Olivet the Magazine; The Parent Guide - Autumn '25

THE PARENT GUIDE

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY AUTUMN 2025

OLIVET

OLIVET THE MAGAZINE is published quarterly by the

Office of Marketing and Engagement under the direction of the vice president for institutional advancement.

VOLUME 94 ISSUE 4 (USPS 407-880) (ISSN 2325-7334)

Copyright ©2025

Olivet Nazarene University

One University Avenue Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2345 800-648-1463

PRESIDENT

Dr. Gregg Chenoweth ’90/M.A./Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Matt Foor ’95 CPA/MSA

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Rob Lalumendre ’12/’14 MBA

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Dr. Mark Reddy ’95/’08 MOL/’24 Ed.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Jason Stephens M.A./Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Dr. Brian Allen ’82/’05 Litt.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Stephen Lowe ’88/M.A./Ph.D.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Dr. Brian Allen ’82/’05 Litt.D.

Dr. Brian W. Parker ’93/’11 Ed.D. for 989 Group

George Wolff ’93 for 989 Group

Susan Wolff ’94/’06 MBA

Erika Moeschke ’12/’19 MBA

ART DIRECTION

George Wolff ’93 for 989 Group DESIGN

Donnie Johnson

Matt Moore ’96 for 989 Group

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Ballogg, Jones Foto, Image Group, Joe Mantarian ’16, Noah Sears ’23

Additional photography submitted

EDITORIAL SUPPORT AND DESIGN

Adam Asher ’01/’07 MOL for 989 Group

Lauren Beatty ’13, Raquel Gonzalez ’24

Alicia (Gallagher) Guertin ’14, Rebecca Huber, Andrew Perabeau ’20

Hannah (Iverson) Priest ’21/’22 MBA, Noah Sears ’23, Heather (Kinzinger) Shaner ’98, Laura Warfel for 989 Group, Evan Ortell ’27, George Hannah ’25, Josiah Johnson ’25

Periodicals postage paid at the Bourbonnais, Illinois, post office and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster, send address changes to: Editor, Olivet The Magazine

Olivet Nazarene University One University Avenue Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2345

Reproduction of material without written permission is prohibited. News, events and announcements are printed at the discretion of the editorial board. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent Olivet Nazarene University policy. Unless otherwise noted, Olivet The Magazine quotes Bible passages from the New International Version.

WELCOME, STUDENTS

From orientation to move-in day, life at Olivet comes at you fast. Fortunately, there are lots of student-led organizations on campus that welcome and help fellow students with most anything they need.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2025 Parent Guide, a special issue of Olivet The Magazine published by Olivet Nazarene University. It wasn’t too many years ago that my wife and I were helping our own son gain insight into his Olivet future. I’m not just a president; I’m a parent. I know what you’re going through.

This magazine is designed specifically to assist you in navigating the college search process alongside your student and to provide information that will help you evaluate all aspects of university life.

Choosing the right college or university is a very important decision. The college search process can be vast, complicated, time-consuming and even stressful at times, so we hope you find this issue informative, useful, inspiring and reassuring. We also hope you embark on this journey with a sense of excitement for what you’ll soon encounter.

We believe Olivet can partner with the good work of parents not only in the logistics of admission but in shaping a student toward a worthy life. Our hope is to provide more than a professional credential. We also created an ecosystem for students to encounter God while at Olivet and discern His calling on their lives.

While we don’t require a profession of faith to enroll, and not all students have fully sorted out their faith, you and they will discover a winsome message and environment to make eternal choices while preparing for temporal professional ones. I pray for you — along with a dedicated team of faculty, staff and administrators — every Tuesday, for an hour, in Kelley Prayer Chapel.

I hope you schedule a time to visit our campus this summer or fall for either a personalized campus visit or for one of the many Purple & Gold Days events.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of any assistance. No matter where you are in the process, the entire Olivet community is with you in spirit and available to you should you have questions at any point.

Sincerely,

Gregg Chenoweth, Ph.D. University President

Chenoweth ’90, Ph.D., is the 13th president of Olivet Nazarene University. He earned his Ph.D. in organizational communication from Wayne State University and is the author of Everyday Discernment: The Art of Cultivating Spirit-Led Leadership (The Foundry Press, 2021).

Gregg

ONU IN THE NEWS

OIivet Athletics: Fall Preview

After securing a 16th consecutive Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) All-Sports Cup and another top 20 finish in the NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, the Olivet Nazarene University Department of Athletics is gearing up for another dominant year of competition in 2025–2026.

The women’s volleyball team kicked off the athletic calendar by hosting the Tigers Kickoff Invite in McHie Arena in mid-August. The team will look to build off early momentum and make a push for a third-straight CCAC Tournament appearance under head coach Jake Ostema ’24 MBA.

Longtime head women’s soccer coach Bill Bahr ’96/’05 MBA/’14 MAR will lead the Tigers in his 27th season at the helm, looking to send his squad to the NAIA National Tournament for a fourth consecutive year after back-to-back years of opening round wins. The women’s soccer team will play its first four matches on the road before hosting rival St. Ambrose University on Sept. 17.

The men’s soccer team is vying to return to the national stage and its spot atop the CCAC. The Tigers will open the schedule with three matches on their home pitch.

The men’s and women’s cross-country teams are aiming to capitalize off a historic year after securing the first women’s conference title in nine years and qualifying for the NAIA Championship meet on both sides a season ago. The teams will open the year at the Lewis Early Bird before hosting the Midwest Classic at the Aspen Ridge Golf Course on Sept. 19.

The football team will enter its second year under head coach Avante Mitchell. After opening the season on the road at Taylor University, the Tigers came home to a whiteout game on Sept. 6 at Ward Field under the lights against Madonna University.

For more about Tiger Athletics, visit ONUTigers.com.

Theatre Deptartment Hosts

Inaugural Professional Theatre Conference

This past spring, Olivet Nazarene University hosted its first Professional Theatre Conference, inviting students to learn from accomplished actors, including alumnus George Andrew Wolff ’93 and James Harms. The event featured a panel discussion, student performances and live feedback sessions.

Seventeen student acts were selected from video auditions, with three receiving one-on-one coaching. Organized by ONU Theatre Director Kelsie Davis ’19/’22 MBA, the conference aimed to bridge the gap between college and professional theatre. With nearly 50 attendees from multiple academic disciplines, the event emphasized that all students — regardless of major — could gain valuable insight into the world of performance.

Ferris Named Director of Entrepreneurship Program

Daniel Ferris ’90/’01 MBA has been named the director of Olivet Nazarene University’s entrepreneurship program. Professor Ferris, who brings decades of leadership experience and has a deep family legacy at ONU, will lead the entrepreneurship major and minor, the Createur Conference & Pitch Competition and the new Crawford Startup Studio.

“I’m excited to help students build business plans and discover their calling,” he said. “Walking alongside them as they gain confidence and clarity is a great joy.”

Dr. Glen Rewerts, dean of ONU’s McGraw School of Business, added, “Daniel brings both entrepreneurial expertise and a heart for student mentorship — professionally and spiritually. We’re blessed to have him leading this program forward.”

Athletes and Coaches Connect at 2025 Avante Mitchell Football Mega Camp

More than 200 high school athletes attended the inaugural Avante Mitchell Football Mega Camp at Olivet Nazarene University this past June. With over 30 college coaches from across the country in attendance, the camp gave student-athletes a chance to showcase their talents and build meaningful recruiting connections.

“This camp gave players direct access to coaches who may have otherwise never seen them,” head coach Avante Mitchell said. “Several athletes even left with scholarship offers.”

Open to all positions, the camp featured skill evaluations, drills and recruiting exposure — laying the groundwork for future collegiate opportunities and continued program growth at ONU.

‘All In. All Together.’ for Annual

Day of Giving

The Olivet Nazarene University community came together in a powerful way this past April for the ninth annual Day of Giving. In just 24 hours, more than 2,200 donors helped raise over $570,000, surpassing the University’s ambitious goals.

This year’s theme, “All In. All Together.,” reflected the passion and unity that define the Olivet experience. The day generated support for over 50 initiatives, including academic programs, athletic department projects, student life enhancements, ministry and mission opportunities, and the first-ever studentvoted project.

“Our goal is to creatively support the people and programs that make Olivet special,” said Austin Brown ’19, director of the Olivet Fund. “This year’s results reflect the Olivet community’s deep belief in our mission.”

The student-voted project — a hammock park and fire pits — was fully funded, along with 12 other projects, including the Shalom Project ministry trips and men’s baseball equipment needs.

