University officials announced the formation of the Ron Blue Center at Anderson University, an organization that will focus on curriculum and thought leadership based on biblical principles of financial management and stewardship. The Center aims to equip students, university faculty, and staff, as well as community participants.

“People of faith believe that everything we have is a gift from God and, thus, we don’t want to waste or mismanage our gifts. Instead, we want to ‘steward’ them to even greater value for both God and humanity. Scripture gives us clear principles for handling our finances, yet they are infrequently observed,” said Evans P. Whitaker, Ph.D., president of Anderson University. “Ron Blue is one of the most respected names in faith-based financial planning in the world, and we are delighted that he will personally be working with us here in Anderson. AU is exceedingly proud to partner with the Ron Blue Institute for Financial Planning to fill the gap and bring these principles not only to our campus community, but the surrounding region as well.”

Anderson’s Ron Blue Center is an affiliate of the Ron Blue Institute, an Indiana-based organization hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University. The mission of the Ron Blue Center at Anderson University will be to advance biblical financial education, enabling Christians to make financial decisions within a biblical framework.

“God’s word speaks authoritatively and timelessly to all financial planning and decision making, providing us with wisdom for the process and principles for the decision,” said Ron Blue, CEO of the Ron Blue Institute. “Anderson University, as one of the country’s leading private Christian universities, is uniquely equipped to deliver a biblical approach to all aspects of stewarding God’s financial resources.”

In 1979, Ron Blue founded what would become one of the largest Christian financial planning firms in the nation. A resident of Atlanta, he has authored more than 20 books on financial management.

Anderson University students will be the first beneficiaries of the new Center, beginning in August. Ron Blue materials and principles will be progressively integrated into the students’ core curriculum. Topics will cover a biblical view of money, investing, stewardship, budgeting, debt management, charitable giving, and estate preservation and planning. 

“Equipped with true financial wisdom, Anderson University graduates will have yet another advantage as they step into life after college,” Whitaker said.

The University plans to integrate Ron Blue content into a limited number of business degree programs but will also extend the financial management curriculum to offer professional certifications. Financial advisors and organizational leaders will find easy access and deeply reflective engagement with Ron Blue's biblically based advice and resources. The broader community, including civic organizations, churches, and lay and civic leaders will find systematic help through the programs and resources offered through the Ron Blue Institute for Financial Planning.

Beyond the campus, the University will provide opportunities for churches, local citizens, and the larger learning community to participate in financial management seminars and certificate courses, both in person and online.

Anderson University is a selective comprehensive university offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on campus and online. Anderson is ranked in the top tier of US News and World Report’s “Best Regional Universities South,” and is on the publication’s “Most Innovative,” “Best Value,” and “Best Online Programs” lists. Anderson also is ranked a “Best College” among institutions of higher learning in the southeast by The Princeton Review.