CIU Today Fall 2017

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MEET DR. MARK A. SMITH
“You have to be fully
involved” – Mr. Smith
goes to Town Hall
Smith’s extensive resume includes a long
list of community involvement — serving
on various corporate boards, holding
numerous professional memberships,
and even holding political office. In 2003,
Smith took on a three-term incumbent
to win a seat on the Marion, Indiana City
Council.
“Everybody said I couldn’t do it,” Smith
said with a laugh. “But God had a
different plan.”
While president of Ohio Christian
University, Smith was appointed to the
Ohio State Board of Education by the
governor.
“You have to be fully involved in every
way, and I have to lead by example as
president,” Smith explained. “If CIU is
not used to being involved in community
service, get ready. I’m going to ask
everyone to be involved on some board
— their church board, their school board,
their community board, whatever. I want
people involved in the community. If we
can’t impact locally, how will we take Him
to the nations?”
He notes that the employees at Ohio
Christian University combine to serve on
over 100 boards.
“Bible-Centered
Entrepreneur”
Smith says technology — namely, online
learning — must be expanded at CIU, an
area where he observes “CIU is actually
behind.” So, over the summer, even
before Smith was officially in office, CIU
was already marketing new fully online
undergraduate and graduate degrees in
Business.
“I clearly understand that I’ve been
hired to grow enrollment and take Christ
to the nations through the means of
technology,” Smith said. “Online learning
opens up so many opportunities to take
the Word around the world.
We will have a fraction of
the ministry opportunities
that we do now if we don’t
get into online education.
It’s something that is here
to stay and something that
is growing rapidly.”
It is largely through online
learning that enrollment
exploded at Ohio Christian
University and Indiana
Wesleyan under Smith’s
leadership.
“I’m a Bible-centered
entrepreneur who has
trained for 20 years to lead
a university,” Smith said.
“I realize God has to be at the center of
everything we do, but I’m a creative guy. I
think of new ways to take the gospel and
to disciple.”
And while Smith brings “new ways” to CIU,
there is one thing he wants to make clear.
“I’m not interested in changing mission
(at CIU). I’m interested in looking at
methodology.”
“Tremendously Honored”
Smith’s inauguration marks the first time
a CIU president has been hired from
outside the ministry. The first
president, R.C. McQuilkin,
was personally known by “The
Praying Ladies” who founded
the school. Each president since
then has been either a CIU
administrator, professor, board
member, alumnus, or some
combination of all four.
But after the February decision
by the CIU Board of Trustees
to hire Smith, board Chairman
Doug Rutt said, “There was a
very strong sense among us that
God was providing a man who
loves what we love at CIU.”
“(Dr. Smith) is uniquely gifted
and experienced in ways that
will benefit our institution greatly
while being in step with us missionally,”
Rutt added.
As for Smith, he “is tremendously honored
to follow the great (CIU) heritage.”
“I will always honor every single person
who has gone before me,” Smith said.
Speaking particularly to alumni Smith
added: “I will give everything to CIU and
try to learn and try to understand and try
to be faithful to what God has called you
and me to do with regard to Christ and
the nations. And we will move forward in
God’s unity.”
Smith greets Deb McQuilkin (‘82), the widow of CIU’s third
president Robertson McQuilkin, at a donor luncheon last spring.
The Inauguration of
During Homecoming 2017
Friday, November 3
Inauguration: 11 a.m.
Shortess Chapel
Inaugural Reception: Noon
The Quad
Register at:
Dr. Mark A. Smith
19 CIU Today