National guide honors institutions with a student-centered approach to undergraduate education
In a higher education landscape often dominated by rankings and test scores, Bethel University has been recognized for what truly matters: a transformative undergraduate experience. For the 2025-2026 academic year, Bethel University has been named a College of Distinction, a prestigious designation awarded to schools whose commitment to engaged, experiential education sets them apart.
In addition to being named a College of Distinction, Bethel University has also been named a Christian College of Distinction, an Indiana College of Distinction, an International College of Distinction and recognized for Business, Education and Nursing.
This recognition is based on Colleges of Distinction’s unique evaluating criteria known as the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community and Successful Outcomes. Through extensive research and interviews, Colleges of Distinction identifies institutions that make a meaningful impact on students’ lives, not just ones that fight their way to the top of rankings lists.
“Bethel University has crafted a campus culture where students are empowered to take ownership of their learning,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction. “Its programs reflect the kind of innovation and intentionality that prepare students for life after graduation.”
Unlike rankings that focus on prestige-driven metrics, Colleges of Distinction highlights schools that champion educational impact. That includes everything from first-year seminars and collaborative projects to undergraduate research, global learning, and internships. Bethel University’s inclusion is a result of its commitment to these high-impact practices and the personalized support it offers students throughout their college journey.
“We’ve never believed in ranking schools,” Schritter continued. “Our goal is to celebrate institutions that help students find their place, their purpose, and their potential. Bethel University stands out for creating an environment where students thrive not just academically, but as whole people.”
To view Bethel University’s profile or learn more about its programs, visit Bethel University Indiana – Colleges of Distinction: Profile, Highlights, and Statistics.
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to recognizing schools across the United States for their exceptional contributions to higher education. Member institutions within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their unwavering focus on providing an outstanding undergraduate experience. Their website offers dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and valuable resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information and to discover how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.
Jamie Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s Naturals – Jamie Schmidt is the founder of Schmidt’s Naturals and is known for modernizing natural personal care products, bringing them to the mainstream market. Under her leadership, Schmidt’s grew from her kitchen into a household name, lining the shelves of major retailers across 30 countries. In 2017, Schmidt’s was acquired by CPG giant Unilever. Jamie is the author of Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms, a personalized guide on how to put your business on the map, turning your passion into profit. She is also an investor and co-owner of Color Capital, a fund that invests in consumer products and emerging technologies.
Sam Rockwell, Co-Founder & CEO, Happi Co. – Sam Rockwell is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Happi Co., a modern food company creating culturally relevant frozen meals, desserts, and snacks. Happi Co.’s portfolio includes Laughing Tiger, an authentic pan-Asian frozen meal line, as well as private brand partnerships and licensed products distributed nationally. Sam is also the co-founder of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream, a culturally iconic ice cream brand developed in partnership with entertainment icon Snoop Dogg and Lil Baby. Most recently, Sam co-founded SlapSnacks with UFC President Dana White, a disruptive frozen snacking brand designed to reinvent the legacy Hot Pockets category with bold, high-protein offerings.
Cordell Broadus, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream – Cordell Broadus is the son of entertainment icon Snoop Dogg and has built a distinctive career with a clear focus on entrepreneurship, branding and innovation. After a highly-ranked high school football career and an early commitment to UCLA, he made the deliberate choice to shift from athletics to business and creative ventures.
Shawn D. Nelson, Founder and CEO of Lovesac – Shawn D. Nelson is the founder and CEO of Lovesac, repeatedly recognized as the fastest growing furniture brand in the US for over a decade. Lovesac is publicly traded on Nasdaq, ticker “LOVE,” and is projected to exceed $1 Billion in annual sales over the next few years, leveraging its rapidly growing fleet of more than 300 Lovesac-branded retail locations. From humble beginnings, Shawn founded Lovesac in 1998, making Sacs by hand for neighbors and friends while in college. He graduated from the University of Utah in 2001 with a BA in Mandarin Chinese before opening Lovesac’s first retail location in his hometown of Salt Lake City shortly after graduation. In 2005 Shawn won a million-dollar investment by Richard Branson on his prime time hit reality TV show, The Rebel Billionaire, and was named acting President of Virgin Worldwide for a time. Shawn later achieved his Master’s degree in Strategic Design and Management at the world-famous Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City and continued on as an instructor there for a few years teaching courses on Sustainable Business Models, Leadership, and Innovation. Shawn now holds over 50 issued patents across multiple product categories with dozens more pending. The majority of Lovesac’s sales today are driven by the ever-expanding product platform called “Sactionals,” the world’s most versatile couch and myriad Sactionals product extensions, including embedded technology. Lovesac’s continued success is underscored by Shawn’s unique design philosophy, “Designed For Life”, which demands that products are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve — promoting things that actually sustain to achieve true sustainability. This drives Lovesac’s strategy and animates its vibrant culture. Shawn’s recent book, “Let Me Save You 25 Years,” celebrates Lovesac’s colorful history, and the many “mistakes, miracles, and lessons” learned along the way. Shawn lives in St. George, Utah with his wife, Tiffany, and their four kids, two cats, and one crazy dog.
