In April, Greg Dyson ’98 returned to Cedarville as Director of
Intercultural Leadership. In this new position, Dyson oversees
all diversity-related campus initiatives, serves as the liaison for
intercultural-related issues, and helps Cedarville better reflect the
Kingdom of heaven.
Everyone has had that experience visiting someone else’s house
for the first time. Even though the hosts say, “Make yourself at
home,” and they mean it, you worry over whether you should
take off your shoes or where to set your glass. You sense that the
house has rules, and learning to navigate them can be unsettling,
even though you’ve been invited to feel at home. But when you
become comfortable enough to consider them family, you know
you’re welcome to walk right in and help yourself to whatever’s
in the fridge. It’s a completely different experience of accepting
the welcome. At Cedarville, we want to extend a welcome to
students, faculty, and staff of different ethnicities that authentically
communicates “you are family.”
A significant part of my role as Director of Intercultural
Leadership will be forging relationships that will give Cedarville
more exposure and introduce the University to new audiences.
This includes reaching out to many more churches, schools, and
city centers where diverse groups already are. There are many
people of various ethnicities who align with our doctrinal
statement but, for various reasons, haven’t yet learned about
Cedarville. Now is that time!
Increasing campus diversity is important to achieving the
excellence to which Cedarville aspires. A more diverse student
population enriches the college environment in
every area: from the classroom, to student
life, to residence life. When students
share stories of their different cultures,
experiences, and lives, they learn
more about the world. When our
assumptions are challenged, we
can learn more about ourselves.
Even more than awareness,
intercultural competence
is a
critical professional skill that our
graduates need to succeed in a
global economy.
As I begin this role,
I am grateful for the
foundation that has
already been laid.
I will begin by
connecting with
campus groups
that are already
passionately
w o r k i n g
t owa rd a
by Greg Dyson ’98
Photo: Mark Wallenwine
“Increasing campus
diversity is important to
achieving the excellence to
which Cedarville aspires.”
stronger, more multicultural college family. I will be doing a lot
of listening to hear how students, faculty, staff, and administrators
understand and articulate our needs and opportunities. I will
work to come alongside these groups and help them build on what
they’ve already begun and provide resources and connections to
help them further their goals.
I loved my student experience. As a married student with
a young family, I knew I wanted to be part of the Cedarville
experience in a larger way. But my understanding of the task at
hand runs deeper than my connection as an alumnus; I’m also a
Cedarville parent. Parents looking at schools with their children
expect their sons and daughters to receive an excellent education
from their college investment, but they hope for other intangibles.
They want to know their students will find friends, a place to belong,
a place to serve, and a place to become the person God has designed
them to be. I understand those concerns well. I look forward to
spending time with parents and sharing how their students can
have a great experience at Cedarville.
The summer I first visited campus as a prospective student,
my wife, Gina, and I arrived a day early — before my scheduled
appointments. Mike DiCuirci, a longtime music professor, greeted
us on the sidewalk and offered to show us around. I declined at
first — I was hoping we could look around on our own and find
out what Cedarville was really like. He countered, “Are you sure?
I have keys. I can get you into some buildings so you can see more
of campus.” The way he welcomed us made an impression, and
Gina and I agreed that this was the place for us. We experienced
the kind of hospitality I want to extend to other families.
Acts 10 comes to mind as I think about what intercultural
leadership means. Peter, a Jewish leader, is up on the roof when
God shows him a vision for a great multicultural world, beginning
at the doorstep of Cornelius, a Gentile. Perhaps neither man
understood the enormity of what was taking place that day, when
the Gospel message forever crossed ethnic lines, but Cornelius
spoke volumes when he invited Peter inside, saying, “Now we are
all here in the presence of God ...” (Acts 10:33).
Greg Dyson ’98
is the Director of Intercultural Leadership at
Cedarville. He was previously the Dean of Admissions for Word of
Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, New York, and he is pursuing a
Master of Science degree in organizational leadership from Cairn
University. Dyson and his wife, Gina ’99, have three daughters.
Cedarville Magazine
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