Looking ahead to 2026, Olivet will celebrate the 10th Day of Giving on April 15, 2026, with the goal of raising $1 million and engaging the wider community through an exciting campus event and surprises throughout the day.

“We look forward to building on our success together next year,” Austin said.

WEEKLY WORSHIP

Chapel services at Olivet Nazarene University are held twice a week, offering the entire community the opportunity to worship together and pursue wisdom and reverence in Christian unity. Student-led music begins each convocation, and weekly world-renowned speakers range from pastors and teachers to noted alumni and spiritual influencers to world leaders, authors and speakers.

Goff Challenges Students to Live with Curiosity and Courage

“We fly under the banner of Christ, and it changes everything — or it changes nothing. It can’t just change a couple things.” With this challenge, bestselling author Dr. Bob Goff captivated a packed Centennial Chapel, at the beginning of September.

Rather than typical greetings, Dr. Goff encouraged students to ask deeper questions: “What does it feel like to be you today?” Admitting his own vulnerability, he shared, “It feels like a hundred percent anticipation and about 90% insecurity. I just mask it with enthusiasm.”

Drawing from his Pacific sailing experience, Dr. Goff used navigation as a spiritual metaphor. After steering the wrong course from California to Hawaii, he realized, “Nobody wants to hear about all the things you know. They want to hear about the stuff you’re still trying to figure out. And Jesus feels the same way.”

Referencing Matthew 25, Dr. Goff outlined life’s true plan.

“I was hungry and you fed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink... Don’t look for a plan for your life. That’s the plan for your life.”

He warned against distraction as faith’s greatest obstacle.

“The devil doesn’t want to destroy you,” he said. “ If he can distract you this semester and next semester, that’s where his work is done.”

Goff concluded with a powerful reminder.

“On your very worst day with your biggest screwup, do you know what Jesus calls you?” He asked the audience. “He calls you beloved And if you’re not hearing the word beloved ... it ain’t Jesus talking.”

Zobrist’s 2016 World Series Cubs

MVP Trophy Now at Olivet

Olivet Nazarene University recently celebrated the installation of Ben Zobrist’s 2016 World Series MVP trophy in the Perry Student Life and Recreation Center lobby, with the Chicago Cubs star lending the trophy on one condition: that the display tell the story of God’s faithfulness in his life.

Ben, the talented second baseman whose 10th-inning double help end the Cubs’ 108-year championship drought, attended Olivet for three years and played Tiger baseball. He has regularly returned to share his testimony in chapel and speak to ONU athletic teams.

“Olivet gave me the opportunity to get an education with a Christian purpose but to also compete with a Christian purpose,” Ben said.

While the silver trophy shined brilliantly in its glass case atop an oak podium, Ben emphasized deeper symbolism.

“It’s not about the picture in the front or the person in the front,” he said. “It’s about the story of what

God does. When He builds you up, you stand on the shoulders of other people.”

The display’s materials hold special meaning.

“When I look at the base, I see all these people who put things in place that made it possible to stand on their shoulders,” he says. “The glass represents that protection. There are so many Godly people who were praying for me as I went through the minor leagues.”

Ben spent 14 years in Major League Baseball, contributing to two World Series championships and earning three All-Star selections. Now retired, he founded Champion Forward, a nonprofit supporting athletes, coaches and parents navigating sports’ emotional demands.

“As a believer, you don’t do things to get awards or attention,” he said. “You do things to honor and glorify God.”

LET’S GET SOCIAL

WORL

DVIEW

While there is much to be learned in the classrooms right here on campus, one of the best parts of the Olivet Nazarene University experience is the lessons learned when students step into cultures and communities around the world.

WORLDVIEW

Madison Zeldenrust

Guatemala

For senior Madison Zeldenrust, a mission trip to Guatemala didn’t just mark her first trip outside the United States. It changed her life.

“I came full of nerves — I didn’t speak much Spanish and didn’t feel equipped to teach communications,” she says. “But God showed me that age or experience doesn’t matter. He uses whoever comes to Him willingly, and He did more than I could ask or imagine.”

Led by Brian Utter ’81, Shine.FM station manager, and Dr. Heather McLaughlin, chair of the Department of Communication, the Olivet Nazarene University team stayed at a Nazarene seminary in Guatemala City. After exploring the city, they prepared for a communications camp attended by people from across Central America — Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras — who learned social media, public speaking, podcasting, photography and storytelling to strengthen their home churches.

Other trip members included senior Ava Tueck, sophomore David Gonzalez and sophomore Camden Koester; Abbey Bennet ’23, Shine.FM development officer; and graduate assistant Maori Brown ’24.

The trip concluded in Cobán, where the group visited a remote children’s ministry in a village without running water or electricity. Madison recalls teaching a young boy to say “blue” in English. It was a moment that showed how technology bridges language gaps and God’s love crosses every barrier.

Worshipping in three languages around a campfire and witnessing joy amid hardship reminded Madison of Zechariah 14:9: “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. ... There will be one Lord, and His name the only name.”

“Trips like this push you out of your comfort zone and deepen your reliance on Christ — physically, spiritually and relationally,” she says. “It changed my life and my Olivet experience for the better.”

WORLDVIEW

Cole Tueck Cactus, Texas

For recent graduate Cole Tueck ’25, partnering with the Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC) in Cactus, Texas, was a powerful experience. The community is made up of immigrants and refugees from more than 20 countries, and Cole and his Olivet Nazarene University mission trip teammates supported outreach programs such as ESL and citizenship classes, after-school youth ministry and community events.

Led by Jacki Tamez ’20 and Ben Hansen ’23, the team also included senior Karey Mendiola, senior Korey Ziemkowski, sophomore Caleb Jones, junior Ethan Mathews, Justine Kauffman ’25, sophomore Logan Carver, Isaiah Dallal ’25, senior Anna Reynolds and Brooklyn Hulliberger ’25.

Over the course of their experience, the ONU team used their unique gifts and talents to connect directly to the work at CNMC: A pastoral ministry student preached, a music major led worship and social work students helped with social services.

The group also assisted with painting and landscaping, giving the center’s staff a much-needed break amid recent transitions. Cole found the testimonies of CNMC staff especially impactful, noting their deep faith and perseverance despite challenges.

“Mission trips like this one have played a significant role in shaping my spiritual walk and growth as a student,” Cole says. “Not only do they allow us to support and encourage others, but they allow us to learn from those already doing meaningful Kingdom work. There is an invitation extended to us to see the world through different stories and perspectives, which deepens our understanding of faith and service.”

WORLDVIEW

Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf

Papua New Guinea

In continued partnership and research, Olivet Nazarene University students and faculty spent a month at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, dividing their efforts among engineering projects, scientific research and medical shadowing with missionary doctors.

The team included seniors Sadie Blaszczyk, Jaxon Snyder and Emily Neel; recent graduates Will Brown ’25 and Lucy Martinson ’25; and professors Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, Dr. Aggie Veld and Dr. Michael Wade.

One highlight was performing lifesaving HPV testing to detect cervical cancer early. Several women who tested positive for cancer-causing HPV were able to receive early treatment, likely saving their lives. The team also confronted difficult realities, including treating victims of violence, which underscored the urgent need for Christ’s hope in the world.

For Dr. Vander Schaaf, these trips are always meaningful because she sees how students develop a broader worldview, witness God’s vast creation, and grow in reliance on Him while learning to steward their gifts for Kingdom work.

“This trip was a profound reminder of how truly blessed we are — not just with material resources but with knowledge and opportunity,” Dr. Vander Schaaf says. “Yet, what moved me most was witnessing the incredible generosity and joy of the people we met — despite having so little. It challenged me personally to live more generously and trust God deeply, no matter the circumstances.”

WORLDVIEW

Samuel Morehart

Tanzania

In his second trip to Tanzania as part of an Olivet Nazarene University mission trip team, Sam Morehart ’25 once again witnessed the Lord working and moving among the people there.

“One of the most impactful moments was visiting the orphanage,” Sam shared. “Seeing the reality of the children’s lives hit all of us hard, but it was amazing to see the church leaders step up, engage with the kids and lead them later in the trip.”

The mission trip team worked with a church in Arusha, providing ministry training for lead pastors and serving at a local orphanage. Each day, a small group visited the orphanage to play games, share Bible stories and spend time with the children. In the second half of the trip, they returned to Mwanza to continue ministry training for children’s, youth and lead pastors.

The trip was led by Dr. Leon Blanchette, Antonio Marshall ’13 and Olivia White ’25 and included student team members: sophomore Victoria Schenck, senior Katie Draper, senior Sydney Marcukaitis, sophomore Emily Poole, junior Leigha Pardee, junior Amanda Elleson, junior Evangeline Stein, sophomore Laney Glueck and junior Logan MacPherson.

