Work & Faith Intensive
Each year, the Center for Faithful Business (CFB) at Seattle Pacific University invites scholars from around the world to apply for the Bill Pollard Faith & Business Research Fellowship. The fellowship will provide selected scholars and business practitioners with the opportunity to conduct research for scholarship, classroom material, and leadership reflection. This research will be done in a seminar-like setting, working and interacting with colleagues in a cohort-based approach.
The research fellowship is anchored by the Pollard papers and other resources in SPU’s Work and Faith Collection, one of the largest work and faith collections of books and documents in the world. This distinctive collection of books and resources is open to anyone who is interested in exploring the intersection of Christian faith and work, economics and business, faith and the professions, and vocation.
Applications are due January 31, 2023. Scholars will be selected by February 28, 2023. Those selected will receive a book to read, The ServiceMaster Story: Navigating Tension between People and Profit. Then the schedule will be as follows:
Late April, 2023—a virtual meeting to discuss the book and to be introduced to further resources (two hours)
May, 2023—four virtual sessions (one hour each) to do updates and share regarding readings and insights; initial formulation of research goals will be established.
June 19—23, 2023—a one-week, in-person gathering on campus will allow further research, daily collaboration, and some time to explore Seattle
Completed research papers will be made available in the Pollard Research Fellowship Papers series in SPU’s institutional repository. A panel of judges will evaluate the papers and invite one scholar to return to SPU the following spring for a presentation of the research findings and a discussion with faculty and fellows in the Center for Faithful Business.
All travel and lodging expenses are covered, and stipends will be paid to scholars who have a U.S. work permit: $1,000 upon the completion of their residency and an additional $1,000 upon the completion of their research paper.
About Bill Pollard
C. William ‘Bill’ Pollard is Chairman of Fairwyn Investment Company, a private investment firm, and for over a twenty-five year period, Bill participated in the leadership of The ServiceMaster Company serving not once but twice as its Chief Executive Officer. Bill has also served as a director of several public companies and a number of charitable, religious, and educational organizations, including Wheaton College and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. He is the author of several books including the best seller The Soul of the Firm and his most recent book The Tides of Life.
In 2017, Bill Pollard donated a vast collection of internal papers and speeches to the Work and Faith Collection at Seattle Pacific University. These documents provide unique insight into his lifelong endeavor to integrate Christian values in a diverse, multinational, publicly traded company. The collection includes speeches given by Bill Pollard on topics related to work and faith including ethics, profit, mission and values, leadership, vocation, and management. Types of materials include speech scripts, handwritten notes, and articles. For a complete description and to access the papers, please visit the library’s website.
Access the Pollard Papers
