CIU faculty bring to the classroom deep experience that might include working among Muslims in France and North Africa, teaching leadership skills to FBI Academy instructors, or serving as teachers and administrators in both public and Christian schools.
Add in former military chaplains, experienced practicing family counselors and experts in ancient languages (to name a few) and you get just the right mix of experience and devotion to God that makes CIU a leader among the nation’s Christian universities and seminaries.
Our student/faculty ratio for undergraduates is 17 to 1. At the graduate and seminary level, it’s 12 to 1. Our educators are here because of their passion for their students and community. Interacting with them inside and outside the classroom is how our Bible-based college and seminary transforms students’ lives through developing their academics, sparking their spiritual growth and honing their ministry skills.
Humanities Program Director, Professor of English and Humanities
Dr. Steve Baarendse grew up as a “Third Culture Kid” in Vienna, Austria. He studied English and Art at Taylor University (BA, 1990) and Comparative Literature and Art History at Indiana University
Professor Emeritus
Dr. Bryan Beyer came to CIU in 1985 to teach Bible. He served as undergraduate academic dean from 1994 - 2001; dean of students from 2001 - 2004; and faculty member in the Seminary & School of
Professor of Intercultural Studies
Dr. Cashin is professor of intercultural studies in the College of Intercultural Studies at CIU. Previously, he lived in Sweden, where he served as pastor of two churches.
Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Clevenger enjoys sharing her passion for investing in young learners with future teachers. She desires to prepare educators to value the foundational experiences early childhood teachers can
Professor Emeritus
Dr. Karen Close grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She dropped out of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas to marry Jack Close, who was a Doctoral student at the University of Texas, a Canadian, and
Bible Teaching (Undergraduate and Graduate) Program Director, Professor of Bible Teaching
Dr. Anita Cooper directs the Bible Teaching program, a program specifically designed to prepare students to teach the Bible in a school setting. Before coming to CIU, she taught Bible in the public
Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Craft is driven by the Holy Spirit to help students recognize their God-given potential as Christian educators. He specializes in early childhood and elementary education with increased emphasis
Professor of Biology
Dr. Daniel Criswell joined the Columbia International University faculty in 2022. Previously, he was a biology professor at Louisiana Christian University (2010–2022), a research biologist for the
Dean, Seminary and School of Ministry
Dr. Croteau joined the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary in 2013, became Associate Dean in 2020, and Dean of the Seminary and School of Ministry in 2021. He teaches New Testament and Greek courses
Bible and Christian Ministries Division Chair, Middle Eastern Studies Program Director
Dr. John Crutchfield was raised in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. After attending public (government) schools, he spent a year studying at the Torchbearer Schools in Europe (England and Austria), then
Professor of Intercultural Studies, Elmer V. Thompson Chair of Church Planting
Victor H. Cuartas joined the CIU faculty in 2016 and is the Elmer V. Thompson Chair of Church Planting at CIU. Previously, he taught global missions and church ministry at Regent University (2006-2016
