Abbey News

September 21, 2026 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Leadership Is Learned: Professor Brad Frazier on Teaching Rising Leaders at Belmont Abbey College

In 2007, Brad Frazier’s alma mater invited him to apply for a campus director position. Frazier was a bit surprised. He was currently working as a banker and had also been a minister. This meant he had plenty of operational and people skills, but he had never worked in academia before.

Still, Frazier landed the position and never looked back. In the almost 20 years since, he has learned a lot about leadership. While that includes skills in areas such as adaptability and managing resources, he has also learned one important piece of wisdom about the nature of leadership itself.

“Leadership is a trainable skill,” Frazier said. “There are certainly people who just have that charisma. But if you don’t, that doesn’t mean you can’t be a good leader.”

Today, Frazier and his colleagues at Belmont Abbey College prove that fact every day. As both an administrator and instructor in the Master of Arts (MA) in Leadership program, Frazier helps rising leaders in every industry find their footing and become agents of effective and ethical change.

The Transition Into Academia and Leadership Education

When Frazier stepped into the campus director role, he had just earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He quickly fell in love with higher education and wanted to pivot into teaching. In pursuit of that goal, Frazier earned his PhD in global leadership with a specialization in corporate and organizational management in 2009.

In 2010, Frazier became the director of his university’s MBA and Master of Science in Leadership programs. He stepped back from that position in 2013 and entered the classroom full-time at the undergraduate level.

Finding His Place at Belmont Abbey

In 2015, a colleague told Frazier that Belmont Abbey College was looking to hire a new business faculty member. At first, he was drawn to the school because it was just a few minutes drive from his house. But when he went in for an interview, Frazier knew he had found his new home.

“Everybody here was just so welcoming, so friendly, and so kind to a total stranger,” Frazier said. “I absolutely cannot imagine being anywhere else, because of how special this place is. It is unlike any other work environment I’ve ever had in my life as far as people supporting each other and truly loving each other.”

Bringing Real-World Knowledge to the Classroom

Frazier has taught many of the classes that make up Belmont Abbey’s MA in Leadership program. One of his favorite classes to teach is Leading Teams, in which students learn skills such as how to establish clear roles within teams and set measurable goals. While the curriculum covers multiple approaches, this is a class where Frazier’s real-world experience with principles such as servant leadership shines.

“Servant leadership is about serving the people working under you so that they can be successful,” Frazier said of this approach. “Your job as a leader is to knock down barriers and clear any obstacles.”

Another of Frazier’s favorite classes is Ethics and Value Based Leadership. With its focus on accountability, integrity, and sustainability, Frazier says this class is central to Belmont Abbey’s Benedictine identity and highly applicable to today’s world.

“It’s team-taught in three parts: leadership, philosophy, and theology,” Frazier said. “When we do exit interviews with students, this is the class they say had the biggest impact on them.”

Hands-On Education

As highly as Frazier regards the MA in Leadership curriculum itself, he also values Belmont Abbey’s hands-on approach to teaching it. In most classes, Frazier and his colleagues use case studies so students can practice their new skills while solving problems they may encounter in their own careers.

Toward the end of their studies, students get more in-depth and hands-on training by completing a capstone project, an activity Frazier enjoys leading and helping with.

“For their capstone, we put students into teams and insert them into a nonprofit partner of ours,” Frazier said. “We actually have them go out and work on a real-life problem.” The nonprofit partners students work with include disability service provider Holy Angels and MiraVia, an organization that serves pregnant college students from all over the country.

Designing an Impactful and Relevant Leadership Degree Program

While Frazier teaches important leadership skills in the classroom, he has also put those skills to work himself as an administrator at Belmont Abbey College. When he arrived in 2015, he was named director of the MBA and MA in Leadership programs. In 2025, he became vice provost and dean of graduate and professional studies, shifting to his current role as interim provost in 2026.

“What I have learned in this role is that leadership is still teaching,” Frazier said. “You’re still teaching your folks to be successful.”