Cameron Nagle, Starting Small – Cameron Nagle, a 2022 Bethel University graduate, 
Suze Dowling, founder of Pattern – Suze Dowling is the Chief Business Officer at Pattern Brands, leveraging her extensive experience in the early-stage landscape to drive the company’s revenue and business operations. In her capacity as Chief Business Officer, Suze collaborates closely with the CEO, leadership team, and Board of Directors to actualize Pattern’s full potential and meet its projected goals. Her purview spans all operational facets of the company, including the establishment of new functions geared towards fostering sustainable growth. This encompasses oversight of Brand General Management, Revenue, and Core Shared Service Functions. A recognized thought leader in the industry, Suze is sought after to share insights on scaling omnichannel growth, achieving profitability, and optimizing brand performance at prestigious industry events. Her expertise and perspectives are also regularly featured in prominent business and consumer press outlets. Passionate about helping founders navigate the intersection of innovation and practicality, Suze’s playbook, The DTC Operator, is a ‘how-to’ for turning entrepreneurial vision into reality. From guiding entrepreneurs through the ideation phase to navigating multiple successful exits, Suze has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of numerous ventures. Before co-founding Pattern, Suze held the position of General Manager at Gin Lane, a prominent NY-based independent agency specializing in launching challenger start-ups. Here, she excelled in balancing growth, profitability, and quality while overseeing the agency’s P&L. During her tenure, Gin Lane played a pivotal role in launching over 50 digitally native vertical brands, including Harry’s, Hims, and SmileDirectClub, contributing to a staggering $15 billion in aggregate startup value. Originally hailing from Australia, Suze graduated with Honors from the University of Technology, Sydney.
James (Jim) W. Keyes, Former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, Inc. – James (Jim) W. Keyes is a global business leader, best-selling author, philanthropist, artist, musician, and commercial pilot—a true modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries from retail, consumer products, technology, healthcare, cyber security, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies. Keyes’ philanthropic initiatives have an equally broad focus, including serving a three-term seat on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, Cooper Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross. He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education Is Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands which provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy. Keyes is a personification of the American Dream, as he comes from humble beginnings. He was inducted in 2005 as a Member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024, he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.
Alex Douzet, co-founder and CEO of Pumpkin – Alex Douzet is the co-founder and CEO of Pumpkin®, the highest-rated pet insurance provider on Google as of January 2024, and one of the fastest growing pet insurance and wellness brands in the U.S. Pumpkin’s mission is to enable all cats and dogs to live their healthiest lives by removing the economic barriers that can prevent pet owners from providing their pets with veterinary care. Under Alex’s leadership, Pumpkin’s best-in-class insurance plans help make it easier for pet owners to provide their dogs and cats with advanced veterinary treatments, emergency care, and alternative or rehabilitative therapies if needed. Alex has also spearheaded a series of optional, non-insurance wellness products to help cover routine costs for essential preventive care, like vaccines and annual wellness visits. Throughout his 20-year career as a serial entrepreneur, Alex has disrupted industries, scaled businesses, and built ‘people-first’ companies where employees grow and thrive. Prior to Pumpkin, he spent five years as CEO and Co-founder of Ollie, a next-gen, natural, and human-grade pet food brand. Alex is also a competitive Triathlete and an 11X Ironman finisher. He is proud to have two rescue dogs: Belle, a 13-year-old Shar Pei Golden Retriever mix and Simon, a 6-year-old Dachshund mix.
Cameron Nagle, Starting Small – Cameron Nagle, a 2022 Bethel University graduate, launched Starting Small in January 2020 with the vision to share transparent startup stories to inspire and provide guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs that everyone starts small. Through a credible and fast-growing list of recognizable brands, Starting Small has scaled to host the annual Starting Small Summit, flying in founders of companies such as Reebok, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Kodiak Cakes, and more. Starting Small has now covered the stories of 220 industry-leading founders, who have amassed over $40 billion in annual revenue. In 2022, Cameron relocated to Los Angeles to launch brain wellness startup MOSH alongside co-founders Maria Shriver and Patrick Scwarzenegger, as the third member of the founding team. In their first year, MOSH generated +$6M in revenue, released four new flavor launches, and activated growth campaigns with Delta airlines, A-list celebrities and more. In 2023, Cameron also applied for Schwarzenegger and Shriver to go on ABC’s Shark Tank, in which you can see that appearance in Season 15. Now, Cameron resides in Elkhart, Ind., working in marketing at Kem Krest, a total supply chain company for leading auto OEM’s. Relocating back to his roots was a long-term decision for the growth of Starting Small and the summit locally, and to make an impact on the entrepreneurship ecosystem here in the Michiana community.