Dr. Duane Wood Residence Hall, New Master’s Degree Highlight Trustees Meeting

by Mark D. Weinstein, Executive Director of Public Relations – May 16, 2022

Cedarville University continues to thrive, with record enrollments for 15 consecutive years and new facilities that will transform the campus for the growing student body.

This momentum was evident at last week’s board of trustees meeting, where board members approved the naming of the Dr. Duane Wood residence hall, which is expected to open for fall semester, and the new Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.) degree. Trustees also approved eight new faculty hires and received an update on Cedarville’s One Thousand Days Transformed fundraising campaign.

Dr. Duane Wood Residence Hall

The new Dr. Duane Wood residence hall is named in memory of the longtime Cedarville administrator and graduate professor who passed away on December 14, 2019. The residence hall for 108-120 women, slated to open in August, is located on the west end of the present Johnson and St. Clair residence halls, also named for long-serving administrators.

“As vice president for academics, Dr. Duane Wood’s influence on Cedarville’s educational enterprise was significant,” said Thomas White, president. “This new residence hall will help contribute to the life-transforming campus experience that is a part of the 1,000 days of every student at Cedarville — a vision that Dr. Wood was passionate about as he led our faculty to teach with excellence, be innovative in their classrooms, and mentor and disciple students.”

Wood served as academic vice president from 1987 to 2005 and then as executive director of program development from 2005 to 2010. He built on Cedarville’s quality, and as the chief academic officer, he helped position Cedarville as a leader in Christian higher education, with multiple world-class programs launched during his tenure.

Most notably, Wood led the development of Cedarville’s school of engineering and computer science and paved the way for a school of pharmacy and the industrial and innovative design program in partnership with the International Center for Creativity in Columbus. He also oversaw Cedarville’s foray into graduate programs. For his service and impact on the university, Wood was recognized as Cedarville’s Honorary Alumnus of the Year in 2010.

“Duane Wood will be remembered for his faithfulness to Scripture, his passion for teaching and students, his boundless energy and optimism and the academic legacy he built at Cedarville,” said White. “He loved the Lord, served his church and family with excellence and finished his journey well.”

New Master’s Degree in Theological Studies

The new Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree is an innovative program that will equip ministry leaders with a strong foundation of biblical knowledge, theological understanding, and applied skills.

The program was developed with the needs of churches and partnering organizations in view. One track will allow students who are already receiving training in a partnering ministry setting to earn nine of the 36 credit hours through those established residencies. The second general studies option will benefit anyone desiring more in-depth training. The degree will be offered fully online and, pending external approvals, will add Cedarville’s slate of online and residential ministry degrees including the Master of Divinity, Master of Ministry, Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership, and Master of Arts in Worship and Theology.

One Thousand Days Transformed Campaign

Cedarville’s largest comprehensive fundraising initiative, a $125 million campaign, continues to achieve record-breaking success. Since the campaign was launched publicly in October 2021, the university has received financial commitments totaling $105.4 million.

The money raised will transform Cedarville’s campus and student-life experience. $92.5 million will be used to construct new university facilities, while $15 million is for student scholarships and affordability. The remaining $17.5 million will be split between enhancing the student experience ($10 million) and providing a long-term plan for institutional sustainability.

Cedarville recently completed an athletic and academic expansion to the Callan Athletic Center that houses the developing physician assistant program and the Master of Athletic Training program, and provides a varsity weight room, team meeting space, and offices for the athletic department. The next scheduled project, the Scharnberg Business Center, is expected to break ground in fall 2022.

As part of the One Thousand Days Transformed campaign, a team from Cedarville, including White, are currently on a 13-city, 26-day tour of the United States. The tour began May 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and will conclude June 3 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The tour also includes stops in Chicago; Milwaukee; Des Moines, Iowa; Denver; San Diego; Dallas; Houston; Tampa; Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey.

New Trustee

Paul Davis was approved as a trustee to the University’s Board. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in church ministry from Liberty University and a master's degree in New Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Since 2017, Davis has served as president of the Christian missionary organization, ABWE.

New Faculty Hires

Eight new faculty members were approved by the trustees:

Timothy Clark, PA-C, associate professor of physician assistant studies
Timothy Clark earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Liberty University and a certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College of Medical Arts. Since 2005, he has served as a physician assistant at Churchville-Chili Family Medicine in North Chili, New York.
Megan Fox, PA-C, assistant professor of physician assistant studies
Megan Fox earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Cedarville University and a Master of Medical Science in physician assistant studies from Methodist University in North Carolina. Since 2014, Fox has served as a physician assistant with FastMed Urgent Care in Austin, Texas.
Eric Knoerr, instructor of computer science
Eric Knoerr earned his undergraduate degree in computer science from Michigan Technological University. Knoerr has served as an IT developer with DXC Technology since 1994.
Jeremy Oliver, assistant professor of applied theology
Jeremy Oliver earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Indiana University (Northwest Campus) and master’s degree in liberal studies from Valparaiso University. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in biblical counseling from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Since 2016, Oliver has served as pastor of soul care ministries at Harvest Bible Church.
Joni Ormsbee, assistant professor of mathematics
Joni Ormsbee earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Wright State University. She also earned a master’s degree in teaching from Miami University of Ohio and a master’s degree in mathematics from Miami. Since August 2020, Ormsbee has served as a professor of mathematics at Cedarville University.
Nicholas Perry, assistant professor of cyber security
Nicholas Perry earned his undergraduate degree in computer engineering from Cedarville University and his master’s in computer engineering from the University of Southern California. Since 2018, Perry has served as the senior engineer lead for CrowdStrike.
Stanley Schwartz, instructor of History
Stanley Schwartz earned his undergraduate degree in history and economics from Cedarville University.
Nancy J. Stell, M.S.N, assistant professor of nursing
Nancy Stell earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from West Suburban College of Nursing and a master’s in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing. Since 2012, Stell has served as the director of the part-time faculty hybrid ABSN program at Loyola University.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation, and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.