Sam noted that the team’s strong bonds and diverse gifts created a powerful environment for ministry and growth.

“Tanzania is a place where the Lord is moving in big ways, and our team experienced that in very tangible ways during our time there,” Sam says. “Even though we see the injustices happening at times, we have trust that the Lord is making all things new. That’s where our focus needs to be.”

WORLDVIEW

RyLeigh Shaul

Honduras

Junior RyLeigh Shaul had an eye-opening experience during a week in Honduras partnering with Footsteps Ministries, an organization dedicated to creating better opportunities for the next generation.

Led by Erika Moeschke ’12/’19 MBA, senior director of alumni relations; Wayne DeBoer, director of development; and Olivia White ’25, the Olivet team of 16 students worked at a community site that included a pickleball court, Selva Café and living quarters for children who travel long distances to attend school. RyLeigh led the mural project, designing and painting three murals inspired by Footsteps’ mission and collaborating with a translator to plan future art projects.

In the afternoons, the group served lunch and engaged with children at two after-school sites called The Gardens. They used crafts, lessons and games to connect through their shared love for the Lord. Evenings included cultural immersion with meals in local homes and businesses, helping the team grasp the broader impact of their work.

“Each teammate flexed their unique gifts — from worship leading and lesson planning to painting — and it made this trip unforgettable,” RyLeigh says.

A highlight for RyLeigh was helping create lasting art in a foreign place, which deepened her perspective on life at home.

“Seeing children sing and dance despite language and material differences reminded me that we all serve the same God,” she explains. “Trips like this push you beyond your comfort zone and equip you to serve boldly.”

“Each teammate flexed their unique gifts — from worship leading and lesson planning to painting — and it made this trip unforgettable. ... Seeing children sing and dance despite language and material differences reminded me that we all serve the same God.”

– RyLeigh Shaul

A VISIT TO OLIVET

Visiting Olivet Nazarene University is a crucial step in the college selection process. While there is endless information available online, visiting in person is the ideal way to see all that Olivet has to offer.

We offer a holistic educational experience that nurtures not only the intellect but also the spirit. Our diverse range of academic programs caters to various interests and career goals.

Our faculty, known for their expertise and dedication, foster a supportive learning environment that encourages critical thinking and innovation.

Our beautiful campus is a microcosm of the world, with students from different backgrounds and cultures. Visiting allows you to experience this diversity firsthand and understand how it enriches the learning environment.

Olivet is deeply committed to service and leadership development. By visiting, you can learn about the various opportunities we provide for students to make a positive impact on society.

We also understand the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping a wellrounded personality. Our athletic teams, clubs and organizations offer numerous avenues for students to pursue their passions outside the classroom.

A visit gives you a glimpse of our residential and spiritual life. You can explore our modern facilities, interact with current students, worship alongside students in a chapel setting, and get a feel for the camaraderie that defines the ONU experience.

WE BELIEVE YOU BELONG HERE

Nothing replaces the campus visit experience. Stepping on campus allows students the opportunity to get a taste for life at Olivet. It is a wonderful time to build relational equity with faculty and staff at Olivet.

DID YOU KNOW?

- Olivet hosts campus visits five days a week.

- Personalized campus visits are customary for every high school senior.

- Group visit days like Purple & Gold Days, Summer Visit Days and Experience Days allow students to meet other like-minded high school seniors as part of their process.

- We host nearly 2,000 high school students each year for campus visits.

- Students from around the world visit Olivet during the recruitment cycle.

To schedule a campus visit, scan here or go to Olivet.edu/visit

RAVING FANS

WHERE HE LEADS, WE WILL FOLLOW

The Slibeck Family

“My wife, Maria, and I are intentional about allowing our daughter, Ella Grace, to discover her own passions,” says Jared Slibeck ’97. “When it was time for Ella to choose a college, we visited several schools — all sizes and in a variety of locations. Ella loves to travel, and we knew she was open to any location. We also knew she was interested in pursuing a career in medicine.”

Jared and his wife, Maria (Dobson) Slibeck ’97, have a deep connection to Olivet Nazarene University. They met while they were ONU students. Jared holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and currently works in robotics and computer-assisted surgery equipment sales for Stryker. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and had a long career as a NICU nurse.

Other members of Ella’s family who are ONU graduates include Suella (Maddy) Slibeck ’67, her grandmother, and Howard Slibeck ’68, her grandfather, who met at ONU; Cathy (Dobson) ’91 and Rick DeFries ’88, her aunt and uncle, who met at ONU; and her cousin, Jordan DeFries ’20, and his wife, Brooke (Whetstone) DeFries ’20, who met at ONU.

Discovering ONU Anew

The Slibecks chose to go through the campus visit process with Ella so she could make her own choice for her career path. Even though their family had visited campus together several times, they wanted this visit to be focused on Ella. Jared recalls the day of their Purple & Gold Days campus visit in 2021 very clearly.

“The intentionality and attention that we experienced at ONU were different from any other school we’d visited,” he says. “Dr. Mike Pyle, who was chair of ONU’s Walker School of STEM at that time, sat down

and talked with Ella Grace and us that day. When we left campus after the visit, Ella was the first to say that ONU was where she wanted to go for her college education.”

During her enrollment process, Ella received a scholarship to be an equipment manager for ONU’s football team. She served in that role throughout all four years at ONU and was the head equipment manager in her senior year. After she graduated in 2025, head coach Avante Mitchell started a servant leadership award in her honor.

Dedication to Tiger sports also runs deep in the Slibeck family. Jared played football at ONU, and Maria was a member of the volleyball team. Maria’s sister, Cathy, played volleyball and basketball for ONU and went on to serve as the women’s basketball coach after graduation. Cathy’s husband, Rick, played baseball at ONU.

“As parents of an ONU student, we were impressed by the relationships our daughter formed across campus in the course of daily living,” Jared says. “The personal attention that she received from her professors was a great encouragement to her.

“We are also grateful for the way ONU balances Christian education with an active, thriving sports program. Seeing athletes encounter God at ONU has been a great blessing for Ella and for our family.”

Ready for the Next Chapter

As Ella approached her graduation from ONU this past May with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she answered God’s call to become a global missionary with the Church of the Nazarene.

Ella with her parents, Jared and Maria Slibeck, and her paternal grandparents, Howard and Suella Slibeck, at Ella’s graduation in May 2025

“I know many parents are concerned about what their kids are going to do after they graduate,” Jared says. “Ella told us about her plans to serve for a year in Papua New Guinea, go into medicine and serve the Lord in medical missions. There is a long history of mission connections in our family, and we have faith that God has a plan for Ella to serve.”

Ella will be the first global missionary to come from the Eastern Kentucky District of the Church of the Nazarene.

“Ashland First Church of the Nazarene is her sending church,” Suella, Ella’s grandmother, says. “She is also one of the youngest sponsored missionaries.”

Stepping out in faith, Jared, Maria and their son, Elijah, traveled with Ella to Papua New Guinea in June. They saw firsthand what God is calling Ella to do during the coming year. Maria stayed on with Ella for two months and worked alongside her at Nazarene General Hospital (formerly Kudjip Nazarene Hospital).

“A student can get a certain level of education from just about any accredited university in the U.S.,” Jared says. “But at ONU, students get an education with meaning. They learn how to serve God with the gifts and talents God has given them. They have the opportunity to develop a relationship with God and to do their best for Him. My ONU education made me a better person and a better servant for God.”

Plan your student’s campus visit to Olivet Nazarene University by contacting the Office of Admissions at admissions@Olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.

Dr. Stephen Case

WORD& SPEECH

In the beginning was the Word.

What a remarkable way to begin an account of the revelation of Jesus Christ! John’s gospel emphasizes the identity of Christ as the narrating Word of Creation. For John, Christ is identified with God’s holy, animating speech: the power and wisdom of intelligent communication and creation. The Gospel, in turn, spread through the written word, and it was the Gospel of a God who spoke — a Christ who was somehow Word itself.

The act of speaking and writing — the word — remains fundamental to the educational endeavor. In a world of noise and of words that mislead or control or manipulate, our mission as Christians remains bound to the word and to Christ, the Word. Our words must not only be true, but they must also

be life-giving, clear and filled with grace. To learn to speak and write with quality and fidelity isn’t simply a ticket to job security and advancement; it’s essential to fulfilling our purpose as co-creators in God’s redemptive act in the world.