One of Frazier’s proudest accomplishments as an administrator at Belmont Abbey College has been leading the efforts to design and launch the MA in Leadership program in 2022.

“The number one thing I wanted to do when I developed the program was to develop ethical and moral leaders,” Frazier said. “Every business, no matter what sector, needs to have good leaders, good people who understand people.”

Making Asynchronous Learning Personal

Frazier and his colleagues also wanted the MA in Leadership program to be accessible to working professionals. For that reason, they designed the program to be one year long, made up of 10 asynchronous classes, and delivered online. At the same time, Frazier and his team have worked hard to ensure students do not have to sacrifice an impactful and personal experience for convenience.

“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t have a phone call or a Zoom call with students one-on-one during the day or at night,” Frazier said, adding that faculty also have online office hours. “We encourage that interaction with students, whether they have a question or problem or just want to talk.”

Even though Frazier is delighted by the positive feedback students have given about the program so far, he and his team are not resting on their laurels. They have recently added new human resources and strategy classes to the curriculum as well as lessons on the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

“We continue to look at the program and listen to what the students say,” Frazier said. “It’s not static. Leadership changes, people change, the economy changes, everything changes. We try to stay on top of it.”

Start Your Journey to Impactful Leadership Today

With leaders such as professor Brad Frazier at the helm, the MA in Leadership program at Belmont Abbey College provides in-depth and accessible leadership education to professionals from every sector.

In the asynchronous 10-class program, students learn skills in areas such as human resource management, data-informed decision-making, and organizational change management. Just as importantly, they learn how to apply these skills in the context of a servant leadership framework built on community, humility, and other Benedictine values.

To find out more about the MA in Leadership program, request information from Belmont Abbey College today.

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September 18, 2026 By Laura Schaffer Leave a Comment

Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for Us!

This week the Church marked both the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. And while this pairing has always felt natural, I’d never paused to consider, before, the more-than-surface relationship between them. This week, however, the readings from Monday’s feast and Tuesday’s memorial have stuck with me, and I’m beginning to realize that together they offer an invitation to a deeper identity with Christ.

Monday’s first reading presents salvation history in microcosm. The Israelites complain against the Lord, a plague of serpents infests their camp, they repent, and God instructs Moses to lift up a bronze serpent in the desert. Anyone suffering the venomous snakebite can look at this bronze figure – the sign of their punishment transformed to a terrible mystery of mercy – and live. In the Gospel that follows, Christ references this story in explicit connection to being lifted up, Himself, “so that everyone who believes in [the Son of Man] may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

Together, these readings draw our gaze to the Cross, the sign of our guilt and our salvation by the grace of God. They ask us to acknowledge our own sins and fix our eyes on our Savior, recognizing that salvation history continues to work itself out in our lives and in the sacramental life of the Church, the Body of Christ. But with Tuesday’s Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Body of Christ comes into focus even more explicitly, with St. Paul stating: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ… you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Cor 12:12, 27).

Always before, I saw Our Lady of Sorrows primarily as an onlooker, however affected by the pain she observed. I knew that Christ entrusted His mother to us on Calvary, that she prays for us and points us toward her Son at all times. But as the readings remind us, we are members of the Body of Christ, and as a consequence, her presence at His sacrifice, together with St. John and the holy women, becomes something more. It becomes a sign of our participation in His Passion.

Christ saved us. Christ alone. But by the incomparable mystery and mercy of His divine Love, He draws us into this act and its glorious reward, each so far beyond our human capacities. Just as Mary is, in a real way, the first Christian, she is also the first to suffer with Him and to unite her human suffering, her human love, with His. The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows reminds us to place ourselves at the foot of the Cross, not as bystanders, but as members of Christ’s Body.

