by Hannah Fair, Student Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University’s Dr. Murray Murdoch has been a pastor, author, friend, mentor, leader and coach. Now he is a distinguished professor.
Murdoch’s former student Dr. Tom Mach, vice president for academics and chief academic officer, nominated him for the distinguished professor honor, which he was awarded in September 2018.
The honor of distinguished professor is reserved for a select few professors who eminently manifest the core values of Cedarville and have dedicated a substantial portion of their career in service to students here.
A distinguished professor must display excellence in teaching effectiveness, including integration of faith and learning; contributed to departmental, university, professional and Christian services plus involvement in local church ministries; and performed scholarly activities such as research, presentations, writing, publication and/or professional activities or executive functions.
Murdoch has served at Cedarville University since 1965. In addition to several history courses, he teaches a social movements course that covers ethnic and gender issues. Murdoch and Greg Dyson, director of intercultural leadership, also co-teach the weeklong immersive Civil Rights Bus Tour, which visits key sites in the civil rights movement.
Murdoch served as the men’s tennis coach at Cedarville from 1965 to 1994. He remains active in the tennis community as a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) executive committee and board of directors. He has also held several interim pastorates in Ohio.
“I am convinced that the integration of scripture and knowledge is extremely important,” said Murdoch. “I love Cedarville’s commitment to the inerrancy, authority and inspiration of God’s word; standing for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ is my heartbeat and passion.”
Murdoch appreciates Cedarville providing him with the opportunity to teach the people and subjects he loves to teach and the chance to use his God-given passion for Christian higher education. “This honor means a great deal to me; it means that I am respected by the administration that I have served for the past 54 years,” he said. “My contributions have been valued and my opinions respected.”
“Dr. Murdoch served in so many different roles, taught hundreds of courses and tens of thousands of students, because of his commitment to Christ and desire to be used of him in the lives of students,” said Mach. “Dr. Murdoch's legacy is in the lives changed because of his mentoring, his disciplining and his teaching.”
Murdoch is a professor with a pastor's heart, continued Mach. “His teaching is grounded in the truth of Scripture and designed to teach students how to think,” he said. “He has always made time for students who needed help, advice or simply someone to pray with them. I am but one example of a life that was changed by the investment he was willing to make.”
Murdoch taught Mach as a student then hired Mach as a professor. Now, Murdoch reports to Mach.
“I love him like a son, and I have no greater joy than to see his God-given talents being put to use at our university,” Murdoch said of Mach. “I am thrilled to serve under him. I take joy in many of my students returning as colleagues and seeing the hand of God moving in each of their lives.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.