Mark comes into this role with over 30 years of institutional experience. For most of that time, Mark served as the director of the Wisconsin Wilderness Campus (WWC), the University’s first year program from 1988–2013. His responsibilities at WWC were varied, but his role as a discipler and mentor to the first year students was paramount in their transition to college and adulthood. It is for these reasons that Scott Cawood, senior vice president of student affairs and administration, notes that Mark is “the logical choice to lead our students as chaplain.”
The vision for the University chaplaincy is to create a center for both the corporate and personal aspects of discipleship and spiritual formation. Specifically, this includes overseeing the chapel schedule to maintain a common message of biblical truth; shaping the ministry credit program to make an impact in our churches and the local community; and developing discipleship, prayer, and Bible study groups among the incoming students and the remainder of the student body. Mark will also continue to teach courses through the School of Divinity such as the new Life & Calling freshman course that focuses on what it means to live faithfully as a servant of God.
“In my previous roles, I was involved with students in areas of their lives beyond the classroom, and that experience was not just beneficial to many students’ personal growth but to mine as well,” said Mark. “If I am calling students to be disciples of Jesus, I need to be one first. I am looking forward to working again more directly in areas of Student Life that impact the entire Cairn community.”
Cairn University Receives MSCHE Approval for New Doctorate of Education Program
On Friday, December 6, 2024, Cairn University announced that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) officially approved the University’s initiative to implement a Doctorate of Education (EdD) program.