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USED FOR SAMFORD (Lysa TerKeurst) — Get tickets now for March 3 to hear Lysa and support Samford education students. (Lysa TerKeurst)

We’re not the first to tell you that educators are the foundation of thriving schools and communities. Birmingham is home to several higher-learning institutions pouring into the lives of future educators, including Samford University.

Every year, Samford’s Orlean Beeson School of Education hosts an event with well-known speakers and authors to “enrich the intellectual and spiritual lives of students,” and proceeds go to the School of Education.

On Tuesday, March 3, you can hear from Christian author and business owner Lysa TerKeurst, listen to her insight, learn from her experiences and help support future educators. Keep reading for more on the event and how you can get your tickets now.

Hear from 7x New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst

Lysa Terkeurst, Samford event for school of Education USED FOR SAMFORD MARCH 2026 — Hear wisdom from Lysa TerKeurst as she shares how she learned more about trust and forgiveness. (Lysa TerKeurst)

The Tom and Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series invites students and Birmingham community members to hear from a well-known author—their stories, experiences and spiritual wisdom.

This year, the Distinguished Author Series is bringing on Lysa TerKeurst, an author and speaker whose work engages faith and leadership.

As President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a seven-time New York Times bestselling author, TerKeurst takes themes of resilience, forgiveness and emotional well-being and turns them into a biblically-grounded framework.

“She is one of the leading voices in the Christian author space on topics of trust, brokenness, forgiveness, and restoration. Her vulnerability invites others to engage in safe conversations about hard topics.”
Anna McEwan, Dean, Orlean Beeson School of Education

Those themes resonate across educational, leadership and ministry contexts, which is why TerKeurst’s mission fits this Samford event. It highlights wisdom through literacy while providing meaningful support for the School of Education.

While TerKeurst is a well-known author in the Christian literary realm, you can hear her story on a more intimate scale at the Distinguished Author Series. You can even meet her!

“A goal of the distinguished author series is to explore written works that challenge us intellectually and spiritually. Samford students, faculty, staff, and guests benefit from the perspectives authors bring to campus each year. Meeting and interacting with the authors is a unique feature of the event.”
Anna McEwan, Dean, Orlean Beeson School of Education

Samford’s author series has invited Tim Tebow, Laura Bush + more

USED FOR SAMFORD MARCH 2026 Tim Tebow at Samford University — Tim Tebow was the speaker for Tom and Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series in 2023. (Samford University)

Samford’s care for their students starts with small class sizes and one-on-one mentoring, but it also highlights extra programs and initiatives to support students’ intellectual and spiritual lives.

One example is through the Distinguished Author Series. Past speakers include:

Former First Lady Laura Bush
Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow
The Gospel Coalition Editor-in-Chief Collin Hansen

Your ticket helps support education students at Samford University

Samford University School of Education students — The Distinguished Author Series pours into Samford students and Birmingham residents. (Samford University)

When: Tuesday, March 3
- VIP reception: 5:30PM
- Programming: 7PM
- Programming will end with a Q&A session with Lysa!
Where: Samford’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Homewood, AL 35229
Get tickets
- General reserved seating: $15
- VIP (includes reception + book signing): $50
- Group discount: Save 30% when purchasing 10+ tickets