A Message from Our President
Welcome to Ohio Christian University!
You have chosen the right university to pursue your life dreams and educational goals because OCU wants to invest in your life. Think with me for a moment, there are thousands of colleges and universities, and on many campuses students are just a number! Is that the way you want to be remembered, just a number?
At Ohio Christian University, we promise to spend time with you to get to know you! Our outstanding faculty and administration will not only prepare you academically, but they will mentor you, have lunch with you, and pray for you. You will be prepared at a regionally accredited (HLC-North Central Association) university that has just been named in Business First as one of the 2006 top of the list. You will also get that personal touch!
As President, I will want to meet you, go on trips with you and personally invest my life in mentoring you into a leader! My wife and I even enjoy having students in our home and a home cooked meal is always great. Now you understand! Not all colleges are the same. Come to Ohio Christian University! We train leaders to change the world!
See you soon,
Dr. Mark A. Smith
President
About Dr. Smith
Dr. Mark A. Smith became the 10th president of Ohio Christian University on January 1, 2006, succeeding Dr. John Conley who served as president since 1994.
Before coming to OCU, Dr. Smith served at Indiana Wesleyan, Marion, Indiana, for 10 years. During that time, he was vice president of the College of Adult and Professional Studies and the College of Graduate Studies. He has also served as senior pastor and assistant district superintendent in the Wesleyan Church.
"Ohio Christian University [then Circleville Bible College] has experienced unprecedented institutional growth under Dr. John Conley's leadership, highlighted this May when the college was granted regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Strong, visionary leadership has brought OCU to where it is today. The Board believes that Dr. Smith has the right mix of experience, abilities and leadership to build and expand on the accomplishments of Dr. Conley," said Gary Heimbach, chairman of the selection committee.
Dr. Smith was raised in an independent Wesleyan church and later attended Hobe Sound Bible College where he received a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies with a major in Ministerial Studies/Bible. He completed a master of science degree in College Teaching at Northeastern State University. Dr. Smith completed his doctorate in Higher Education Administration at West Virginia University in 1996.
Dr. Smith has been an Ohio Board of Regents consultant evaluator and currently serves as a consultant evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. In 2004, Education Secretary Rod Paige appointed him to a National Education Board for the improvement of post-secondary education. Dr. Smith was also elected to the City Council of Marion, Indiana, in 2003. He has served on God's Bible College board for 10 years.
Dr. Smith and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of two children; Douglas and Micah.