by Hannah Fair, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University president Dr. Thomas White has named Dr. Janice Supplee, vice president for marketing and communications since 2016, the new dean of graduate studies at the university.
The added responsibility is not new to Supplee, who last year served in both roles, the graduate studies function on an interim basis. Cedarville enrolls 417 online and residential students in its graduate programs, which include a doctoral degree in pharmacy; master’s degrees in business, divinity, ministry and nursing; and a graduate reading certificate.
Supplee has served at Cedarville since 1995 and has been a member of the president’s cabinet since 2009. She became the vice president for enrollment management and marketing in 2009 and transitioned to her current leadership responsibilities for marketing and communications in November 2016.
“Our strategic goals for graduate programs reflect a passion to equip highly skilled professionals who are committed to living out their faith in the workplace,” said Supplee. “We are looking at new program opportunities that serve the local church and advance Cedarville’s successful health care and professional degree programs. We are also proposing an appropriate long-term structure for graduate programs that organizationally will continue to foster a thriving graduate student culture.”
Current goals for graduate studies include maintaining momentum within existing programs, seeking maximum potential in every degree and continuing to add specialized tracks for students to follow in their concentrated field.
“We have intentionally made certain that our graduate programs — whether delivered online or on campus — have the same level of excellence that Cedarville’s undergraduate programs are known for,” said Supplee. “Quality faculty, practical experiences and a biblical worldview are woven into every course Cedarville offers. We equip students to use their vocations to share the gospel and minister to others.”
Along with aligning to the university’s mission, White has also laid out quality, marketability and sustainability as benchmarks for any Cedarville graduate program. Excellent faculty and ongoing program assessment produce quality, sufficient student interest and employer demand ensure marketability and strong enrollment and efficient cost structures create sustainability.
Supplee earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Cedarville University in 1986. She received a Master of Business Administration from Wright State University in 2001. In 2014, Supplee earned a doctorate in educational studies from the University of Nebraska.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 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.