We are all called to carry our crosses. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross promises that the Way of the Cross leads, in Christ, to resurrection. But the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows follows to remind us that we are never alone. There is no dimension of human suffering that Christ’s Passion does not embrace and sanctify. We are the Body of Christ; we are called to love with His Love, as Mary did: to recognize His sufferings in those of our brothers and sisters and not to turn away. Christ is with us. Hope in Him.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

September 10, 2026 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College to Establish Patrick McHenry Papers in Abbot Vincent Taylor Library Archives and Host Highway Dedication in His Honor

Belmont, N.C. (September 10th, 2026) – Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to celebrate the legacy of alumnus Patrick McHenry with the addition of his papers to the Abbot Vincent Taylor Library’s Special Collections. The collection preserves the story of one of the college’s distinguished alumni and his nearly two decades of public service to North Carolina and the nation. The college will mark the occasion with a special ribbon-cutting of the collection on October 3 during its annual Homecoming festivities. The event will also include a dedication of the “Congressman Patrick McHenry Highway,” courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), following legislation led by Senator Brad Overcash.

The addition of the Honorable Patrick McHenry Papers represents a landmark acquisition for the Abbot Vincent Taylor Library’s Special Collections and Belmont Abbey College as a whole. The archive significantly expands the Library’s holdings, adding more than 58,000 files documenting two decades of congressional service.

The collection includes committee files, policy research, correspondence, press materials, and awards. These materials create new opportunities for research in modern American history, political science, financial regulation, digital asset policy, and North Carolina political history, while providing students and faculty with access to a substantial body of contemporary primary sources.

For Belmont Abbey, the acquisition strengthens the college’s research capacity and extends the reach of the Abbot Vincent Taylor Library to researchers and educators both regionally and nationally. As a Belmont Abbey alumnus, McHenry’s papers hold particular significance for the college, connecting his professional legacy and decades of public service with the institution that helped shape his early life and education.

Alexxis Lynn, Director of Library Services at Belmont Abbey College, emphasized the significance of preserving McHenry’s legacy at his alma mater. “We are honored to preserve Congressman McHenry’s papers here at Belmont Abbey. As an alumnus of the college, his story is an important part of our institutional history. This collection will preserve that history while providing valuable primary sources for generations of students, faculty, researchers, and educators.”

The event will also include the dedication of the “Congressman Patrick McHenry Highway,” in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The highway designation recognizes McHenry’s nearly two decades of service representing the people of North Carolina in Congress and his longstanding commitment to the region. The designation provides a lasting public tribute to his leadership and contributions to the state.

“Congressman McHenry accomplished so much during his landmark 20 years in Congress,” said Senator Brad Overcash. “That’s why I was honored to lead the effort, supported by our Gaston Delegation, in the NC General Assembly to name a section of Highway 16 in his native Gaston County after him.”

This special ribbon-cutting and dedication will bring together representatives from Belmont Abbey College, NCDOT, government and community leaders, the McHenry family, alumni, students, and friends of the college to celebrate McHenry’s legacy and the preservation of his papers at his alma mater.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College, please visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

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August 28, 2026 By Laura Schaffer Leave a Comment

Signs in the dark

Every Catholic Church has an altar lamp. Mounted or suspended near the tabernacle, it remains lit at all times of the day or night, signaling Christ’s eucharistic presence within.

Given its ubiquity, of course, the lamp isn’t something we usually focus on, especially when the sanctuary is well lit for Mass. We might glance toward it in an unfamiliar church, especially if the tabernacle isn’t immediately visible, but then we tend to forget about it. After all, it’s meant to direct our attention to God, to His presence in a holy place, not to hold our eye in itself.

But last week, when I stepped inside Mary Help of Christians Basilica outside of the scheduled liturgical times, most of the lights were out and the church was dim and quiet. And in the low light of that space, the small red flame was impossible to miss, marking the alcove where the tabernacle waited. And even though it told me what I knew, the lamp, its vividness in the dusk interior, was somehow still a pronounced comfort, straight through the dark.

The fact is that sometimes, even though we believe, we can’t see clearly. Sometimes we can’t make out the tabernacle we know is there. When the dark obscures God’s presence in our lives, we may not feel consolation or hear answers, but God never leaves us alone. The altar lamp is there to make explicit what we know by faith — and to remind us, in the very act of this reminding, not only that God, Emmanuel, is here with us but also that He speaks signs of His presence in humble, common, and continual ways we often take for granted.

