Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2018

he was chair of the engineering department of LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where he also taught civil engineering courses. Prior to that, he worked as a research engineer in Australia, developing new products for the structural engineering market using advanced composite materials. For the past six years, Ayers has worked in various villages in Senegal, Africa, developing water resource projects. His focus has been on tailoring engineering solutions to the environment in Senegal. Ayers’ firm belief in Christian higher education and missions focus made him a perfect fit for Cedarville. “I saw what God could do through technical education that was founded in Christian ideals,” he explained. “After visiting Cedarville’s campus for a Christian engineering conference, my wife and I got the idea that God was calling us to a new stage. And when the job at Cedarville came up, my wife read the job ad with me and said, ‘This is you.’ It seemed like a good fit.” He was drawn to the clarity of the University’s Christian mission, as well as its already-strong mechanical and electrical engineering programs and strong emphasis in math and science. “All the foundational pieces were in place,” he said. “I saw that we could build on that with civil engineering.” In addition to these foundational pieces, civil engineering students will choose four concentrations and two specializations from the following: § § Construction Engineering and Management § § Construction Materials Engineering § § Environmental Engineering § § Geotechnical Engineering § § Structural Engineering § § Transportation Engineering § § Water Resources Engineering Through laboratory experiences, design competitions, and internships, students will gain valuable real-world experience as they pursue their engineering degrees. “You can stay in the U.S. with your license and get a job, but if your heart calls you to go to the missions field, we’ve given you a skill set that enables you to go and make a difference,” Ayers said. “I’ve seen when you work toward the tangible means of helping people in their life, it opens doors to other conversations and gives you the opportunity to share the Gospel.” And for Parkinson, who has since taken an engineering job with a well design and hydrology technology company near Seattle, Washington, that’s the part that pumps her up the most. “It was cool to see engineering put into practice in a missionary context,” she said. “I couldn’t speak the language, but I could do something that was impactful, which opened doors for the Gospel. Churches in Vacas are growing because of this project. That’s what I want to do in the future, wherever the Lord wants to take me.” Sandra (Welch) Harner ’64 is Senior Professor Emerita of Technical Communications at Cedarville University. From left to right: Samuel Thompson ’18; Blake Lasky ’18; Stephen Ayers, Professor of Civil Engineering; and Phillip Maillefer ’21 work on a civil engineering project. Maillefer will be one of the inaugural civil engineering majors this fall. Cedarville Magazine | 9