Transformation in the lives of students is at the heart of a Cedarville University education. Now,Cedarville is poised to continue enriching the Cedarville experiencewitha$15 million gift to the universityfrom an anonymous donorand the creation ofanewsenior-levelstrategic initiativesposition approved by the Board of Trusteesat its October 2024 meeting.

Dr. Thomas White, president, announcedthe anonymous $15 million gift to theOne Thousand Days Transformedcampaignon Friday during the university’s annual State of the University address as part of its homecoming activities.TheOne Thousand Days Transformedcampaign is the most successful fundraisinginitiativein Cedarville’s 137-year history.

The generousanonymousdonors gave toward the final facility planned as part of thecampaign — a new $35 million Academic Center. The grand domed, all-brick, three-story Center will provide classroom, collaboration, and office spaces for faculty and programs that make up Cedarville’s academic core, including history and government; English, literature, and modern languages; psychology; education; and social work.

“We are grateful for God’s incredible blessing upon this institution, only He could have orchestrated this unexpected gift and laid thisneed on the hearts of the donors,” said White. “We give all glory to God.”

Withthe $15 million—one of the largest gifts in Cedarville’s history—this final campaign facilityis $5 million from reachingitsgoaland beginning the construction process. The buildingwill bebuilt alongthe eastern edge of campus off State Route 72.

The $175 million One Thousand Days Transformed campaign iscomprisedoffour key priorities. They include:

-- Expandingcapacitythrough the addition of new campus facilities

-- Maximizing affordability and minimizing student debt through scholarships

-- Enhancing the student experience

-- Providing long-term sustainability for the university

New Senior Level Strategic InitiativePosition

The Board ofTrusteesalso approvedthe formation ofanewsenior-levelposition that will focus on strategic initiatives. In doing so, they also approved thehiring of Dr. Bob Lutz as the founding vice presidentforstrategic initiatives.

In this role, Lutz will leadefforts to advance Cedarville's strategicobjectives,initiallyfocusing onthe development of online undergraduate programs. His leadership is expected to play a crucial role in maximizing the impact of theuniversity’s flourishing dual enrollment program by extending the possibility of a Cedarville education to students whochoose not to pursue a residential college experience.

A 2001 Cedarville graduate,Dr. Lutz began his career in higher education at Cedarville University as a resident director and later as the associate dean for student leadership development.Before coming back to Cedarville,Lutz was vice president for student development and dean of students at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Dr. Lutz returns to Cedarville with proven higher education leadership in strategic planning and executionand data-driven decision-making,” said White. “He is a perfect fit with Cedarville’s mission andvalues,and I look forward to his leadership in the area of our online undergraduate initiative and other strategic opportunities.”

After graduating from Cedarville University,Lutzwent on to earn a master’s degree in higher education student affairs from Ohio State University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Dayton.

New Academic Program

A new Master of Arts in Communication and Organizational Leadershipdegreeprogramwasalsoapproved by the trustees.This program, proposed by the Robert W. Plaster School of Business and the Department of Communication, isa 33-credit, online program. Specializations within the program include general leadership and management, social media and cybersecurity, healthcare management and digital communication and marketing.

The program now moves to theOhio Department of Higher Education andHigher Learning Commission for approval before theprogram willofficially begin.

New Faculty

Finally, the trustees interviewed and approved the following new faculty:

Abran Miller, assistant professor of communication.Miller earned a master’s degree in speecheducationand inBible expositionfrom Pensacola Christian College.His bachelor’s degree is in music from Pensacola.Before joining the Cedarville faculty,Millerwas a faculty member at Creekside Christian Academyin Hampton, Georgia.

Abigail Baker-Hunt,assistant professor of communication.Baker-Huntearneda master’s degree instrategiccommunication with an emphasis in education from Grand Canyon University anda bachelor’s degree in strategic communicationfromCedarvilleUniversity.Before becoming a full-time faculty member, she served as a dual enrollment advisor and adjunct professor in the communication department at Cedarville.

JuliaKicinski, instructor of English.Kicinskiearned her master’s degree in Englishwith an emphasis in rhetoric and professional writingfrom the University of Tennessee at Chattanoogaand a bachelor’s degree in English from Cedarville University.Prior to joining the Cedarville faculty, she was an instructorat the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

JiongLiu, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics.Dr.Liu earned herdoctoral degree and master’s degree in physics from the University of Cincinnati.Shealso earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in physics fromChongqingUniversity.Before joining Cedarville’s faculty,Liu wasa machine learning fellow with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a teaching assistant at the University of Cincinnati.

Joshua Paulick, M.D., assistant professor of PA studies.Dr. PaulickearnedhisM.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicineafter earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Cedarville University. Since 2012, he has servedas a medical missionary at Hospital of Hope in Togo with the Association of Baptistsfor World Evangelism.He also completed his general surgery residency from the Wright State University Associated General Surgery Program.

Shannon Yarosz, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice.Dr. Yarosz earnedher doctoral degree in pharmacy fromTheOhio State UniversityCollege of Pharmacy and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology fromTheOhio StateUniversity.Since 2018, she served as a pharmacist at the Ohio State University Student Health Services.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With atotalenrollment of 6,384 students in more than 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of thelargest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visitcedarville.edu.