Clarissa Crowley, one of the first Adolescence to Young Adult Education (AYA) Mathematics majors at Ohio Christian University, set her sights high when she decided to major in STEM education to transform young lives.
Serving as a ‘guinea pig’ for the new AYA curriculum with its advanced, yet enticing, and rigorous materials, Crowley’s goal for herself is not only propelling her into the future, but also enabling her to demonstrate faith-based leadership to her peers.
Becoming a servant leader wasn’t always in the cards for Crowley. Higher education seemed unobtainable to her until a former OCU president arrived to vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN, Crowley’s hometown.
“Until I encountered OCU’s former president who shared about the university, I never imagined attending college was within my reach. I felt driven to succeed, but I wasn’t sure what steps to take. With a scholarship obtained through guidance of OCU’s Financial Aid Office, I am acquiring a quality higher education. It was God’s will that I discovered here is where to earn my teaching degree.”
Many students like Crowley struggle with unknowns in finding their way to and through college. However, as her story demonstrates, God enables us to succeed, especially when we align with His will and calling for us. “After OCU’s president heard my testimony at our church, he introduced himself and told me about OCU, and, through prayer and trusting God, I decided to come.”
In her junior year now, Crowley feels OCU’s AYA Teacher Education program is phenomenal: “It is preparing me to be highly equipped in the classroom. I have no doubt I will continue and become an inspiration to others. OCU has taught me to take chances. Through Christ, we can do anything.”
Articles of Interest
Ohio Christian to Host Education Summit in November
Published: October 16, 2019
Ohio Christian University is pleased to welcome government officials,
teachers and the public to its 2019 Education Summit on Nov 15. The purpose
of the summit is to bring in education stakeholders to discuss Ohio’s new
strategic education plan “Each Child, Our Future” and the next steps
moving forward. The event will be held in Ohio Christian’s Ministry
Ohio Christian University is pleased to welcome government officials,
teachers and the public to its 2019 Education Summit on Nov 15. The purpose
of the summit is to bring in education stakeholders to discuss Ohio’s new
strategic education plan “Each Child, Our Future” and the next steps
moving forward. The event will be held in Ohio Christian’s Ministry
Ohio Christian University is pleased to welcome government officials,
teachers and the public to its 2019 Education Summit on Nov 15. The purpose
of the summit is to bring in education stakeholders
Trailblazers in Reading
Published: August 12, 2019
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men and women in Professor Anita Conkel and Professor Scott
Barr’s English composition classes. On April 15, students marked their
participation in “The Great American Read” with a celebration sponsored
by the English Department and hosted by the Maxwell Library staff.
“The Great American Read” is a nationwide event started by the Public
Broadcast System (PBS) in 2018. One hundred influential and
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men and women in Professor Anita Conkel and Professor Scott
Barr’s English composition classes. On April 15, students marked their
participation in “The Great American Read” with a celebration sponsored
Submitted by Professor Scott Barr
American author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “How many a man has dated a new
era in his life from the reading of a book.” This holds true for many of
the young men
OCU Assisted with Summer Institute for Teachers
Published: June 14, 2019
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Pickaway
County ESC to design an institute that would benefit many educators.
Courses offered for graduate credit included Trauma Informed Care Training
II, Orton-Gillingham Training, and Google Classroom Training.
The Ohio Christian University Teacher Education Department believes in
providing excellent and effective professional development for the teachers
and the school
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Pickaway
County ESC to design an institute that would benefit many educators.
Courses offered for graduate credit included Trauma Informed Care Training
II, Orton-Gillingham Training, and
The 2019 Summer Institute took place on June 3-7. The Ohio Christian
University Teacher Education Department partnered with Circleville City
Schools, Pickaway County Board of Developmental
OCU T.E. Group Observes Educators in Finland and Sweden
Published: June 6, 2019
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to study the top-two school
systems in the world. The group was able to tour a Finnish grade school to
observe their curriculum and instruction and speak with the students and
teachers. In Sweden, the group visited a university and were able to learn
about Swedish high schools and the transition to higher education. In
addition to the focus on education, the group did some sightseeing and
learned
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to study the top-two school
systems in the world. The group was able to tour a Finnish grade school to
observe their curriculum and instruction and speak with the students and
teachers. In Sweden, the
During summer break, Dr. Valerie Jones, Teacher Education Chair and Dr.
