Inspire, Fall/Winter 2010

pres ident ’s perspect i ve A Bold Step Forward by William E. Brown, Ph.D. Dr. Brown’s Top Picks ■ Book Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef and Ron Brackin This book, written by the son of a founder of Hamas, is a stunning story of intrigue, terror, betrayal, and his conversion to Christ. A New York Times bestseller, I couldn’t put it down. ■ Website infoplease.com You don’t have to “google” everything. Try infoplease for great resources and answers to any questions you might have. Lots of fun. ■ Podcast thisamericanlife.org This is a widely popular and frequently downloaded podcast. It features fascinating slices of American life that are unusual and intriguing. ■ Movie Toy Story 3 Don’t laugh — at least not at me for choosing this. Toy Story 3 is more than a children’s movie. Watch it for examples of biblical themes: sin, courage, sacrifice, redemption, acceptance, love, and mutual dependence. To infinity and beyond! When Cedarville began developing the engineering program, there were challenging questions that needed answers. “Can a Christian college offer engineering?” The Cedarville leadership knew the addition of an engineering major in 1990 would set the school apart. Seven years before, the bold step to initiate a department of nursing set the school on a trajectory into professional studies, a move that some questioned. With that same boldness, the engineering program was not merely an add-on to the physics major, as at many Christian schools, but rather an aggressive step to build a full-fledged department of engineering. That required the development of advanced curricula, top-quality equipment, superior labs, and, most importantly, qualified and experienced professors who embraced Cedarville’s commitment to Christ. “Will qualified engineering faculty come to Cedarville?” The critical mass of Cedarville’s engineering department is found in the outstanding faculty. Even from the beginning, there was no shortage of qualified engineering educators who wanted to teach at Cedarville. Faculty came with industry and teaching experience and Ph.D.s from Purdue, Cornell, The Air Force Institute of Technology, and a long list of other top-rated programs. They not only brought credibility, but they had the freedom to develop a unique, cutting-edge program that quickly gained respect. The results speak for themselves. Phil Jarvis ’06 now has a dream job as an analyst at Boeing. He has received many compliments on both his professionalism and his academic preparation. Phil said, “I am more proud about the compliment directed toward Cedarville than to myself.” “Won’t you have to water down your Christian commitment?” It was no surprise to us that faculty came to Cedarville because of the Christ-centered and student-focused mission. Cedarville was a place where they could integrate their love of engineering with their love for Christ while mentoring bright, motivated students. Jeff Saunders ’97, an electrical engineering graduate, appreciated how the Cedarville experience extended beyond the classroom through outreach ministries. He and his wife, Angela (Boyce) ’97, and three children are now missionaries in Kijabe, Kenya, where they are making a difference for Christ. “Can it be done?” There’s an often-quoted proverb that says, “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.” While some said it couldn’t be done or sustained, the engineering program has carved out a Christ-centered, unique, and highly recognized program. Our students are competing favorably on national and international levels. Our faculty are leaders in their field. Twenty years later, the verdict is clear: the engineering program has been a tremendous blessing for Cedarville. 44 fall/winter 2010