Faith Munford: discovering a mission of service

Faith Munford grew up just a handful of miles from Birmingham-Southern College.

Though Munford found her father’s legal career interesting, she had always thought her only involvement in that field would be on the sidelines. But her career focus slowly shifted during her years at Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, which is located on the campus of Shades Valley High School. Faith Munford

“I heard about different cases of people who were trying to get on disability and how terrible some of their situations were, and how desperately they needed the money they were trying to get,” says Munford, a first-year history major and Harrison Honors Scholar from Irondale. “During high school, I began to witness how difficult some people’s lives were. After a while, my perspective truly changed.”

That revelation led her to want to become an attorney to represent the interests of the disabled. She’s now looking forward to using the knowledge and abilities she is acquiring at BSC toward social security/disability law.

“I want to represent people because I care, not because I’m just doing it for a paycheck,” she remarks. “Being far away from the issues that I am concerned with does not limit my passion to be a part of them.”

Munford attended summer programs on the Birmingham-Southern campus as a child and had always dreamed of going to college. She worked hard in the classroom to prove it.

She was on the honor roll at JCIB all four years, and qualified for election to the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society. She was also a member of the color guard and served as student life division editor of the high school yearbook. She wrote a “Letter to the Editor” about the Tea Party movement that was published in Time magazine during her junior year.

“My parents always stressed education in our home,” says Munford, who is the youngest of four siblings. “They gave me different sets of workbooks to complete before I even began elementary school. I’ve always tried to give academics my full attention.”

Munford has never been indifferent to the needs in the communities that surrounded her either. She balanced her academic studies during all four years in high school with active engagement in her community. Munford served as a reading specialist at Irondale Community School for students with disabilities, was founder and instructor of a book club for fifth grade girls, and developed a childcare enrichment program for elementary students.

During Munford’s senior year, her high school guidance counselor told her she qualified for the Rushton Scholarship for the 2011-12 freshman class at Birmingham-Southern. Munford ended up winning the highly coveted award.

As the preeminent scholarship at BSC, the award honors Col. William James Rushton, a Birmingham life insurance executive, and his wife, Elizabeth Perry Rushton. The scholarship covers tuition, room and board, fees, and an annual stipend to be applied to furthering the academic experience.

“I went into the scholarship writing and interview process with no real expectations,” she relates. “I’m not pessimistic, but I don’t like to build things up, and then be disappointed. I was shocked when they told me I had won.”

Munford’s favorite subject is history and she felt it was enough of a challenge to major in it.

“My schedule was very interesting this semester, and my first history class in college has been really thought provoking,” she says. “The class, W.E.B. Du Bois and American History, taught by Dr. Mark Schantz [BSC provost], explored the life of the often forgotten civil rights pioneer. The class not only introduced me to a great thinker, but changed the way I viewed American history.”

In addition to the Honors Program, her extracurricular campus activities include the Black Student Union, College Democrats, and student volunteer for First Light Women’s Shelter through BSC’s Bunting Center.

During the college’s January Exploration Term, she plans to enroll in the campus course “Criminal Law,” taught by BSC Professor of Marketing Jack Taylor. The course examines, among other elements, the U.S. Constitution as it applies to the court system, crimes, the rights of the accused, and criminal punishment.

When she’s not studying, Munford, who stays on campus, says she enjoys hanging out with friends and sharing a good laugh.

My first semester in college has definitely had its challenges,” she comments. “I had to become more efficient in my time management to ensure that I was able to complete my work for each class. And I've certainly had my share of late-night work. However, despite these challenges, I have really enjoyed my time at BSC. I love the small environment here, the campus is beautiful, and the faculty is so accessible.”