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CIU couple graduates
with “help” from their
fourth grader
For two years,
Jairo de Oliveira
and his wife
Vania took most
of their classes
together at
CIU as they
both worked
on a Master of
Arts degree in
Teaching English
as a Foreign Language (TEFL). They graduated
together in December, but along the way, there
was one big challenge. The Brazilian couple’s
classes were scheduled during the afternoon at
the time their son Mateus was finishing his classes
for the day at Ben Lippen School, CIU’s Pre-K to
12th grade Christian school on the CIU campus.
“We considered this issue with our TEFL
professors and discussed the possibility of
keeping our son in class with us for an average
of one hour every week,” Jairo de Oliveira said.
“They were very empathetic and allowed our son
to sit in class with us. While in class with us, he
would behave very well and spend most of his
time reading or doing homework.”
The family considered this teamwork and an
achievement. So, the parents bought Mateus
graduation regalia to wear on graduation day so
he could feel he had significant participation in
the process.
They also printed a certificate for him with the
honor: “Master in Companionship, Patience, and
Good Behavior.”
Jairo de Oliveira joked with Professor Joe
LeTexier that if Mateus enrolls at CIU in the future
to work on an M.A. in TEFL, he would already
have some school credits.
CIU Prison Initiative graduates hear from
an alumnus of the program
The Columbia International University Prison Initiative graduated its 10th cohort of student-inmates from the
program that began in 2007. Since its inception, 157 men and women have graduated from the program with
accredited Associate of Arts degrees and are now serving in over 20 institutions as chaplain’s assistants.
“The Prison Initiative continues to have a very positive effect on many men and women in our institutions,” said
South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan P. Stirling. “This collaboration with CIU is a vital part
of our effort to reduce recidivism and make our prisons safer.”
The 2018 Prison Initiative commencement exercises at the Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia was
particularly special as Ryan Chitwood, one of the program’s graduates who has since been released from
prison, gave an impromptu address to let the graduates know “they are not forgotten.”
CIU alumnus leads historic Bible institute
The new president of a revered and historic
Bible institute is an alumnus of Columbia
International University.
Dr. Mark Jobe is the 10th president of
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
Jobe earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in
Biblical Studies from CIU in 1986. He is the
founding pastor of the 5,000-member New
Life Community Church in Chicago with 27
locations throughout greater Chicago and
eight cities internationally.
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Jobe
founded New Life Centers, an organization
that creates programs for underserved
communities in Chicago focusing on
youth violence, gang violence, teen
pregnancy, justice system involvement
and unemployment. He is also author of
the book, “Unstuck: Out of Your Cave into
Your Call,” and hosts the daily radio show
“Straight Talk” on Moody Radio Chicago.
Jobe says he plans to lead Moody “with
an unwavering commitment to the Word
of God and with a compassionate heart to
impact our world with the love of God.”
Evangelist D.L. Moody founded Moody
Bible Institute in 1886.
Dr. Mark Jobe
The de Oliveira family and
Professor Joe LeTexier.
Ryan Chitwood
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