Ohio Christian University - Former Presidents

Former Presidents

Everett A. Keaton (1948-1952)

• First president of Ohio Christian University (first known as Mount of Praise Bible School)
• Two-Year Bible Training Course established in 1949
• Improvements and upgrades to the Mount of Praise Camp Meeting grounds in order to facilitate needs of the college
• Ministerial and denominational financial support of the college created
• First Student Council created

Guy C. Johnson (1952-1953)

• Only interim president in the history of Ohio Christian University

Richard G. Humble (1953-1956)

• First Administration building constructed and completed (1953-54)
• Name of school changed from Mount of Praise Bible School to Circleville Bible College (spring 1954)
• First college chapel built (1955)
• First President's home purchased (Christmas 1955)
• Student enrollment tops 50 for first time (January 1956)

Glen Johnson (1956-1959)

• Student enrollment tops 70 for first time (September 1957)
• First College Board of Trustees organized in 1958
• New library-science building constructed in 1958 financed primarily through donation campaign among Church of Christ in Evangelical Christian Youth

Morton W. Dorsey (1959-1964)

• Ohio Christian University received its first State Charter from Ohio Board of education (1961)
• College station wagon purchased through Top Value Stamps campaign among the student body (Fall 1961)
• First Youth Conference Weekend began in Spring 1961

Melvin Maxwell (1964-1980)

• Administration/academic building constructed and occupied in August 1966 at new 40-acre campus site on Route 22 east of Circleville
• Student enrollment tops 150 (Fall 1967)
• York Hall, Campus Church, Academic Building, Moore Hall, and Campus Center constructed and occupied (1967-1970)
• Student enrollment tops 200 (Fall 1968)
• In 1970, the university received applicant status from American Association of Bible Colleges.
• Full accreditation as a Bible College attained in Fall 1976.

Douglas Carter (1980-1989)

• Increased the profile of OCU nationally with his involvement in World Gospel Mission
• OCU accepted as a participant in the Ohio Instructional Grant program
• OCU budget tithe implemented in each CCCU local church
• Endowment Fund created; $450,000 balance in 1989
• Intercollegiate sports in the National Christian College Athletic Association for men and women were established (basketball for both men and women; volleyball for women and baseball for men)
• Associate of Arts degree in Religion approved by the Ohio Board of Regents

David Van Hoose (1989-1994)

• In 1989, 5-Year Strategic Plan developed as required by AABC. This plan served as a model for other colleges in AABC as well as for OCU
• Counseling program major created; Teacher Education Education program affiliation with Mount Vernon Nazarene College and Ashland University established
• Adult Completion Program (predecessor to today's popular AIM Program) was instituted
• Office of Institutional Development created
• Major fire in December 1990 destroyed much of the girl's dormitory, Moore Hall. Restoration completed in the summer of 1991
• Johnson Hall and Campus Church made handicap accessible in 1993

John Conley (1995-2005)

• Steered OCU through the process of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Received full accreditation in 2005.
• Annual operating budget of OCU increased from $1.4 million in 1995 to $3.8 million in 2003
• Student enrollment increased from 170 in 1995 to 413 in 2005; OCU received Christianity Today and the Association for Biblical Higher Education's growth award in 2001 and again in 2005
• OCU graduates largest class ever in 2005 with 96 students
• The Adult Education Program (AIM) was launched in 1998 and later expanded to the campuses of Hocking College and Columbus State Community College
• 14,000 square foot addition made to the Melvin and Laura Maxwell Library
• Three family unit townhouse and World Gospel Mission Student Involvement Center erected in 1999
• Clock tower named in honor of longtime faculty member, Dr. David Case placed in center of the campus area
• Addition of a rear entrance to Johnson Hall and the refurbishing of the exterior of the Graham Administration Building completed in 2003-04
• Construction of a 6400 square foot addition to Johnson Hall that houses the Music Department, Student Services, Student Lounge and President's Dining Room; *The OCU Board of Trustees named the addition the Conley Ministry Center in his honor