ÌÇÐÄVlog

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Board of Trustees met Friday, May 1, approving 14 new faculty appointments, adopting updated curriculum offerings designed to meet workforce demands and conferring 1,167 degrees at commencement.

Cedarville’s 130th commencement took place Saturday, May 2, with the university awarding 980 undergraduate degrees and 187 graduate degrees during two ceremonies. Among the graduates, 33 students completed an accelerated degree program, earning both bachelor’s and graduate degrees simultaneously. The class of 2026 included 32 international graduates, 50 honors program recipients and 28 students who achieved a 4.0 grade-point average.

Academic focus

Trustees approved curricular updates that better align academic preparation with evolving workforce demands, renaming and repositioning the broadcasting, digital media and journalism major as media production. Students in the discipline will be able to focus their studies in audio, motion design, sports media or film and video.

This change reflects the rapid transformation of the media landscape over the past decade and is designed to ensure Cedarville graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to remain competitive in today’s marketplace.

Following a two-year, faculty-led review of the university’s general education curriculum, trustees approved a new core designed to better support Cedarville’s mission and strengthen its competitiveness in the marketplace. The updated curriculum reduces the total requirement from 51 to 43 credit hours and is organized across six disciplines: biblical education, communication, humanities, global awareness, science and math, and social science and history. The changes will take effect in the 2027-28 academic year.

Campus construction and fundraising

Trustees also received updates on two major construction projects. The $40 million Bolthouse Academic Center remains on schedule to open in August 2027. While trustees were on campus, the exterior dome was installed on top of the facility, which will house humanities, education, social work and psychology programs.

During a "topping off" celebration event held while the trustees were on campus, the university raised an additional $509,000 to support the project. Cedarville will continue offering individuals and corporations opportunities to purchase personalized pavers for a patio and walkway on the building’s west side.

Across the street, four new apartment buildings are nearing completion. The 48-bed units are scheduled to open in August for the 2026-27 academic year.

Trustees also discussed and approved exploring and developing a business plan for a future Cedarville Foundation, which will serve as a catalyst for donor investments and future fundraising initiatives.

Faculty appointments

Martha Abraham, PharmD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice. Abraham earned her doctoral and bachelor’s degrees in pharmaceutical sciences from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, she was an ambulatory care pharmacist at West Virginia University Family Medicine and assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at West Virginia University.

Nick Awabdy, M.S., associate professor of mechanical engineering. Awabdy earned his master’s degree in engineering science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Later this spring, he is expected to receive a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was the director of physical plant at ÌÇÐÄVlog since 2024 and vice president of engineering for IMMI in Westfield, Indiana.

C. Everett Berry, Ph.D., professor of theological studies. Berry earned his doctoral degree in systematic theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Master of Divinity from Criswell College. His bachelor’s degree in biblical studies is from Arlington Baptist College. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was a donor relations specialist for GuideStone Financial Resources.

Kyle Dunham, Th.D., professor of Old Testament. Dunham earned his doctoral degree in Old Testament from The Master’s Seminary and Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. His bachelor’s degree in Bible/missions was from Clarks Summit University. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was professor of Old Testament and chair of the Old Testament department at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

Corey Gilbert, Ph.D., professor of psychology. Gilbert earned his doctoral degree in family psychology from Capella University and master’s degrees in marriage and family counseling and Christian education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His bachelor’s degree in music is from Ouachita Baptist University. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was a faculty member at Colorado Christian University.

Brianna Harris, instructor of civil engineering. Harris is completing her doctoral degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas. Her bachelor’s degree is in civil engineering from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, she served as a research assistant at the University of Arkansas in Julian Fairey’s water research laboratory.

R. Benjamin Hartlage, Ph.D., associate professor of management. Hartlage earned his doctoral degree and a master’s degree in operations research from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He earned his master’s degree in human factors engineering from Wright State University and his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Louisville. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he served as a technical leader for research operations at Mission Technology Solutions.

Venus Hayden, M.S., instructor of mathematics. Hayden earned a master’s degree in mathematics education from Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Florida. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, she served on a one-year appointment as instructor of mathematics at ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Young Kwon, Ph.D., assistant professor of finance. Kwon earned his doctoral degree in finance from the University of North Texas. He also has a master’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Houston. His bachelor’s degree is in mathematics from Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was a visiting professor at Texas Woman’s University.

Jacob Mach, Ph.D., assistant professor of history. Mach earned his doctoral degree in history from Purdue University and a master’s degree in history from Bowling Green State University. His bachelor’s degree is in history from ÌÇÐÄVlog. In 2026, he served on a one-year appointment as assistant professor of history at ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Madison Prosser, instructor of human biology. Prosser is pursuing a master’s degree in anatomy from Ohio State University. Her bachelor’s degree is in molecular biology from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, Prosser was a graduate teaching associate in anatomy at Ohio State University.

Summer Schwartz, M.Th., humanities librarian and instructor of library science. Schwartz earned a master’s degree in theology from the University of Oxford and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, she was an ELA teacher at East Dayton Christian School.

Justin Sides, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology. Sides earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Regent University and a bachelor’s degree in applied theology with an emphasis in counseling from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was owner and licensed psychologist for Sides Psychological Counseling, LLC.

Jack Voigt, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament. Voigt earned his doctoral degree in New Testament from Durham University, a master’s degree in New Testament from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in Christian studies from Anderson University. Before joining Cedarville’s faculty, he was the senior pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, and adjunct professor at Anderson University and Calvary Chapel University.

Academic tenure and emeritus status

Alicia McCartney, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, was granted tenure. McCartney earned her doctoral degree in English from Baylor University and her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Patrick Henry College. She has been on Cedarville’s faculty since 2020.

Bert Wheeler, Ph.D., was named professor emeritus of economics. Wheeler had been at ÌÇÐÄVlog since 1992 and retired at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

About ÌÇÐÄVlog

ÌÇÐÄVlog, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio’s largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.