Continued Growth: Cedarville Trustees Approve Key Initiatives
Nearly six years after launching the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in Cedarville University’s 138-year history—a $175 million initiative--the final building from the campaign was approved for construction by the board of trustees at its annual meeting on January 31.
Nearly six years after launching thelargestcomprehensive fundraising campaign inCedarville University’s138-year history—a $175 million initiative--the final building from the campaign was approvedfor constructionby the board of trustees at its annual meetingon January31.
Trustees unanimously approved the start ofconstruction fora new academiccenterthat will be located along the eastern side of campusonMain Street in Cedarville.
Site preparation and construction of the 47,820 square-foot,three-story,$36 millionacademic centerwill begin the week after commencement ceremonies on May 3, andit’sexpected to be completed in time for the start of the 2027-28academic year. The building will provide academic classrooms, studentcollaboration spacesand offices for faculty members in the School of Education and the departments of English,Literatureand Modern Languages, History and Government, Social Work, and Psychology.
The 84-foot-tall domed,Georgian-style building will also include acoffee bar with takeout sandwich and salad options.
“While this grand facility will providea much-needed home for key departments on our campus,” said Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, “what excites us most is the life transformation that will take placewithin its walls, as we equip future educators, writers, historians,lawyers, politicians,social workers, and psychologists to serve and lead with excellence and Gospel purpose.”
Campus Apartment Complex
Trustees also approved the construction of fourapartmentbuildings, each with 12 two-bedroom units.Thenew apartments,which will be part of a 12-buildingcomplex, will belocated near the current cross-country courseand will provideadditional campus residentialoptionsforCedarville’s growing student body.
Cedarville has experiencedconsistentenrollmentgrowth over the past decade and now has4,024traditional undergraduate students and 590 graduate students. Withits thrivingdual-enrollment program,the university’stotal enrollment is6,384.
Budget
Trustees also approved the 2025-26 budgetof $132.2 million,an increase of 6.4%from the prior year.Tuition, housing, and food will increase by approximately 3% for undergraduateand pharmacy programs.Education Data Research (EDR) reportsthat Cedarville’shousing and food charges($9,574)are among the lowest in Ohio, and well below the$13,842national average.In addition,Cedarville offers a robustscholarship programthat provides100% ofnewundergraduatestudents—freshmenand transfers—with scholarships.If the studentsmaintainthe scholarship requirements, this aid can extend to all four years of studyandeffectively manage theireducationalcosts.
New Academic Program
Trustees also approved anew Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship programand will extendCedarville’sleadership in innovation and entrepreneurship offerings. The university already offers aMaster of Business Administration (MBA) in Innovation and Entrepreneurship andaMaster of Arts in Innovation (MAI)and is home to the Berry Chair for Entrepreneurship and Berry Center for Free Enterprise.
The new undergraduatedegree program,pendingexternal approvals,will be offeredin partnership with theInternationalCenter forCreativity(ICC)in Columbus. The programwill equip students with the skills to develop and implement creative business solutions in a rapidly changing marketplace.Students will spend one semester in Columbus as part of their program.
The ICCalsohostsCedarville’s Industrial and Innovative Design program,which isthe leading program of its kindnationally amongChristian higher education.
"Cedarville University is committed to developing servant-leaders whowillinfluence the world for Christ,” added White. “This new programis an exciting way to equip students to create solutions, launch businesses, and serve others with excellence."
New Faculty Hires
Fournew faculty were approved for hiring, effective for the Fall 2025 academic year. The new faculty are:
Chelsea Baker, B.A.,instructor of library science. Prior to joining the Cedarville faculty, Bakerworked as an ESOL instructor and site coordinator for the Miami Valley Career and Technology Center in Dayton, OhioShe earned her undergraduate degree in intercultural studies/missiology and will earna Master of Divinity degree from Cedarville University in May.
Chad Kennedy, M.F.A.,assistant professor of theatre. Prior to joining the Cedarville faculty, Kennedy was on the faculty of Christ University inBangalore, India. He earneda bachelor’s degree in English from Liberty University, amaster’s in communication studiesfrom Liberty, anda MasterofFine Arts from Baylor University.
Joseph Miller, Ph.D.,associate professor of mechanical engineering.Prior to joining the Cedarville faculty, Dr. Millerserved as a division chief engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Systems Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.He earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Cedarville University anda doctorate in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University.
Wes Stephens, M.S.,assistant professor of athletic training.Prior to joining the Cedarville faculty, Stephens served the university asthe assistant athletic director for athletic training and sport performance.He earned amaster’s degree in educationand allied health professions from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Cedarville University.
Tenureand Promotion
The following faculty members were granted tenure:
Megan Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor of education
Robert Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of history
George Landon, Ph.D., professor of computer science
Stacey Stratton, M.F.A., assistant professor of theatre
The following faculty members received promotions:
Samson Amos, Ph.D., RPh, to professor of pharmaceutical studies
Megan Brown, Ph.D., to associate professor of education
John Chilcote, M.A., to associate professor of worship
Marc Clauson, J.D., Ph.D., to senior professor of history and law
Robert Clark, Ph.D., to associate professor of history
Jessica Elder, M.L.I.S., to assistant professor of library science
John (J.R.) Gilhooly, Ph.D., to professor of philosophy and theology
Jason Grimm, D.N.P., RN, to associate professor of nursing
Nathaniel Kincaid, M.S.N., RN, to associateprofessor of nursing
William Jones, Ph.D., to professor of biology
Jay Kinsinger, M.S., to professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering
Chao Liu, Ph.D., to associate professor of psychology
Scott Long, D.N.P., RN, to associate professor of nursing
Sean O’Connor, M.F.A., to associate professor of broadcasting, digital media, and journalism
Jenna Orme, M.S.N., RN, to associate professor of nursing
Lin Pan, Ph.D., to professor of physics
David (Pete) Peterson, Ed.D. to associate professor of kinesiology
Stacey Stratton, M.F.A., to associate professor of theatre
Felicia Younkin, Ph.D., to associate professor of psychology