Ohio Christian University Professor of Substance Abuse Counseling Dr. Jim Smith contributed two chapters for the recently published collaborative work Nelson's Church Leader's Manual for Congregational Care, available from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The two chapters are on lay ministry care for those with substance abuse issues and mental disorders. Smith is well qualified to write on these topics as he holds three graduate degrees and is a licensed counselor as well as an ordained minister. Smith states, "The connection to be part of this collaboration was brought about by God." OCU President Mark Smith congratulated Dr. Smith on his recent publication, saying, "We are proud of Dr. Smith's efforts to provide resources for those in lay ministry." Dr. Smith joined the Ohio Christian University faculty full-time in 2003, and he teaches psychology, substance abuse counseling/chemical dependency, and pastoral counseling courses in the traditional and AIM adult undergraduate programs and the Master of Arts in Ministry program. He was awarded OCU Faculty Person of the Year in 2007 and promoted to the academic rank of full professor in 2009. Dr. Smith and his wife Diane live in South Bloomfield with two adult daughters, Kelly and Samantha. Ohio Christian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Ohio. Over the past five years enrollment has grown 400 percent. With a heritage dating back to 1948, Ohio Christian University offers a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally and spiritually. OCU offers degree programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families and in the world. Students enrolled in OCU's traditional undergraduate program attend classes at its main campus in Circleville, Ohio. OCU's AIM Adult Program offers 12 campus locations in the surrounding region as well as online degree programs.
Articles of Interest
Two Scholars Win Full-Ride Scholarship to University
Published: February 14, 2023
Ohio Christian University’s Scholars Day competition for the first
Commitment to Excellence full-ride scholarships has successfully concluded,
and we are proud to announce that Mike Conway and Hannah Skaggs have been
selected as the scholarship recipients.
After three rounds of interviews, these two outstanding students received the
highest marks and were personally awarded by Phil Hooks, the Vice President
of Enrollment, with their scholarship certificate and an official scholarship
award letter from President Smith. The Scholars Day panelists were thoroughly
impressed by all of the
Ohio Christian University’s Scholars Day competition for the first
Commitment to Excellence full-ride scholarships has successfully concluded,
and we are proud to announce that Mike Conway and Hannah Skaggs have been
selected as the scholarship recipients.
After three rounds of interviews, these two outstanding students received the
highest marks and were personally awarded by Phil Hooks,
Ohio Christian University’s Scholars Day competition for the first
Commitment to Excellence full-ride scholarships has successfully concluded,
and we are proud to announce that Mike Conway and
OCU School of Education Earns 7 Year CAEP Accreditation
Published: January 18, 2023
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation has granted 7 years
of accreditation to the Teacher Education Program at Ohio Christian
University, the highest award the organization allows. The current
Accreditation has been granted at the initial-licensure level for all major
concentrations OCU offers at the undergraduate level for Teacher Education
Preparation.
CAEP Accreditation is granted when the Accreditation Council determines that
an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) meets all CAEP Standards, even if
areas for improvement (AFIs) are identified in the final
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation has granted 7 years
of accreditation to the Teacher Education Program at Ohio Christian
University, the highest award the organization allows. The current
Accreditation has been granted at the initial-licensure level for all major
concentrations OCU offers at the undergraduate level for Teacher Education
Preparation.
CAEP
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation has granted 7 years
of accreditation to the Teacher Education Program at Ohio Christian
University, the highest award the organization
Archived Articles of Interest
First Students Begin in New OCU Atlanta-Morrow Location!
Published: September 28, 2013
On Thursday, September 26, 2013, Ohio Christian University opened the doors
and welcomed thirteen new students at OCU’s newest location, 1550 Southlake
Parkway in Morrow, Georgia.
Dr. Shawn Thomas serves as the Director of Enrollment and Operations in
Morrow and started with OCU in August. Ms. Latonya Holmes serves as
Corporate Developer and Recruiter and began this past July. Dr. Tim Eades,
Assistant Provost and Vice President stated, “Dr. Thomas and Ms. Holmes
have accomplished an amazing feat in reaching out to the Morrow community and
opening the facility to serve students in
On Thursday, September 26, 2013, Ohio Christian University opened the doors
and welcomed thirteen new students at OCU’s newest location, 1550 Southlake
Parkway in Morrow, Georgia.
Dr. Shawn Thomas serves as the Director of Enrollment and Operations in
Morrow and started with OCU in August. Ms. Latonya Holmes serves as
Corporate Developer and Recruiter and began this past July. Dr. Tim
On Thursday, September 26, 2013, Ohio Christian University opened the doors
and welcomed thirteen new students at OCU’s newest location, 1550 Southlake
Parkway in Morrow, Georgia.