Jeanne Bruce, Associate Professor, traveled with five pre-service educators
to Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden to
Summer Institute Courses
Published: May 10, 2019
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity to earn degrees and gain
knowledge in a shorter period of time.
Each course lasts for six weeks and counts as three credit hours. There will
be two separate six-week terms throughout the summer. The cost of these
graduate level classes is $990 per course. There is a simple application and
approval process for the program.
The University will also be offering special topic classes that count
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity to earn degrees and gain
knowledge in a shorter period of time.
Each course lasts for six weeks and counts as three credit hours. There will
be two separate six-week terms throughout the summer. The
This summer, Ohio Christian University is offering summer courses that will
help K-12 and undergraduate instructors work towards a graduate degree. The
institute gives instructors the opportunity
Archived Articles of Interest
Teacher Ed Department Meeting Spring 2018
Published: March 2, 2018
The Teacher Education Department met for their spring meeting to discuss
updates within the programs and also for reminders of very important
information. There was also an announcement of European trip to Finland and
Sweden in May 2019. Current and future education students will have the
opportunity to travel to Finnish and Swedish schools to observe and interact
with their students and educational settings that are considered to be #1 in
the world, as well as sightsee and experience the culture during their time
there.
The Teacher Education Department met for their spring meeting to discuss
updates within the programs and also for reminders of very important
information. There was also an announcement of European trip to Finland and
Sweden in May 2019. Current and future education students will have the
opportunity to travel to Finnish and Swedish schools to observe and interact
with their students and
The Teacher Education Department met for their spring meeting to discuss
updates within the programs and also for reminders of very important
information. There was also an announcement of European
Students Gain Empathy in Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine
Published: March 1, 2018
By Amber Ginter
Ohio Christian University Teacher Education students and faculty participated
in Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine in Circleville Vineyard Church in
February. The event gave opportunities to show love and support to those
with disabilities.
Night to Shine is a prom where everyone can participate, delivering fun,
dancing, music, food, and normalcy. Created to embrace those with
exceptionalities so that they feel loved and special, the event enables
participants to show kindness in the spirit of Christian faith.
“It was a Christian event. Yet, you need not be a
By Amber Ginter
Ohio Christian University Teacher Education students and faculty participated
in Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine in Circleville Vineyard Church in
February. The event gave opportunities to show love and support to those
with disabilities.
Night to Shine is a prom where everyone can participate, delivering fun,
dancing, music, food, and normalcy. Created to embrace
By Amber Ginter
Ohio Christian University Teacher Education students and faculty participated
in Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine in Circleville Vineyard Church in
February. The event gave
Ohio Christian University Hosts Epidemic of Hope Event
Published: February 27, 2018
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Former Major League baseball great Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy
joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Ohio Christian University in
Circleville, Monday, February 26 in the new Ministry
Positive Thinking Will Enhance Your Life
Published: February 26, 2018
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life while I was in high school.
As I read this influential book, I resolved to think positively about
everything to which I put myself. I aimed to attend the U.S. Air Force
Academy. Therefore, I applied, was accepted, and graduated four years later.
My positive thinking helped me succeed!
I learned you become what you constantly think about: “Think positively,”
Peale says, “and you set in motion
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life while I was in high school.
As I read this influential book, I resolved to think positively about
everything to which I put myself. I aimed to attend the U.S. Air Force
Academy. Therefore, I applied
Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost
Thinking positively will greatly enhance your life and how God can use you.
Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking had a significant
impact on my life
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins Receives 2018 Faith & Liberty Award
Published: February 21, 2018
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
The Ohio Christian University’s School of Business and Government’s
Center for Faith and Liberty presented its seventh annual Faith
