New president named at Columbia International University
February 2, 2017
An experienced and respected Christian higher education administrator has been named the seventh president of Columbia International University following a vote by the CIU Board of Trustees on Feb. 2
Dr. Mark A. Smith comes to CIU from Ohio Christian University (OCU) where he served as president for 11 years, increasing enrollment from approximately 400 to 4,600 students during his tenure. In addition, under Smith the university opened 14 sites in rural areas for student learning and began offering online educational programs. Smith also directed $30 million in capital construction projects and the increase of university personnel from approximately 50 to 800 employees.
Prior to coming to OCU, Smith served as vice president for adult and graduate studies at Indiana Wesleyan University where he oversaw the doubling of enrollment from approximately 5,000 to 10,000 students in four years.
Smith also has experience in Pre-K to 12th grade education, having served as principal of Bible Fellowship Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Smith has served on numerous corporate, educational and community boards and is currently the chairman of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), an accrediting agency.
Smith earned a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in College Teaching from Northeastern State University and a bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from Hobe Sound Bible College.
CIU Board of Trustees Chairman Doug Rutt says Smith is highly qualified to take CIU into the future.
“Dr. Mark Smith loves the very things that CIU loves,” Rutt said. “Additionally, he has the training, gifting, and experience to fulfill CIU’s mission: to educate even more people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.”
Rutt also commended outgoing president Dr. Bill Jones as a “humble servant-leader” who was instrumental in recruiting Smith as a candidate to replace him as president. Jones, CIU’s sixth president, has served in that role since 2007.
Smith officially becomes CIU president July 1, while Jones assumes the role of CIU chancellor, replacing Dr. George Murray who had announced his retirement. As chancellor, Jones will represent CIU in a variety of venues.
Founded in 1923, Columbia International University is private, Christian and multidenominational. CIU prepares students to make a positive impact on the world through their professional calling. The university is recognized for the quality of its academic offerings, consistently ranked among the top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. www.ciu.edu