My wife and I were reminded of this on a recent trip. During breakfast we met two young women traveling with college friends. For the moment, both were living in New York City, where one of them worked as a software manager. I asked whether she had studied IT. “No,” she explained. “I started as an IT major but eventually switched to English.” She smiled. “Because, of course, you can do anything with an English major.” It turned out she had specialized in technical writing, started at her company writing grants and was very quickly moved into a managerial position.

My takeaway from this conversation was not simply that liberal arts majors like English are still centrally relevant in today’s job market — though they are. But, as any Olivet student will tell you, writing and speaking are central to the general education experience across all fields of study, from engineering to English to business administration. The importance of the word goes beyond job preparation alone.

Education at the college level is more than simply learning information. The real point is learning what to do with that information: learning how to think. Knowledge is like bricks, but critical and creative thinking is building things with those bricks. But how does one learn to build with knowledge? How does one learn to think? It’s not by passively absorbing information or sitting in an ivory tower somewhere thinking lofty thoughts. Instead, as the history of education since the ancient Greeks has shown, one learns to think primarily by speaking and writing

This is a paradigm shift that students encounter at college. For years, many have been conditioned to consider writing as the thing that comes after thought, as though the ideas for a paper or essay are fully formed in one’s head and then simply transferred to paper. We often feel the same way about speaking — and with some wisdom: Think first, then speak. But in the safety of the classroom, we realize that writing and speaking are ways of thinking. I can’t count how many times I’ve worked out a thought — or been surprised by a revelation

— only discovered in the act of writing itself. And, likewise, some of the greatest moments in teaching are those during a class discussion when a student has that “Aha!” moment in the midst of voicing a question or trying to verbally articulate an idea. Writing and speaking aren’t simply signs of intelligence; they’re intelligence at work.

We want our students to have the skills to create with the knowledge they have — to build steadily, diligently, but also creatively and daringly — for the Kingdom of God. At Olivet we cultivate the Christian labor of writing and speaking. What’s at stake is our very ability to fulfill our God-given purpose in the world. In every essay, every response prompt, every sermon or speech, we are invited to commune with a God whose nature is Word.

And the Word was with God.

And the Word was God.

Stephen Case ’05, Ph.D., is the director of the University Honors Program and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Geosciences. He holds degrees in physics and the history and philosophy of science and teaches courses in astronomy, physics, history of science, and science and theology. He is the author of Making Stars Physical: The Astronomy of Sir John Herschel (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018) and co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to John Herschel (Cambridge University Press, 2024).

Historian Michael Roth argued that a liberal arts education “matters” because it helps us “think for ourselves, take responsibility for our beliefs and actions, and become better acquainted with our own desires, our own hopes.”

LIFE OF THE MIND

Dr. Stephen Lowe

Stephen Lowe ’88, Ph.D., is the vice president for academic affairs and a professor of American history at Olivet Nazarene University. An academic, a historian and a champion for the liberal arts, he is the author of books including Sir Walter and Mr. Jones: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, and the Rise of American Golf, which won the 2000 USGA International Book Award. He also has contributed shorter works to a wide variety of academic and popular periodicals, including the Journal of Sports History, Golf World and Golf Magazine. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in history education from Olivet, he holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in American history from Ohio University.

For centuries, academics have written about the transformative power of a liberal arts education for both the individual and society. The ancient Greeks pursued a liberal — or broad — education because it “liberated” the mind, making people more active and effective citizens. Our country’s founders, such as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, viewed a liberal arts education as essential to freedom and a healthy democratic republic.

More recently, in Beyond the University, historian Michael Roth argued that a liberal arts education “matters” because it helps us “think for ourselves, take responsibility for our beliefs and actions, and become better acquainted with our own desires, our own hopes.” His book is a defense of the liberal arts, which of late have come under criticism by policy leaders who advocate for a more purely vocational curriculum. Public debates aside, those who have graduated with a liberal arts degree can attest to the power of literature, art, history, economics, biology or theology to expand our intellectual horizons, significantly changing how we see ourselves, others and the world.

Olivet Nazarene University’s founders understood all of that, too. In the early 20th century, many Christian universities were established, and most began as Bible colleges — but not Olivet. Our original charter application to the State of Illinois was for an institution that would “encourage, promote, maintain, and support Christian education in all its branches, such as ancient and modern languages, science, art, music, philosophy, mathematics, history, including all subjects in colleges or universities, also Bible study and theology, especially the doctrine of entire sanctification as a work of divine grace.” The devout farmers and small business owners — laymen, not clergy — who founded the school that became Olivet were not afraid of the academy, scholarship, research or the implications of science and the humanities for their Wesleyan faith. Rather, they acknowledged the power of a liberal arts education, embraced it and then determined to fuse it with the far greater power of the Gospel, believing that the combination of the two held the promise of transforming and redeeming the world, one graduate at a time.

This continues to be why Olivet exists today: sending Christian-educated nurses, musicians, social workers, journalists, historians, business owners, engineers, scientists, teachers, missionaries, pastors, among many others, to minister in a lost and hurting world. The first sentence of the University’s mission

statement found in offices and hallways around campus declares, “Olivet Nazarene University, a denominational university in the Wesleyan tradition, exists to provide a university-level liberal arts Education with a Christian Purpose.” The last five words have served as our motto for generations and are what separate Olivet from other private or public schools that offer liberal arts degrees. Sadly, today’s headlines contain plenty of examples of how higher education may be used to advance values or policies rooted in secularist, humanist and political ideologies that also have power to transform individuals and society, albeit in ways that are not always true, noble or admirable. But Olivet offers something better.

The devout farmers and small business owners ... who founded the school that became Olivet were not afraid of the academy, scholarship, research or the implications of science and the humanities for their Wesleyan faith. Rather, they acknowledged the power of a liberal arts education, embraced it and then determined to fuse it with the far greater power of the Gospel.

Critical thinking, imagination, doubt and challenges to conformity, for example, have always been hallmarks of a good liberal arts education — methods or tools by which students mature intellectually and spiritually. At secular institutions, these can often lead a student down a path of unmoored skepticism, arrogance, moral relativism or disillusionment. By contrast, at Olivet these intellectual tools are put to a Christian purpose, illustrating the words of the Apostle Paul: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1–2).

Roth concludes that a liberal arts education helps us “retain impressions of the world around us and retain our relationships with other people — that is, we develop habits that help us navigate in the world.” I agree, and that makes it even more important that such lifetime habits are formed on a Christian campus. At Olivet the transformative power of a liberal arts education is brought into alignment with our Wesleyan faith. Whether in chapel, history class, science lab or during a casual conversation with a professor on a tree-lined sidewalk, Olivet points students upward to the wisdom of Scripture: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things”

(Philippians 4:8).

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE THE PARENT GUIDE

“The liberal arts are the arts of communication and thinking. They are the arts indispensable to further learning, for they are the arts of reading, writing, speaking, listening, figuring.”

—Oliver DeMille

There is no shortage of options when you’re trying to help your child choose where to pursue higher education. The real challenge is finding the right place — the college or university where your student will thrive. Our 2025 Parent Guide serves as a handy guidebook, providing specifics about the Olivet Nazarene University experience and the distinctions of an “Education With a Christian Purpose.”

Dr. Kent R. Olney

PILLARS

Unpacking the Mission of Olivet Nazarene University

With more than 4,000 universities in America, does it really matter which one a student chooses to attend? Preparation, development and pursuit of one’s life passion can occur regardless of where one earns his or her degree, right? These questions are worth careful consideration. At Olivet Nazarene University, an education flows from three pillars, or central ideas, that lie at the heart of our educational mission.

Our students leave us competent in the language of their chosen field of study and versed in the language of God.

PILLAR 1: PROFESSIONAL READINESS

Professional preparation at Olivet consists of (1) classroom and book learning; (2) practical application through real-life experience; and (3) opportunities to encounter the God of all creation through knowing His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who embrace these three emphases leave Olivet professionally ready to enter the world.

Employers are looking for young people who have a first-rate education that has prepared them to adapt to a marketplace that is rapidly changing. Of course, all universities promise such an education.

What makes us unique at Olivet is that our professional readiness includes that third element wherein we prepare students to represent God in their world. Stated another way, our students are prepared to be “interpreters” for God. This is not new. Long ago, God used Joseph to interpret for Pharaoh in Egypt. He used Daniel to interpret for King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. God still seeks qualified interpreters who are strategically placed and used for His purposes among world leaders. Today, He finds many of those interpreters at Olivet — individuals professionally prepared to represent both their discipline and God.

Having grown up between two deaf siblings, I worked for 20 years as a professionally certified sign language interpreter. In that role, I interpreted in classrooms, courtrooms, hospitals and churches. I have interpreted for Billy Graham, four state governors and even at the White House.