Dr. Shawn Thomas
Faculty and Students Present Research on Hybrid Learning
Published: April 15, 2013
On Friday, January 4, 2013, Dr. Sylvia McDonald, Assistant Professor of
Psychology, and Jodi Irvine, a senior psychology major, and Psych Club
President,(material in italics need added) presented on the topic of
“Professor Immediacy in Hybrid Classes: Do Hybrids Make the Grade?”At a
faculty workshop in 2010, OCU Provost Dr. Hank Kelly challenged faculty to
look into the hybrid model and its benefits.“As someone who takes the
teaching portion of my job very seriously, I felt it my duty as a
professional to investigate trends in higher education,” Dr. Sylvia
McDonald said.McDonald and
On Friday, January 4, 2013, Dr. Sylvia McDonald, Assistant Professor of
Psychology, and Jodi Irvine, a senior psychology major, and Psych Club
President,(material in italics need added) presented on the topic of
“Professor Immediacy in Hybrid Classes: Do Hybrids Make the Grade?”At a
faculty workshop in 2010, OCU Provost Dr. Hank Kelly challenged faculty to
look into the hybrid model and its
On Friday, January 4, 2013, Dr. Sylvia McDonald, Assistant Professor of
Psychology, and Jodi Irvine, a senior psychology major, and Psych Club
President,(material in italics need added) presented
Faculty Presents Research on Counselors’ Acute Stress Reaction
Published: April 15, 2013
On April 3, Dr. Benjamin Kelch, Affiliate Professor in the College of Adult
and Graduate Studies, presented his research on the “Development of Acute
Stress Reaction in Substance Abuse Counselors After Learning of the
Accidental Overdose Death of Their Patients: A Series of Six Cases.” The
presentation was attended by OCU faculty, students, and members of the
community. While Kelch was pursuing his doctorate degree, the university
was offering a service called “Therapy for the Therapist.” He was
intrigued by the statistics on opiates being a leading cause of accidental
death and
On April 3, Dr. Benjamin Kelch, Affiliate Professor in the College of Adult
and Graduate Studies, presented his research on the “Development of Acute
Stress Reaction in Substance Abuse Counselors After Learning of the
Accidental Overdose Death of Their Patients: A Series of Six Cases.” The
presentation was attended by OCU faculty, students, and members of the
community. While Kelch was
On April 3, Dr. Benjamin Kelch, Affiliate Professor in the College of Adult
and Graduate Studies, presented his research on the “Development of Acute
Stress Reaction in Substance Abuse Counselors
Students Present Research Findings
Published: April 2, 2013
On March 20, students in the psychology department presented their research
findings on religious conformity, behavioral modification, and obesity in the
evangelical community.Sarah Rykwalder, a psychology junior, along with three
other students conducted an observational study during Midwestern university
church services to track the factors associated with conformity. The raising
of hands in a service is one example of behaviors they tracked. They
witnessed individuals conformed when they received reinforcements.“The
students were reinforced to conform by receiving something desired
On March 20, students in the psychology department presented their research
findings on religious conformity, behavioral modification, and obesity in the
evangelical community.Sarah Rykwalder, a psychology junior, along with three
other students conducted an observational study during Midwestern university
church services to track the factors associated with conformity. The raising
of hands
On March 20, students in the psychology department presented their research
findings on religious conformity, behavioral modification, and obesity in the
evangelical community.Sarah Rykwalder, a
Academic Presentation: The Effect of Tenure on Perceived Leader Integrity and Implicit Leadership Perception
Published: March 11, 2013
On March 6, Heidi Frederick, Assistant Vice President and Dean of the College
of Adult and Graduate Studies, provided an academic presentation on “The
Effect of Tenure on Perceived Leader Integrity and Implicit Leadership
Perception.” The presentation was attended by OCU faculty, students and
members of the community.Frederick’s presentation focused on a study she
conducted in which participants scored their current supervisor according to
items of perceived integrity and implicit leader characteristics such as:
sensitivity, dedication, tyranny, charisma, and intelligence. The survey
On March 6, Heidi Frederick, Assistant Vice President and Dean of the College
of Adult and Graduate Studies, provided an academic presentation on “The
Effect of Tenure on Perceived Leader Integrity and Implicit Leadership
Perception.” The presentation was attended by OCU faculty, students and
members of the community.Frederick’s presentation focused on a study she
conducted in which
On March 6, Heidi Frederick, Assistant Vice President and Dean of the College
of Adult and Graduate Studies, provided an academic presentation on “The
Effect of Tenure on Perceived Leader Integrity