from NCAA Division III to Division II, set a program record with 23 wins, and guided the Saints to their first 20-win season in 35 years. His teams included multiple All-Conference honorees and the program’s first GLVC Player of the Year and DII All-Americans. As the head coach at St. Pius X Catholic High School from 2003-2006, Carroll helped turn the program around from a six-win team in year one to a 24-win team in year three while winning only the second region championship in the fifty-year history of the school.” Dr. McQueen said in a press release, “Thank you for your continued support of Lipscomb Athletics. We are excited for what lies ahead for the program. Please join me in welcoming Coach Kevin Carroll back to Lipscomb University.” Feature image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.
If you walk up to the second floor of Ezell on Tuesday evenings, you’ll hear the strains of age-old gospel music ringing out from Ezell Chapel. Lipscomb University Gospel Choir has been gathering around the stained glass window in the chapel for the past five years now, practicing every Tuesday night. The choir has gotten multiple opportunities to sing at Lipscomb and on the road, and have released several singles. This past week, the choir hit a new milestone, releasing their very first album, “In His Presence.” Herd Media sat down with Gospel Choir’s director and founder, Dr. Aaron Howard, whom all the choir members affectionately call “Doc,” to talk about the album. “I said ‘let’s just do a worship album live in Ezell,’” said Howard. “We’re gonna be right in the place where we rehearse every week. We’re gonna be comfortable cause we’re used to that space.” When it came to the choices he made for the music, he explained, “we’ve found the greatest responses are when we go into our worship songs… That’s when the presence of the Lord really comes in and people really feel moved.” The album, an 11-song work featuring well-known pieces such as “Holy Forever” and “Worthy of it All,” started out with a goal to show people that gospel was a part of the worship music sphere. “I said, ‘Let’s do a worship project, but let’s do it so that we reimagine worship music so that gospel music is included,’” Howard said. “Most people think of worship as CCM, but gospel music is a part of it too.” The choir recorded the album with both audio and video, to simultaneously create the album and a series of videos for the choir’s YouTube channel. Yet it was for more than views, that Dr. Howard decided to film the recording as well. “I wanted people to actually see and experience what was happening. There were spontaneous things happening and you can see it on the videos.” The album has been out for a week now, and though its had some outreach, Dr. Howard and the rest of the choir are hoping for more. “It’s our heart to go global, because I want… people to be able to sense the power of gospel music. It’s worldwide,” Howard explained. “I would love for [people] to be able to see the power of gospel music to touch hearts and change lives globally. God’s doing something larger than this university.” Some at Lipscomb, however, have already listened to the album. “I listened to it all last weekend,” said Bible Professor J.P. Conway. “It was so powerful. I felt like I was in the room with y’all.” Gospel Choir is not done releasing music with this album. They have an original song, “Ephesians 3:20” that they’re planning to release sometime in the next few months. “This song is a banger. It’s hot!” Howard said with a smile. “We also have a grant this year to do a ten-hymn album,” Howard leaned forward in his chair. “We’re actually gonna do a retreat with the choir, and part of that will be writing a hymn of unity and racial reconciliation.” “I see us bringing multiculturalism to the gospel space,” Howard said. “I see us as being trailblazers and I see us hopefully having a global presence. I see us being something that attracts people to Lipscomb, that sets Lipscomb apart and has people going ‘wow, I see something unique going on there.’” Gospel Choir has many things in store for the coming year, and big dreams for the future beyond that. “I see us being like… a breath of fresh air,” Howard said. “Bringing a new sound and a fresh anointing to the music industry… My dream is for us to have a global presence and see the world that God has created through the beauty of gospel music.” He laughed, adding, “we could be in Korea, Japan, London, doing what we do in Ezell Chapel.” But no matter what happens moving forward, Howard and the other members of Gospel Choir are determined to stay true to the heart of the choir. They will continue to foster the community and family the choir represents, and the desire and fire for God that pervades the group. Howard said that was one of the reasons the album is so special, because it’s full of that aspect of the choir. “This album is raw, it’s authentic,” he said. “We didn’t do a lot of overdubs… just [one song] has a few here and there. Everything else, as you hear it, is just like it was recorded that night.” This is something, he said, that is rare for live albums, which are often “messed with” in post-production before they’re released. “Whatever you hear pretty much is just like we recorded it, so [it] captures the heart, the soul, the Spirit of God that was in the room.” “It’s not about the album, it’s not about the mics, it’s not about any of that,” Howard said. “It’s about what we do as a choir the best, and that’s worship God. That’s who we are.”