Those experiences taught me that the most fundamental principle to becoming an effective interpreter is to know two languages well. In a sense, that is our mission at Olivet: We strive to teach two languages. Our students leave us competent in the language of their chosen field of study and versed in the language of God. Professional readiness at Olivet means knowing both languages, or both worlds, well.

A fair question, then, is this: How are we doing? Are we having success in professionally preparing our students? The following alumni have returned to speak on campus in recent months. Each illustrates Olivet’s remarkable track record:

Suzanne Bell ’98, Ph.D., is the lead researcher for NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Lab.

David Horton ’84 enjoyed a long career with the IRS overseeing a $225 million budget and providing tax assistance to nations around the world.

Teresa Woodruff ’85, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized biologist and professor of obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive biology and biomedical engineering at Michigan State University.

Angel Colón ’90 is the head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Designer Brands.

Jessica Swanson ’06, Ed.D., served as a senior research fellow at Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab in Washington, D.C., exploring how finance decisions impact our nation’s schools.

All are professionally prepared interpreters, and there are many others like them.

Jesus had this to say on the topic of interpreters in Luke 12:56: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [i.e., you have mastered arts and sciences]. [But] how is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” Our mission stretches beyond mastering the arts and sciences. We point to the Creator of those arts and sciences and seek to interpret Him through every academic discipline, in every corner of the world.

Corporate offices, educational institutions, performance stages, research laboratories, churches and mission fields, professional athletic teams, medical facilities, political offices and civic organizations have all welcomed professionals who received their foundational preparation while at Olivet. Individuals with an Olivet education serve as God’s interpreters in this world.

PILLAR 2: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Olivet’s second pillar is personal development. As a Christian university, we intentionally seek to foster deep piety along with strong scholarship.

Making such a statement begs the question: What is a Christian university? Extremes exist across the higher education landscape. An overemphasis in one direction — Christian — implies more interest in pursuing halos than academic excellence. That approach too often produces firm beliefs but minimal influence in the marketplace. Emphasis in the other direction — university — risks developing shallow Christians who are conversant in the latest educational buzzwords but who know little of God’s enduring Word.

Olivet seeks to avoid these extremes. When we speak of a Christian university, we value what each distinct word emphasizes. Consequently, we believe the following:

We believe all truth is God’s truth; He is the Source of all knowledge.

We believe we can pursue devotion to God and practice excellence in our academic disciplines.

We believe a relationship with the Creator enhances rather than diminishes intellectual development. It is God who kindles inquisitive and creative minds.

We believe with the Apostle Paul that Christ, not culture, is our Master. Therefore, “Whatever [we] do, [we] work at it with all [our] heart … working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

We believe learning entails lifelong development with eternal consequences.

The best in higher education is always shaped by faith. That is how we define a Christian university.

Such a university is committed to personal development. Let me illustrate with an unusual phone call that came to Olivet in August 2022.

Jim (not his real name) called the University, said he was dying and asked to talk to a dean. The call was transferred to my office. I quickly learned four things: (1) Jim was in poor health with a bad medical prognosis; (2) over 40 years ago, he had been an Olivet student; (3) he had been kicked out of the college twice for his behavior — the last time permanently; and (4) he now wanted to apologize and set things right. His language was rough, and his emotions were raw as he wept into the phone; his voice was filled with regret. I prayed with Jim and assured him of our and, more importantly, God’s forgiveness. Jim expressed his thanks and then wistfully said, “I loved my professors at Olivet. They were so good to me, even though I was a rebel.”

That initial call has now become a weekly call between the “rebel” and the dean. If he doesn’t call me, I call him. Jim’s health has stabilized, and more of his story has unfolded. One poor decision after another resulted in years of heartache and misery. Yet Jim could never forget Olivet. Now that the end looms near, he is reaching out to her again. It may sound strange, but Jim and I — the rebel and the dean — continue to have mutually encouraging conversations. When life turned dark and the future looked bleak, Jim was drawn back to his alma mater, Olivet, to his professors who “were so good to [him], even though [he] was a rebel.”

What would cause a man to make such a phone call? Jim remembered the virtue that marked Olivet. He remembered Jesus was there, among his faculty and classmates. He remembered a place of love and forgiveness. Then he prayed that what he remembered had not changed over the years. Jim communicates two sentiments to me nearly every time we talk: first, how proud he is that Olivet continues to develop Godly students and, second, how amazed he is that a dean takes the time to talk to a rebel.

But that is who we are. Whether interacting with current students, distinguished alumni, outside constituents or a rebel from the past, our mission is the same. We are focused on professional readiness for a career and personal development for a life in this world and the next. As a Christian university, who we are and how we treat others matters.

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, a Methodist hymnwriter from Kentucky, penned these well-known lyrics 100 years ago: “Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” Chisholm went on to note that the same faithful Lord gives “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” Our students — past, present and future — are counting on us to point them to the source of that strength and hope for their personal development. We dare not disappoint them.

PILLAR 3: LIVES OF SERVICE

The third and final pillar that distinguishes our work at Olivet is encouraging students to engage in lives of service. Our professionally prepared and personally developed students head out in search of more than just good jobs. They want to serve, knowing that is the ultimate measure of their success.

In some ways, the task has never been more challenging. Our culture exhibits a curious mix of victimization, individual rights, fragile egos, anxiety, fear and depression. The CDC reports a sharp rise in “deaths of despair”: deaths due to suicide, drugs and alcohol. This trend is particularly seen among millennials, identified as young adults between the ages of 18 and 34, and is contributing to the lowest U.S. life expectancy rates in the past 100 years.

What accounts for what we are witnessing? The late French sociologist Dr. Émile Durkheim, in his 1897 classic Suicide, pointed to the power of community life. Suicide rates, according to Dr. Durkheim, are elevated when social ties are weak. On the other hand, communities rich with vibrant social relationships tend to have lower suicide rates. Community life matters.

Ironically, social analysts tell us that today’s young adults are the most socially connected generation ever, with their iPhones and social media accounts creating stimulating, 24/7, online communities. We’re discovering, however, that not just any community will do. Communities that make a difference are rooted in deep, meaningful, enduring and sacrificial relationships.

That elevates the value of a place like Olivet Nazarene University. Olivet provides more than geographical community on a campus, physical community in dorms, social community through organizations and athletic teams, and spiritual community via chapel and ministry programs. It also provides service opportunities that build and sustain another kind of community — that which is borne out of giving one’s life away for the benefit of others.

Jesus, the one who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life” (Matthew 20:28), is our model here. We encourage students to follow His example. Nothing lifts one’s sights and spirits more — nothing combats despair and discouragement more — than service to others. Genuine community, built on sacrificial service, gets formed in the process; such community is a defining feature common to Olivet graduates. Dr. Durkheim was right all along.

Following are some alumni from the past two decades who illustrate well what we mean by lives of service:

Nick Shelton ’02 and Anthony Deutsch ’17 both turned their dreams and hard work into careers with the U.S. Secret Service, where their lives of service protect the U.S. president, vice president and other dignitaries around the world.

Simone Twibell ’06, Ph.D., came to Olivet from South America, graduated, married and prepared for the ministry. After walking through “the valley of the shadow of death” upon the loss of her husband due to brain cancer, she has embraced a life of service as an Olivet faculty member who influences students.

Lt. Col. Ben Kayser ’02/’04 MBA went from being a top baseball prospect to a military officer to a life of service with the Navigators. He now disciples soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, modeling what it means to follow Christ and leading them in battle against the enemy of their souls.

Amanda Choi ’07 turned some dark days of pain and loss into a life of service in Jerusalem with Bridges for Peace, winsomely introducing Jews to their Messiah, Jesus.

LaMorris Crawford ’06/’12 MOL left Chicago’s South Side housing projects, poverty and violence to attend Olivet. Upon graduation he embarked on a life of service that has included being an NFL chaplain, pastor and speaker.

Grace Pelley ’18 has overcome physical challenges and entered a life of service that includes writing, editing and coaching others to do the same.

Josh Adams ’04 went on to medical school after Olivet and then joined the military, all in preparation for a life of service as a family doctor in Idaho.

Raechel Myers ’05 founded an organization known as She Reads Truth, adopting a life of service that encourages believers to open and read their Bibles in order to discover the truth and relevancy found there.

All of these — some overcoming pain, adversity and obstacles — have pursued lives of service and represent scores of other alumni. The result is twofold: Recipients of the service benefit, and strong community ties are formed that sustain and spread goodwill.

