Torch, Fall 2001

Promotions and Appointments C edarville University is pleased to announce the promotions and appointments of a number of faculty members, which took effect September 1. Dr. Daniel Estes has been promoted to associate academic vice president, having previously served as professor of Bible and assistant academic vice president. Estes earned his B.A. at Cedarville, his Th.M. at Dallas Theological Seminary (Texas), and his Ph.D. at Cambridge University in England. Estes has been at Cedarville since 1984. Dr. Michael Firmin, associate professor of psychology, has been named chair of the department of psychology. Firmin holds a B.A. and M.A. from Calvary Bible College (Mo.), an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Bob Jones University (S.C.), an M.A. from Marywood University (Pa.), and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University (N.Y.). Firmin has been at the University since 1998. He replaces Dr. Stanley Ballard, who retired from the University after 36 years of service. Dr. Chris Miller, professor of Bible, has been named chair of the department of biblical education. Miller holds a B.A. from Tennessee Temple, a Th.M. from Grace Theological Seminary (Ind.), and a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has been at Cedarville since 1991. He fills the position left by Dr. Floyd Elmore, who accepted a full-time pastoral position after 16 years on Cedarville’s faculty. Dr. David Mills has been named director of the honors program, replacing Dr. Daniel Estes in that position. He also has been promoted to associate professor of philosophy. Mills holds a B.S. from Cedarville and a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. He has been at Cedarville since 1994. Dr. Robert Chasnov, professor of engineering, has been appointed assistant to the chair in the Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering. Chasnov, who holds a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, has been at Cedarville since 1991. Dr. Thomas Hutchison, associate professor of Christian education, has been appointed assistant chair in the department of biblical education. With a B.A. from Cedarville, an M.Div. from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary (Mich.), and a Ph.D. from Marquette University (Wis.), Hutchison has been at Cedarville since 1995. Dr. Sharon Johnson, professor of management, has been appointed director of institutional research. Johnson, who earned his B.S., M.B.A., and D.B.A. from Florida State University, has been at Cedarville since 1993. Fall 2001 / TORCH 17 Cedarville University Sets Another Enrollment Mark C edarville University launched its new academic year September 14 when it welcomed more than 850 new students to campus. “Getting Started Weekend,” the University’s orientation program for freshmen and transferring students, included academic registration, residence hall assignments, and student service presentations. “We anticipated approximately 750 freshmen and more than 100 transfer students to arrive during ‘Getting Started Weekend,’” said Roscoe Smith, Cedarville’s director of admissions. “Once all the returning students arrived by Sept. 17, we had a record undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,925 students for the Fall Quarter. This is our 11th consecutive record enrollment. Enrollment has increased more than 40 percent in the last decade and application volume for entry to the institution has increased nearly 85 percent during the same period,” he explained. Smith emphasized that the school’s fall enrollment marks the 23rd record enrollment in the 24 years that Dr. Paul Dixon has served as Cedarville’s president. “Those years include the late 1970s and early 1980s when many colleges and universities suffered declining enrollments due to demographic trends. Under Dr. Dixon’s leadership,” he added, “Cedarville’s enrollment has increased by more than 140 percent.” SIFE Students Excel in Free Enterprise Competition T he Cedarville Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization won their division at the 2001 SIFE Regional Competition held in Lexington, Ky. In addition to their trophy (held by advisors Chuck Allport and Lew Gibbs in the photo below), they earned the opportunity to compete with 1,200 other students representing 154 institutions from around the world at the SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City. Active on more than 1,000 college and university campuses in 20 countries, SIFE encourages students to take what they learn in the classroom, apply it to real-life situations, and use their knowledge to better their communities through educational outreach projects. Each campus group conducts free enterprise-related community service projects during the year and is evaluated for creativity, results, use of resources, and presentation skills. SIFE was founded in 1975 and is a non- profit organization working in partnership with business and higher education. Its purpose is to provide college and university students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise.