Meet the Team
John E. Mulford, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship
Background
John Mulford, has been uniquely prepared by God to lead this effort. The seed was planted more than 35 years ago in bachelor’s and PhD programs that focused on economic development.
It was watered over the last 23 years at Regent through studying what the Bible says about business, observing the superiority of markets over government planning, and exposure to world missions through Regent and CBN.
His enduring passion for economic development for the disadvantaged now coincides with the awakening of business people to opportunities for business as mission. John Mulford came to Regent University in 1982 as a founding faculty member in the School of Business. In 1990, he was named dean and served in this position through the summer of 2004. From 1994-1997 and 2000-01, Mulford served as Regent’s Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations, overseeing all the business functions of the university. From 1994 to 2002, he served as Chief Investment Officer, managing the university’s endowment.
Before coming to Regent, Mulford conducted policy research at the Rand Corporation and served as Vice President and Senior Economist at First Interstate Bank of California. His housing research at Rand, published in monographs and articles, influenced the design of federal housing programs in the 1970’s and 80’s. His work on the dynamics of a housing program’s enrollment was published in Management Science. At First Interstate Bank, he advised the senior management on credit models and consumer deposit instruments.
At Regent, Mulford has taught economics, statistics, and management science, but his passion has been developing a comprehensive Christian worldview of business and equipping those called to business with the tools to glorify God in their work. He has a particular interest in seeing disadvantaged groups advance through entrepreneurial activity. Currently, Mulford teaches electives in international entrepreneurship in the PhD program. He collaborates with students, faculty, and graduates to research topics in kingdom entrepreneurship and develop business plans and launch businesses both in the U.S. and globally. Groups are studying how to measure spiritual capital, how to measure the kingdom impact of businesses, and how to think about investing in kingdom companies that have multiple bottom lines. Student and graduate businesses include consulting companies in Asia and Africa, a manufacturing business in Egypt, and a specialty coffee company in the U.S. and Latin America.
Learn more about Dr. Mulford in an exclusive interview, here.
“There is an enormous need for people to bring eternal hope for the soul and tangible hope for the body. Christian entrepreneurs can do both, but they need help in the form of theoretical foundations, practical models that work, education and training, and connectedness so they don’t feel alone in such a huge task.”
Education
- Cornell University, Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning
- Brown University, B.S. in Engineering, Magna Cum Laude
Areas of Expertise
- Servant leadership
- Industry analysis and strategy
- Business ethics
- Statistics, economics, and management science
Address & Contact
- Director, Center for Entrepreneurship
- Former Dean, School of Business, Regent University
- Email: johnmul@regent.edu
- Phone: (757) 352-4354
Research and Publications
- Christian view of cooperation and competition in business
- Cases and course materials on ethical issues in business
- The Word on Management, co-authored with Bruce Winston, JKO Publishing, 1996 (Contact RCE to purchase)
- “Policy Models for CEO’s: A Case Study in Banking,” Interfaces
- “To War on Poverty: A Christian Economist on the Bible and State Involvement,” Christianity Today
- Housing Consumption in a Housing Allowance Program, Rand Corp., 1984
- Consumption Increases Caused by Housing Assistance Programs, Rand Corp., 1982