EDUCATION WITH A CHRISTIAN PURPOSE

Yes, Olivet seeks to send out graduates who are professionally prepared, personally developed and committed to lives of service. These three pillars make up our mission. The motto engraved in stone at the entrance to our campus reads, “Education With a Christian Purpose.” We contend that this noble mission, and nothing less, is what it means to engage in higher education. The decision of where to pursue a college education really does matter after all.

Nothing lifts one’s sights and spirits more — nothing combats despair and discouragement more — than service to others. Genuine community, built on sacrificial service, gets formed in the process; such community is a defining feature common to Olivet graduates.

Kent R. Olney, Ph.D., has served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Olivet since 2021, following 26 years as a professor of sociology. Dr. Olney graduated from Asbury College in 1977, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts from Gallaudet University, and completed a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. Dr. Olney and his wife, Beth, are the parents of Kyle and Luke ’10/’12 MOL, parents-in-law to Amber (McKean) ’08/’13 MOL and Amber (Leffel) ’14, and the proud grandparents to five grandchildren.

WHAT TO DO SENIOR YEAR

The best way for your student to prepare for college is to make the most of senior year. Your daughter or son should dig into classes. Good study habits, focused determination and solid grades are the best preparation. She or he should invest in extracurricular activities that highlight athleticism, musical talent, leadership or public service. It will be a busy year, and graduation will be here before you know it. These steps, written for your student, will help your family navigate the enrollment process and get a head start on the college experience.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS

Does the college offer your major? Are there ample areas of study (in case you change majors)? Are the professors accessible in and out of the classroom? Are the professors renowned in their fields? Are the academic programs rigorous? After financial aid is awarded, how affordable is the school? How many students are in each class? Does the college have strong internship and study-abroad opportunities? What is the weather like? What defines the classroom experience? Are there added-value opportunities and services? What is the campus city or town like? Does the college provide a multicultural experience? How important is

distance from home? Is the campus near additional internships, jobs and culture? Does the college have on- and off-campus guidelines for living? Do you value institutional policies regarding residential life? What arts opportunities are available? Are there sports teams to cheer for? What are all the on- and off-campus dining options? Are there fitness activities for students? Does the college offer off-campus living? What are some alumni success stories? Are academic tutoring and career counseling readily offered? What clubs, intramural sports, ministries and volunteer activities exist? Is the college a good fit for you?

FALL

Visit! Fall is a great time to look at the schools on your college list. The perfect time to connect with students and professors is when classes are in session. Even sit in on a class or two.

Olivet Nazarene University’s Purple & Gold Days events are ideal for experiencing campus firsthand or virtually. Finalize a short list and rank those colleges. Use information gathered from campus visits, interviews and research to determine where to apply. Stay on track with grades and activities. Colleges look at senior year, so stay focused on classes and maintain commitments to extracurricular activities.

Take standardized tests. Register for and take the ACT, SAT or SAT Subject Tests as necessary. Add Olivet’s school code (001741) so test scores are automatically sent to Olivet. Keep track of deadlines. It’s important to know what is due when. Make a calendar showing the application deadlines for admission, financial aid and scholarships. Connect with your guidance counselor. Be sure the counselor knows where to send transcripts, score reports and letters of recommendation. Give the guidance counselor any necessary forms much earlier than the actual deadlines. Complete applications for colleges on your short list. Make sure the guidance office has sent all necessary materials, including test scores, recommendations, transcripts and application essays. Plan to get all this done before winter break so you won’t be rushed.

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filing for the following school year starts on Oct. 1 of the current year. File as soon as possible to ensure access to eligible state and federal aid as well as priority status for scholarships. Some state programs have limited resources and are first-come, first-served. Continue your scholarship search.

Apply for scholarships with approaching deadlines and keep searching for more scholarship and grant opportunities. Using free online scholarship search tools is a great way to find potential aid. Ask colleges about their scholarship opportunities. Be sure to take this information into account when making a short list. A college’s sticker price can fluctuate greatly after financial aid and scholarships are applied. Talk with a financial aid representative at Olivet to discover how scholarships and financial aid change your bottom line.

WINTER

Follow up on applications. Verify with the guidance counselor that all forms are in order and have been sent. Send midyear grade reports. Ask your guidance counselor to send these reports to colleges on your short list. Remember, colleges will continue to keep track of grades, so it’s important to keep working hard throughout senior year. Review college financial aid packages. Though finances should never be the only factor in a decision, consider each package carefully, as not all colleges use the same format.

SPRING

Prepare! Take any last standardized tests and ACT/ SAT retakes (statistically, students improve their score on the second or third attempt). Take Advanced Placement tests or College-Level Examination Program tests to earn college credit as senior year winds down. Be sure to discuss these options with an enrollment adviser at each college on your short list, as every school awards college credit and academic scholarships differently.

Make the final college decision. Notify all schools of your intentions by May 1. If still undecided, schedule campus visits. Send the enrollment deposit and ask your guidance counselor to send a final transcript upon graduation. Submit any other required paperwork. Follow up on financial aid information. Be sure you have received a FAFSA confirmation and award letter. If necessary, explore and apply for loans. Maintain contact with the financial aid adviser to discuss the best options for paying for college. Interact with future classmates. Attend college events, check out class pages on social media and finalize roommate selection.

SUMMER

Attend new-student summer orientation. Finalize course selections, choose a dorm room, meet freshman classmates, interact with faculty and staff, and begin the exciting experience of the next four years.

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID

The college choice will be heavily influenced by how you and your student perceive cost and the financial aid process. Be sure to make decisions based on accurate information. You don’t want to rule out schools based on sticker shock when financial aid could bring those schools within reach.

What can we do to make college more affordable?

File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and file it as early as possible.

The FAFSA is the gateway to state and federal financial aid, and universities use this information to determine your student’s offers. The FAFSA can give access to grants as well as loans that tend to have lower interest rates with the most advantageous payback schedules. Some state grants have limited resources, so it’s important to file as soon as possible.

When can we file the FAFSA?

The 2026–2027 FAFSA form opens to all seniors in high school on Oct. 1, 2025. You’re able to pull financial information directly from electronic tax documents into your FAFSA form. More information can be found online at www.studentaid.gov.

After filing the FAFSA, what’s next?

The FAFSA allows your student to select up to 20 schools to automatically receive your family’s FAFSA information. Each school that has accepted your student for admission will then send a financial aid offer letter outlining the federal, state and institutional aid for which your student is eligible.

What role do standardized test scores play?

It’s important to find out how each admissions office handles test scores, as each school is different. If your student takes the ACT or SAT more than once (not required but permitted by both testing organizations), know that some universities take the highest score, while others take an average. A higher test score could improve an academic scholarship by thousands of dollars per year. Olivet Nazarene University is a test-preferred institution (standardized test scores not required as part of the admissions process).

Are there other scholarships available?

Some schools offer only academic scholarships. Most have additional opportunities. Like academic scholarships, these opportunities are provided on the basis of merit and/or participation. At Olivet there are scholarships for athletics, music (including Tiger Marching Band and University Orchestra), art, ministry and ROTC.

Is money available from sources other than the university?

YES! Students should seek out local and national scholarships. Consider organizations your student has been a part of, businesses you frequent and your employer. Many offer scholarships. For national scholarships, register at reputable websites such as fastweb.com, bigfuture.collegeboard.org or scholarships.com and begin applying as soon as possible. Never pay for scholarship searches. The reputable sources are always free.

What if we have a remaining balance?

The reality for most college students is that scholarships and government assistance alone don’t fully cover tuition expenses. The remaining portion can be covered by parent loans, student loans or payment plans. There are many federal and private loan options. You should know that private student loans require a cosigner. Payment plan options are unique to each institution. Financial aid isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” process, so work with your financial aid adviser to explore your best options.

What is a parent’s best resource for information?

This process can be overwhelming, so don’t be afraid to lean on financial aid advisers. They will work with you to find financial aid solutions based on your needs. Ask the tough questions and stay informed. The more involved you are, the easier it will be.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Olivet’s Office of Admissions is a great resource for families in every stage of the financial aid process.

Kimberly Strickland klstrickland@Olivet.edu

“It’s my pleasure each day to assist students and their families with their award packages. The options are almost limitless.”

Luke Franklin lfrankl1@Olivet.edu

“From afar it seems like a puzzle. But when we get into it, the facts come alive and paint a pretty clear, affordable picture.”

Scot Kraemer skraemer@Olivet.edu

“I love being able to walk with students through their financial aid offers and see the excitement as the next adventure unfolds in their lives.”

