Home Uncategorized Cedarville launches new department

Cedarville launches new department

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May

For Greene County News

CEDARVILLE — The world of higher education continues to change as ongoing pressures to make college affordable surface in all type of media reports.

Cedarville University, understanding the need to control student costs without hindering the academic and campus life of the students, has implemented a new model in student life that has required the merging of the departments of counseling services with residence life. The new department, student development, will use new initiatives designed to make the student life experience more beneficial. The new department, to be directed by Mindy May, Cedarville’s former director of counseling services, took effect June 1.

“I am honored to serve Cedarville University in this new capacity and believe the new structure will benefit our students,” May said. “We have exceptional staff members in both student life and counseling services that will benefit our great student body. I look forward to leading the new department with confidence and strength that comes from the Lord.”

The new initiatives center on small group accountability studies dealing with men and women’s issues, a mentorship model for resident directors to lead students, and a discipleship structure. Believing it’s better to be proactive, like in medicine with the implementation of wellness plans that are intended to reduce healthcare costs, Wood believes Cedarville’s new student life model will generate fewer disciplinary or personal problems for students.

“We’re always thinking through ways that will help our students be more like Christ and exceptional employees when they graduate,” said Jon Wood, Ph.D., vice president of student life and Christian ministries. “The staff in both residence life and counseling did a remarkable job last year and through this new structure, I have every confidence that our students will significantly benefit in the coming years.”

With the broader scope of work and services for Cedarville students, Wood believed May was the perfect choice to lead the new department.

May joined Cedarville’s counseling services department in 2014 and brings a depth of academic credentials to her new position. She earned two master’s degrees in marriage and family and family counseling, and she is pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology/counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her bachelor’s degree is in psychology from East Texas Baptist University.

In the newly developed department, May will provide administrative oversight and leadership to both residence life and counseling services. She will be responsible for developing and maintaining a campus culture that includes academic success, spiritual maturity, and student retention, while also functioning as the dean of women, and providing leadership to the dean of men, resident directors and assistants, and staff counselors.