The altar lamp in Mary Help of Christians Basilica, like the altar lamp in every Catholic Church around the world, burns faithfully. Our monastic sacristan, Br. Gabriel, replaces the candle each time it burns low, and in doing so, he not only maintains this gentle sign of signs but also embodies it by his watchful care. His patient service, too, becomes a reminder.

In the same way, your Christian witness – even in the smallest, most ordinary things you do to remain faithful to your families, your friends, and those God has placed in your life – are signs of His presence. You won’t often know when these lamps cut through the dark of someone else’s struggles. But they do.

May God give each of us the grace to recognize the many signs of His love, His presence, and His faithfulness in our lives. May He give us the grace to be these signs for others. And may we always rejoice in things visible and invisible.

August 19, 2026 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Appoints Heather A. Lachenauer as Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Belmont, N.C. (August 19th, 2026) – Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to welcome Heather A. Lachenauer as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. In this role, Lachenauer will provide strategic legal counsel to the college’s leadership while helping advance the college’s mission and long-term priorities.

Lachenauer brings nearly two decades of experience advising nonprofit organizations, religious and educational institutions, corporations, and individuals on complex legal, regulatory, governance, and risk management matters. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with organizational leaders and boards to navigate challenges, strengthen internal policies and practices, and make sound decisions in support of their vision and mission. Heather has helped numerous organizations identify and mitigate potential liabilities and risks to prevent adverse consequences.

“Heather Lachenauer is an exceptional leader and attorney, and I am thrilled to have her join us as a senior member of Belmont Abbey College’s Cabinet,” said Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley, President of Belmont Abbey College. “Heather has dedicated her life to serving God, His Church, and others as a legal scholar and practitioner. We are very blessed indeed to have her as a critical part of our team. I know she will do great things here.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Belmont Abbey College and to join a community so deeply committed to the formation of its students and the advancement of Catholic higher education,” said Lachenauer. “Belmont Abbey’s strong Catholic and Benedictine identity is central to its mission, and I look forward to drawing on my experience to support the college’s leadership and help protect and strengthen the mission that makes Belmont Abbey so distinctive.”

Prior to joining the leadership team at Belmont Abbey College, Lachenaur was a partner at Brown & Streza, LLP in Irvine, California, where she provided strategic counsel to a variety of non-profit corporations. Her work focused on governance, risk management, compliance and regulation, religious liberty, employment, and intellectual property. She advised organizational leaders and boards on complex decision-making and helped clients identify and mitigate potential liabilities and risks.

Before her time at Brown & Streza, Lachenauer served as Vice President for Board and Legal Affairs at the University of Dallas, where she was responsible for matters related to the Board of Trustees, legal affairs, compliance, and risk management. Her experience in Catholic higher education and nonprofit leadership has given her a broad understanding of the legal and organizational considerations facing mission-driven institutions.

An active member of the legal community, Heather has advocated on behalf of clients in a variety of pro bono matters involving asylum, the death penalty, and religious liberty. She regularly speaks at national conferences on the topics of non-profit leadership, employment, and religious liberty. She has also taught political science, rhetoric, and poetics and aesthetics as an adjunct professor. Lachenauer is a former member of both the Board of Regents of St. John Paul the Great Catholic University and the National Board of Directors of Young Catholic Professionals. She currently serves on the board of Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative.

Lachenauer completed her undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She studied philosophy and theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology and earned a master’s degree in education and human development from The George Washington University. She received her law degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law. A native of Virginia, Lachenauer is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Texas, and is admitted to practice before multiple federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. She anticipates obtaining her bar membership in the State of North Carolina in the near future.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College, please visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

Download Now.

Leadership Is Learned: Professor Brad Frazier on Teaching Rising Leaders at Belmont Abbey College

Leadership Is Learned: Professor Brad Frazier on Teaching Rising Leaders at Belmont Abbey College