Tyler McLean tmclean@Olivet.edu

“It is such a privilege to help students and families, providing individualized attention and care as they explore their financial aid. Every situation is different, and I love sharing their excitement as we work together to create an affordable path to Olivet.”

Olivet’s financial aid team is available to answer your questions. Call 800-648-1463 and ask for a team member by name, or reach out via email.

TRANSFERCENTRIC

Each year, more than 100 students transfer to Olivet Nazarene University to complete their college education. The Office of Admissions has a dedicated team of professionals who work exclusively with prospective transfer students to provide a smooth transition from one college experience to the next. Olivet offers competitive transfer scholarships, and students find that most of their credits transfer to the University.

Noëlle Fitzpatrick

Hometown: Crete, Illinois

Major: Studio Arts

“I attended Prairie State College to get my associate degree and had planned to transfer to Governors State University. I hadn’t investigated many other universities, because that school was close and affordable. But after I graduated from PSC, I received a letter from Olivet. After talking about the possibility with my parents, the only thing I knew for sure was that I want God as the foundation of my life. I knew He could work through me anywhere I went, but I also wanted my schooling to reflect that.

“I enrolled at Olivet right before Christmas break and needed some technological help with finalizing the details. When campus opened up, my mom and I met with the ladies from the Admissions team the same weekend as the new-student orientation event. I toured campus and heard about the cool events and activities that happen at Olivet. I left that day with peace and excitement for the semester to start that next week.

“I’ve enjoyed the environment at Olivet — there are so many great people. The weather was brutal over the winter. But then there was a week in the spring that the temperature got to around 60 degrees, and it felt like summer. One of my professors sent our class outside to draw. When we came inside for our art critique, two of the other students had drawn me and my other friend in their artwork. We all laughed about all the familiar scenes we spotted that day. I felt that we all got to know each other better because of it.

“My advice to other students considering transferring is that sometimes God opens a door that you didn’t even consider to be a possibility, but still the decision is yours whether you walk through it or not. If you are willing to put in the work, you will do well wherever you go.”

Josiah Johnson

Hometown: North Palm Beach, Florida

Majors: Economics/Finance-Applied Economics and Marketing-Management

“My college journey was a little unique, to say the least. I previously attended Trinity International University for two years. In February 2023, TIU announced they would be closing their undergraduate inperson program. I had two years left and knew that I wanted my years to be in person for the full college experience. I knew that I also wanted to find a school where I could add finance as a major. My soccer coach at Trinity recommended I look into Olivet.

“Olivet made the transfer process so easy. They made sure transfer students knew the important things from both an academic and social perspective through newstudent orientation. When I got to Olivet, the first thing I noticed is that whenever you are walking around, people always say hi. All of this support from faculty, staff and students helped me feel right at home from day one.

“One of my favorite memories at Olivet has been joining the football team. I joined at the end of my first semester, and it has been incredible. I had never played football, but the coaches saw that I had the potential to be a kicker. I’m even playing out my final year of eligibility now as I pursue my MBA at Olivet.

“My advice for students who are considering transferring is to visit schools you’re interested in. Make sure to ask the professors in your area about the program and the potential outcomes after you graduate. If you are a student-athlete, make sure you interact with the team and coaching staff. These are the people you will be spending a lot of time with. As a student-athlete, you also need to make sure that you can see yourself at the school even if you never play your sport again. Injuries happen, so it is crucial to find a place [where] you can thrive academically and socially.”

Mia Messer

Hometown: Chebanse, Illinois

Majors: Family and Consumer Science

“I originally decided to move back to California for college after spending the last two years of my high school education in Illinois. I attended California Lutheran University, where I majored in international business, but I eventually decided to move back to Illinois to see my family more. I attended Kankakee Community College and graduated with an associate degree. I then decided to apply to Olivet Nazarene University to study family and consumer science.

“My transfer experience to Olivet was smooth and simple. My transfer adviser, Lauren Rybolt, helped answer all my questions about the transfer process. I knew Olivet was the right fit because the University had the major I wanted to study, and it is relatively close to where I live. I’ve been able to integrate more into the Olivet community by making many different friendships with some of the girls that have the same major as [I do].

“When I changed my major to family and consumer science, I wanted to major in hospitality. But classes with professors Alyssa Phelps and Michael Watson helped me realize I wanted to go into a more businessfocused industry versus hospitality.

“I would suggest to anyone wanting to transfer colleges that they should do it, because it is very easy and most of your college credits tend to transfer over. I would also like to point out that even after transferring twice, I am set to have finished my entire college education in three years instead of four.”

For more information, visit Olivet.edu/admissions/transfer-students

CHOOSING A MAJOR

So, you’re still exploring what to do with your life. You’re not alone.

Each year, about 17% of students entering college haven’t declared or decided on a major. Around 15% of Olivet Nazarene University’s incoming students are unsure of their exact field of study. Considering that nearly 50% of all college students change their major (at least once), why worry?

At Olivet higher education is focused on the liberal arts — where you get to explore all areas of knowledge and understanding: literature, science, religion, mathematics, health and the arts. Not every student has a simple answer when asked the unavoidable question, “What’s your major?” Welcome to the perfect place to explore all the possibilities that question presents.

RESOURCE: CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Debbie & Richard Dykhouse Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) exists to strengthen academic behaviors, provide academic support and foster academic scholarship for all undergraduate students from enrollment through degree completion. The CAE connects students with valuable resources to make the most of their college experience, including accessibility and disability desources, the Department of General Studies, the Writing Center and general academic support.

Olivet Onboarding

This course is a series of modules designed to be started before classes begin and continued through the first few weeks of the semester. The modules cover many of the resources and tools needed to thrive at Olivet.

JumpStart Conference

This two-day conference brings new students together before the beginning of classes to introduce you to college life and jump-start your Olivet experience. The conference begins on Sunday night with a worship service and continues on Monday morning.

JumpStart Mentors

Sophomore, junior and senior students will serve as mentors for you as you arrive on campus. The mentors will help you move in; attend the JumpStart Conference with you and your freshman or transfer group; and support you throughout your first semester at Olivet.

PathwayU

Get free access to four assessments that help you learn more about your values, workplace preferences, interests and personality.

Catalog

Consult Olivet’s online course catalog for a list of available majors and the requirements for each.

Imagine the Future

Review Olivet’s 150-plus areas of study. List careers you might want to pursue. Consider the majors that will help you get there.

Introductory Courses

The general studies course Life, Vocation, and Calling is specifically designed to help students explore majors and career paths. Additionally, undecided students are encouraged to take the first course in up to two areas of interest. Sample before committing.

Shadowing Experiences

Learn more about the careers that interest you. Reach out to professionals in those fields. Arrange to interview them or shadow them on the job.

Prayer

Ask God to direct you in your decisions. Listen for His answers.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS:

What is most important to me in a career?

In which areas do I naturally excel?

What do I most enjoy doing?

Which majors fit best with my personality?

What do I most think about regarding the future?

For which issue or cause am I most passionate?

If I could do anything I wanted and knew I’d succeed, what career path would I choose?

What is God’s dream for me?

THEN, FIND THE ANSWERS HERE:

General Studies

The Department of General Studies strives to create an environment that encourages students to explore all their educational and academic interests and assists students in identifying their specific career or calling. Dedicated full-time faculty members provide guided support in developing different graduation plans as students explore various majors.

Academic Support

Peer educators help students working toward mastery of course content or looking to build academic skills. Tailoring each session to the needs of the learner helps to create purposeful and intentional pathways toward academic achievement. Students develop greater understanding, improve critical thinking skills and learn the value of independent scholarship, empowering them to persist in their studies.

Career Development

Students explore careers and employment opportunities using a variety of resources. Assistance with résumés, cover letters, the job search process and interviewing skills sets students apart in the professional world. Job fairs give potential employers opportunities to meet students. The Handshake platform connects employers with job seekers and job seekers with employment.

Counseling Services

When stresses build, professional counselors are available to help students grow and succeed. Students’ well-being is the top priority at Olivet.

Persistence Coaching

Persistence coaching is a personalized support service that helps college students stay on track academically, socially and emotionally throughout their college journey. Persistence coaches work one-on-one with students to set goals, build effective habits, manage time, connect with resources and overcome challenges that might otherwise interfere with their progress toward graduation.

FOR PARENTS

PARENT & FAMILY NETWORK

Discover ways to keep up with and encourage your Olivet Nazarene University student throughout his or her academic, social and spiritual journey at Olivet. To receive quarterly communication (important dates, upcoming events and resources for parents) during the school year, sign up at Olivet.edu/parents

PRAYER GUIDE

We have created the “31-Day Prayer Guide” for parents of college students and those preparing for college. To receive your free copy for parents and families, visit Olivet.edu/parents, or scan the code.

