Faculty Panel
Speakers are selected by a faculty panel representing each of the University's four major academic divisions or colleges. This panel screens all potential speakers and creates a context to help students evaluate the content of each lecture or presentation using skills that they develop in the classroom at Cedarville University. Students are taught to evaluate the content of each presentation from a Christian worldview, and to discuss differences in opinion with respect and civility.
School of Biblical and Theological Studies
Dan Estes
Dan Estes serves as dean of the school of biblical and theological studies. He teaches courses in Spiritual Formation and Christian Worldview Integration in the general education Bible minor. His areas of research and writing include the Psalms and Old Testament Wisdom Literature. His most recent book, a commentary on Song of Songs for the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series, will be released in fall 2009. Dr. Estes received his B.A. in preseminary Bible and English from Cedarville (1974), his Th.M. in Old Testament exegesis from Dallas Theological Seminary (1978), and his Ph.D. in biblical exegesis from Cambridge University (1988). He was elected to a life membership in Clare Hall, Cambridge in 2005. Dr. Estes and his wife, Carol, live in Worthington, where Dan is choir director at Linworth Baptist Church, a church in which he served as an assistant pastor for 10 years.
Joy Fagan
Joy Fagan is an associate professor in the school of biblical and theological Studies at Cedarville University, a Christian liberal arts institution in Cedarville, Ohio. Her teaching focus is in the area of gender issues, spiritual formation and women's ministry. She has been teaching at Cedarville University since 1994, including courses such as Scriptural Interpretation of Gender Issues, Spiritual Formation, Women's Communication for Ministry, Men and Women in Leadership, Women in Church History, and Contemporary Women's Ministry.
In addition, Joy speaks at women's retreats and conferences, and has worked as a consultant for various churches on the topic of gender issues as well as building a women's ministry. She has a passion for teaching and equipping women to be all that they can be for all that Christ is. She also has organized conferences and presented seminars in areas such as evangelism, communicational skill development, women and leadership, and intervention for women at risk. She is involved with the Clark County Jail ministry in Springfield, Ohio and serves on the advisory board for Kingdom Connections of Greater Dayton as well as providing leadership for a transition hour for women coming out of the jail system in Springfield.
A 2005 graduate of Southern Seminary with a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Church Ministry, Joy is single and resides in Cedarville.
School of Humanities
Mark Smith
Dr. Smith serves as assistant professor of political science and the director of the Center for Political Studies. He teaches courses in American politics, constitutional law, and research methodology/data analysis. Dr. Smith has authored numerous refereed journal articles, book chapters, and other publications. His primary research interest is in the field of religion and American politics. He received his B.A. in history from Bryan College (1992), an M.A. in the history of Christianity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1995), and an M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (2001) in political science from the University of Georgia. Before arriving at Cedarville in 2004, Dr. Smith taught at Tulane University and Calvin College.
Margaret Wheeler
Margaret Wheeler serves as Associate Professor of Communication Arts. She received her B.A. from Cedarville College in 1964 and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Central State University in 1998. Prof. Wheeler serves as the Coordinator of the Fundamentals Program, and is a member of the National Basic Course Directors, National Communication and the Ohio Communication Association. Currently, she teaches Introduction to Communication Arts, and Fundamentals of Speech. Prof. Wheeler was awarded the 2008 SOCHE Excellence Award for exemplary teaching and is known for creating a positive learning atmosphere in the classroom and strong relationships with her advisees. Professor Wheeler was also the 2007-2008 Miracle Yearbook Dedication recipient. She has been at Cedarville since 1988. She and her husband, Bill, use their holidays to visit their 6 daughters and their families.
School of Natural and Applied Sciences
John Silvius
Dr. Silvius serves as Senior Professor of Biology and Center Associate for Environmental Ethics in the Center for Bioethics at Cedarville. He has been at Cedarville since 1979. John earned his B.A. from Malone College (1969), a Ph.D. in plant physiology from West Virginia University (1974), and completed postdoctoral experiences in the department of botany and the department of agronomy at the University of Illinois (1974–1976). He also serves as adjunct professor and Cedarville representative at the AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies. Before coming to Cedarville, Dr. Silvius was a plant physiologist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Institute of Biological Sciences, Botanical Society of America, Creation Research Society, and Nature Conservancy. Dr. Silvius has been honored as Cedarville's Faculty Member of the Year and also as Faculty Scholar of the Year. His research interests include the effects of disturbance on forest communities and preservation of prairie remnants in southwest Ohio. He is an active member of his church, where he serves as a deacon and in the Awana program. He and his wife, Abby, have been married since 1969 and have a son, Brad; a daughter, Melinda; and three grandchildren.
Dennis Sullivan
Dr. Sullivan serves as professor of biology and director of the Center for Bioethics. He has been at Cedarville since 1996. He received his B.S. from Youngstown State University (1974) and his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University (1978). In 2004, he completed his M.A. in bioethics from Trinity University. He has been honored as a Diplomat by the American Board of Surgery (1985) and as a Fellow by the American College of Surgeons (1996). Before coming to Cedarville, Dr. Sullivan served as a medical missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions for three years in Haiti and three years in the Central African Republic. He is a member of several organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Christian Medical Association, the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. His research interests center on moral philosophy and biomedical ethics. He is also actively involved in his church as a Sunday school teacher. In his spare time, Dr. Sullivan enjoys woodworking and racquetball. He and his wife, Barbara, have three daughters.
School of Social Science and Human Performance
Eddie Baumann
Dr. Baumann serves as Professor of Education and teaches graduate and undergraduates courses in Philosophy of Education, Educational Psychology, and the graduate course Diversity and Social Issues in Education. He has been teaching at Cedarville since 1993. Dr. Baumann earned his B.S. (1983), M.S. (1987), and Ph.D. (1995) from the University of Wisconsin. He also serves as a visiting professor at Columbia International University (S.C.). Prior to coming to Cedarville he taught in both public and Christian school settings. His wife Teresea is a 6th grade teacher at Xenia Christian Elementary School. Dr. Baumann also teaches adult Sunday School at his church.
Chuck Dolph
Dr. Dolph serves as Professor of Psychology. He heads the psychology internship program and teaches Orientation to Psychology, Intimate Relationships, Human Sexuality, Literature Seminar, and Social Psychology. He received his Ph.D. from Georgia State University in 1982 and has taught at Cedarville since 1979. His primary interests are spiritual and social contributors to health and illness. Dr. Dolph works with long-term care facilities and hospices to meet the psychological needs of ill and dying persons. He is the advisor to Psi Kappa Theta, the student psychology club.