Lipscomb University students have elected Lydia Knobloch as their next Student Government Association (SGA) president, a leader who brings a deep commitment to action. For Knobloch, the role is more than a title, it’s a dream come true. “Being SGA president has always been a dream of mine,” Knobloch said. “Once I understood the mission of SGA, to enhance the student experience, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. Leading the entire organization is the best way to make a meaningful impact on campus.” Knobloch’s leadership approach centers on listening first, then taking action. She emphasized that her first priority is to ensure the student body feels heard and represented. “I think it’s important in this role to listen before acting,” she said. “If I’m just making decisions without student input, I’m not being an effective leader. I’ve already started talking to students across different majors—business, animation, arts, law justice and society—and I’m ready to act on what they’re telling me.” Sophomore Michael Polizzi said that commitment to listening is exactly what students need. “Having someone who can get things done, like improving dining options, increasing campus event variety and making my voice as a student heard is important to me because those are things that directly impact my everyday experience here,” Polizzi said. Knobloch’s passion for campus improvement is not new. During her time at Lipscomb, she has led several student-driven initiatives, including securing a new StairMaster for the campus gym and is in the process of adding a Smith Machine to the gym. This was an idea that came directly from peer feedback. “I’d hear people say, ‘We need this on campus,’ and that always stuck with me,” she said. “Back in my sophomore year, one of the first things I worked on was getting new fitness equipment. Junior year, people wanted a Smith Machine and I made sure that happened. It’s being delivered this May.” She credits her outgoing personality as one of her biggest strengths in connecting with students and learning what matters to them. “I’m a very social person, and that’s helped me hear directly from students,” she said. “During the campaign, people told me they wanted more snack options, more collaboration with the arts, and even an ice machine in Johnson Hall. Those ideas didn’t come from me, they came straight from conversations.” Reflecting on her campaign, Knobloch said the experience highlighted the importance of community and collaboration. “It really takes a village,” she said. “Sure, I was the one running, but I had so much support. A campaign isn’t something you do alone, and neither is SGA. I’ll be working alongside senators and other student leaders, and I’m excited to lead that team.” Driven by a strong sense of responsibility and follow-through, Knobloch promises to remain focused and accountable. “I’ve always been determined. When I set a goal, I do everything I can to accomplish it,” she said. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it.” As she steps into her new role, Knobloch hopes to inspire a stronger sense of involvement across campus. “I’m excited to lead a team of passionate leaders and get the student body excited about being a Lipscomb student,” she said. “It’s all about getting involved and making our campus the best it can be.”
Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson announced this morning that Lipscomb had found their new men’s basketball head coach, in former Trevecca Nazarene University Head Coach Kevin Carroll. With former Lipscomb Head Coach Lennie Acuff’s decision to accept the head coaching position at Samford University and return to Alabama, Lipscomb began a search for a new head coach for their men’s basketball team. Over the past week, Hutcheson met with dozens of candidates from coaching levels around the country to find the best fit for the team. Carroll coached under Acuff for four years as one of his assistant coaches, so not only is he known for transforming basketball programs, but he’s also known at Lipscomb. As Trevecca’s head coach for the past two seasons, Carroll has led the Trojans to the most wins in program history alongside the school’s first-ever South Region Poll ranking. He has experience with rebuilding teams and raising them to success, but he also embodies the values of Lipscomb, Hutcheson noted. “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin back to Lipscomb,” Hutcheson said. “Kevin is an elite basketball mind. More importantly, he embodies the values of Lipscomb University and is gifted at building meaningful relationships with young people — as evidenced by the deep connections he maintains with former and current players. That says a lot about his character. He sees where the game is and where it’s going, and his ability to navigate change and elevate programs is exactly what we need at this exciting time for Lipscomb basketball.” Lipscomb President Candice McQueen also spoke highly of Carroll alongside mentioning that she was excited to welcome him and his family back to Lipscomb. “Coach Carroll has proven himself time and time again as a leader who builds programs the right way — with integrity, vision and a commitment to excellence,” said McQueen. “He understands the role athletics can play in shaping lives of student athletes and is a coach who lives out the values that define our community.” While Carroll will take on the coaching role for the Bisons in a season of change, following the departure of not just Acuff, but also five seniors, four of whom frequently started for the team. He follows one of Lipscomb’s most successful seasons while a Division I team – including the team’s second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, fourth win in the ASUN regular season championship and third consecutive 20-plus win season, something that has only been seen once before for the Bisons before they entered Division I. Despite coming after this season, and despite facing a team ready for a rebuild, Carroll is not daunted by the prospects. “I am honored and extremely humbled to have the opportunity to lead such a storied program as Lipscomb Basketball. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who have come before me and and the level of success that has been reached,” said Carroll. “My staff and I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard that everyone has come to expect while shining a light on one of the top Christian universities in the country. I can’t wait to get started…Horns Up!” According to a press release from the Lipscomb athletics department, Carroll is “a native of Wildwood, Georgia, with more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 12 as a head coach at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, he served as head coach at Trevecca, where he orchestrated one of the most dramatic turnarounds in college basketball during the 2023–24 season, increasing the team’s win total by 14 games and tying a school record for wins. The following season, Trevecca shattered program records in total wins, conference wins and earned its first South Region ranking.” “As head coach at Maryville University-St. Louis from 2010–2017, Carroll led the program through a successful transition from NCAA Division III to Division II, set a program record with 23 wins, and guided the Saints to their first 20-win season in 35 years. His teams included multiple All-Conference honorees and the program’s first GLVC Player of the Year and DII All-Americans. As the head coach at St. Pius X Catholic High School from 2003-2006, Carroll helped turn the program around from a six-win team in year one to a 24-win team in year three while winning only the second region championship in the fifty-year history of the school.” Dr. McQueen said in a press release, “Thank you for your continued support of Lipscomb Athletics. We are excited for what lies ahead for the program. Please join me in welcoming Coach Kevin Carroll back to Lipscomb University.” Feature image courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics.