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.
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Dr. Hays brings over eighteen years experience as a professor in higher education and more than fifteen years experience in leadership, management, healthcare administration, and business
Teacher Education Program Director, Professor of Education
Dr. Hoekstra joined the College of Education at CIU in 2012. She had 16 years’ experience teaching in Christian schools in Michigan and California before receiving her Ed.D. in teaching and learning
Professor of Counseling
Dr. Johnson moved to Columbia after serving as a director of care and counseling for 17 years. He is currently serving as the president of the board of at the Albert Ellis Institute for cognitive
Dean of the College of Education, Professor of Education
Michael Johnson joined the Columbia International University faculty in 2022. From 2016–2022 he served as Alaska’s Commissioner of Education. Before becoming Alaska’s Commissioner, Dr. Johnson served
Associate Professor of Nursing
Rebecca is a native of Lexington, SC. She has been married for 29 years, has 2 daughters and 2 sons who all live in Midlands. Rebecca is happy to be a part of the nursing program at CIU and to be able
Associate Professor of Music Education
For over 20 years, Mrs. Becky Kilgus has taught general music and choir at all levels of primary and secondary education. She has produced and directed middle and high school musicals and performed in
Professor of New Testament and Greek
(The Rev. Dr.) Klausli joined the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary in 2013, where he teaches New Testament, Greek, as well as Biblical Hermeneutics. Before coming to Columbia, he served as an
Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies
Dr. Klejment-Lavin joined the Columbia International University faculty in 2023. Previously, he spent thirteen years in intercultural ministry in Indonesia and South Korea. Dr. Klejment-Lavin’s
Adjunct Education Faculty
B.Mus., William Tyndale College; M.A., Eastern Michigan University; Ed.D., Nova University
Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Langston was born in Birmingham, Alabama but grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. He attended the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana on an athletic scholarship in Football. In 1975 he
Provost & Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs
B.S., Georgetown University; M.Div., Alliance Theological Seminary; M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
