The hierarchy of higher education often seems nebulous to students.  While leaders, faculty, and staff ensure smooth sailing on the front end, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that keeps things together on the back end. This is where organizations like the CCCU, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, come in. Covenant alumna Joy Mosley ’08, who works as vice president for government and strategic relations for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, has a unique view into the hidden workings of colleges and the issues that Christian colleges face today. 

A Love for Policy 

Joy has been deeply entrenched in Christian education for her entire life. Raised by parents who both worked in Christian schools, she was well aware of the importance of attending institutions that are Christian in practice as well as in name. This brought her to Covenant, where she majored in IDS (interdisciplinary studies), focusing on English, French, and community development. She lived on Harambe! (one of the many uniquely named residence halls on campus) and loved investing in her hall community and joining impromptu hall dinners.

 Her work-study placement was in facilities management, where she was quickly offered a full time position by her junior year. At first, she was worried she would be unable to finish her degree, but she took advantage of the free classes offered to staff members, taking two classes a semester while working various roles in facilities, maintenance, and security, and continuing to take classes after she graduated. It was during this time that she took a job in HR, where she got to know faculty better and started to notice a big difference in the policy that was enacted at a federal level and what was implemented in the classroom. She fell in love with higher education policy and got her MBA in order to be equipped with basic business sense before going to law school, saying “In academics, there is often a disconnect between the academic side of the house and the business side of the house, and I wanted to be able to speak both those languages.” 

Law School 

While looking for next steps, Joy reached out to the previous vice president for government and strategic relations at the CCCU for advice on entering the field, who pointed her towards law school. Joy attended the Emory University School of Law, where she devoted time in their Center for the Study of Law and Religion, taking religious freedom courses and tailoring her experience to what would prepare her for higher education policy. In God’s grace, after she graduated, she was able to move into her position at the CCCU, which she’d wanted ever since talking to the previous holder, knowing it would fit her skills perfectly.

Work with the CCCU

Joy and the CCCU are never at rest. Their primary focus is advocacy, or, as Joy puts it, “The nonprofit version of lobbying.” They are educating lawmakers about the impact of bills on their sector, and focus on areas of religious freedom, tax policy charitable giving, Title IX, and federal funding. This involves filing comment letters, meeting with lawmakers and administrators, advocating for sensible education laws, and much more. One of Joy’s significant initiatives is working to increase the Pell Grant, since it allows students to choose whatever institution fits them best, like Christian institutions, and follows the student through their college career. About one in three students are Pell Grant recipients, so it is a vital piece in ensuring students can get the education they desire.

CCCU Challenges

However, there are many challenges in Joy’s work. Higher education faces skepticism from all sides, and is often looked at from a purely economic lens, Joy says. While this lens is a highly important one, Joy fears that it fails to consider  all that a college education can do. When working through this challenge, Joy emphasizes the value of a holistic education. A holistic liberal arts Christian college nurtures the whole person by combining academic excellence with spiritual formation and character development. It goes beyond job preparation, equipping students to think critically, communicate effectively, and act biblically in every area of life. Rooted in a Christ-centered worldview, this education empowers graduates to lead with wisdom, serve with humility, and approach their vocations as a calling to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world. It took her about ten years to figure out her current path, but Joy’s education prepared her for any path she wanted to take. 

In addition to external advocacy challenges, she sees another challenge for Christian higher education internally: mission drift. In order for a Christian college to remain a thoroughly and explicitly Christian college, it must prioritize mission fidelity in every aspect, including hiring practices. Schools must be diligent and intentional to hire only those who understand the mission and live out their faith. However, Joy sees schools give up hiring protections because they fear pushback from a variety of constituents. She encourages colleges to be faithful to their biblical mission, despite constant pressure to conform to this world. 

The work of the CCCU can be overwhelming and there are always challenges, from reduced student funding to institutional cost-sharing proposals to religious freedom concerns. But God constantly reminds her that she is only His hands and feet, and her job is to engage with culture and work to stand up for biblical principles as best she can, not redeem and fix culture on her own. Her time at Covenant instilled in her the value of working “as unto the Lord,” even in the everyday, mundane things, and to continue to take small steps in obedience to God. 

Advocacy at Home

Joy also serves as a board advisor for Covenant, where she brings practical insights and higher education policy knowledge to support Covenant. She is also passionate about helping alumni and friends of Christian colleges share the value of Covenant and like-minded schools. “The education Covenant offers is distinct,” she says. “Colleges that are faithful to their biblical mission along with their academic mission are transformative for students–not just for careers, but for lives,” she concludes. In her work with colleges from about 35 different denominations, she loves seeing the breadth of the kingdom and God’s faithfulness throughout. As she continues to advocate for Christian colleges, she invites others to join her in furthering God’s kingdom on all levels of education, advocating for Christ’s preeminence in all things.

To learn about Covenant College’s commitment to hiring mission minded believers, read the article “Uncompromising & Unwavering”.

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