STAYING CLOSE WHILE LETTING GO: What To Do After the Dorm Room Hug Goodbye

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

Every year, early autumn brings a curious emotional weather system to neighborhoods across the country. It’s a strange mix of pride, hope, sadness and displacement — parents standing curbside after the minivan is unloaded, wondering how to feel now that the child they raised is sleeping in a stranger-filled dorm and ordering Uber Eats at midnight.

It’s called a “developmental shift” — a moment when your role as a parent doesn’t disappear but is fundamentally redefined. What makes it harder now is how tightly knit many families have become.

Compared to just one generation ago, today’s parents are more involved in nearly every aspect of their children’s lives. Research identifies “emerging adulthood” as a stage stretching from ages 18 to 29 — a time when your son or daughter is still forming identity and often relying on you for emotional scaffolding, even as they seek independence.

So if you feel anxious, that’s not irrational; it’s relational. For years, you’ve been in the front seat of their life, helping steer the course. Now it can feel like you’ve been asked to get out of the car altogether.

So how do you stay connected without overstepping? How do you support growth without micromanaging? And what does it look like to “let go” without disappearing altogether?

1. Acknowledge the Grief Behind the Joy

No one talks enough about the quiet sadness of this season. You’re excited — yes. But also disoriented. That’s normal. Studies show parents often experience symptoms of grief after launching a child to college, especially when their identity has been closely tied to hands-on parenting. Don’t suppress that emotion. The more you acknowledge the ache, the more room you make for grace. So, name it. Talk about it with friends. Pray through it. The more honest you are about your own heart, the more empathy you’ll offer to your student’s.

2. Shift From Managing to Mentoring

This is the season to trade control for connection. College students don’t need every problem solved — they need someone who believes they can solve it. Instead of offering answers, ask thoughtful questions. Affirm their instincts. Cheer on their courage. That doesn’t mean vanishing. It means being present in a new way. It means pivoting from “parent as manager” to “parent as mentor.”

3. Resist the Urge to Over-Connect

It’s tempting to text constantly or follow every campus update. But over-connection will undermine independence. Healthy separation is a key developmental task for college students. Instead of checking in out of your own anxiety, create a rhythm that works for both of you — a weekly FaceTime, a Sunday night call, a monthly care package. Let your presence be felt without being omnipresent.

4. Trust the Formation Process

Olivet isn’t just a university — it’s a special community of spiritual formation. Your student will encounter professors, peers, chapel services and conversations that shape their faith in profound ways. Let that be a comfort. The same God who watched over their first day of kindergarten is walking with them now. God’s hand on their life didn’t pause when you pulled out of the parking lot and drove tearfully onto Interstate 57.

5. Rediscover the Gift of This New Season

Here’s the part few parents expect: This transition, while bittersweet, is also fertile ground for growth in your own life. You may rediscover passions once shelved. You may invest in your marriage or deepen your own faith. Parenting doesn’t end when your child goes to college. But something else begins: the beautiful, humbling joy of watching them become.

In the end, it’s OK to feel conflicted. It’s OK to cry. But it’s also OK to celebrate. You’re not being left behind — you’re being invited into a new kind of relationship. And that’s something to embrace, not fear.

Drs. Les ’84 and Leslie (Young) Parrott ’84 are No. 1 New York Times bestselling authors of numerous books, including Healthy Me Healthy Us Visit them at LesAndLeslie.com.

Dr. Stephen Case

PROFOUND JOY: SEEING THE HAND OF THE CREATOR

Dr. Parry Kietzman knew she wanted to be an entomologist before she even knew what the word meant.

“When I was little and my dad needed to keep me occupied, he’d ask if I wanted to go out to the garden and look for worms,” she says. “It always worked. What kind of kid gets excited about worms?”

Born in Pittsburgh, Dr. Kietzman’s fascination with the details of God’s creation continued throughout her childhood in Honduras, where her father worked as an Anglican missionary and church planter. It continued upon her return to the United States, as honeybees became the focus of a first-place state science fair project.

“I taught myself beekeeping in high school,” she explains. “I learned how to keep a hive so I could design an experiment to determine whether bees can

tell time. It turns out they can — though our neighbors weren’t too excited about the swarms of bees in my backyard.”

Dr. Kietzman’s passion for research eventually led her to a degree in biology at Wheaton College and, ultimately, a Ph.D. in entomology (the study of insects) at the University of California Riverside, where her dissertation focused on communication in honeybees.

For her Ph.D., Dr. Kietzman studied group decisionmaking in honeybees and designed experiments to understand how the bees communicate.

“There’s not one individual in the hive making decisions,” she says. “It’s all a collective process.”

Understanding how hive insects like bees make group decisions and how patterns emerge from simple processes can have applications from robotics to understanding neurons in the human brain.

After her Ph.D., Dr. Kietzman studied bee genetics at North Carolina State University and then worked for a nonprofit, designing curriculum and teaching beekeeping to rural communities in West Virginia. She eventually returned to academia in a position at Virginia Tech investigating how to make cattle pastures more ecologically sustainable, particularly for important pollinators like honeybees.

While at Virginia Tech, she volunteered to teach a course on ecological agriculture. Her graduate school work had inspired a desire to research and teach at the same time.

“At the end of the semester, an upperclassman told me I was the first professor who had bothered to learn their name,” she says. “I knew that wherever I ended up teaching, it wouldn’t be a place like that.”

Dr. Kietzman is entering her second year of teaching at Olivet, where she teaches classes on invertebrate zoology, animal behavior and conservation biology for the biology department in the Walker School of STEM.

She also leads students on ecology field courses to Costa Rica and Alaska. The experience so far, she says, has been one of “profound joy.” She loves the balance of research and relationship at Olivet and, she admits, “the chance to get people excited about bees.”

Dr. Kietzman’s goal for her students is for them to find and maintain a sense of wonder. For zoology majors in particular, her focus is teaching her students how to find and evaluate information and distinguish what makes an experiment reliable and data credible.

“There are so many insects, and they’re all so interesting and unique,” she explains. “Missing the hand of the Creator in that is missing a great deal of joy.”

Christians can learn a great deal from the insect world, Dr. Kietzman asserts. It’s a prospect that excites her.

“Insects are solving so many problems on Earth that we don’t even know about, and we have the privilege of not knowing about these problems because insects are busily solving them,” she says. “Can’t you feel the Lord’s pleasure in that?”

Outside the classroom, Dr. Kietzman began research on pollinators last school year in the Olivet Biological Sanctuary and continued that work with a student over the summer. She and her husband, Ben, a physicist and programmer, met on a blind date in college and have two children: Hal, 8, and Flora, 3 1/2. The family worships at Manteno Church of the Nazarene.

When Dr. Kietzman isn’t studying insects or playing the violin or bagpipes, she can often be found on horseback. A rider since she was 9, she is passing her love on to her kids — in addition to volunteering as sponsor of the Olivet Equestrian Club.

Dr. Stephen Case

REASON AND FAITH SPEAKING TOGETHER

Dr. Daniel Allen ’10 realized he wanted to be a college professor while studying to become something else.

“My plan was to go into pastoral ministry,” he explains. “But as part of an M.Div. program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, I taught a Sunday school class for high schoolers on faith and culture. And I realized this is what I want to do with my life.”

He contacted Dr. Kent Olney, a professor he had worked for as a teaching assistant while a student at Olivet Nazarene University. Dr. Olney recommended he pursue graduate work in sociology.

“I knew I wanted to teach, but I didn’t think I would become a researcher,” he says.

That changed during his Ph.D. program at Baylor University. Now as an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Olivet, Dr. Allen equips students to grapple with some of today’s most difficult questions.

“I love it here,” he says. “Every day I get to talk about the things that are important in the world.”

As a missionary kid, Dr. Allen was raised in Germany, where his parents were active with Campus Crusade for Christ. They worked behind the Iron Curtain and in Hungary before returning to the U.S., where Dr. Allen

finished high school in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Olivet as a political science and history major with a sociology minor, playing on the basketball team and studying abroad his junior year in Egypt as part of the Middle East Studies Program. Citing the influence of professors like Dr. Olney and Dr. David Van Heemst ’96 MPC/’98 M.A., Dr. Allen calls his time at Olivet transformational.

“Christian higher education provides a space for reason and faith to speak together,” he explains.

“If places like Olivet don’t exist, the Church loses a profound and prophetic voice in culture. The alternative is to either go along with today’s zeitgeist of expressive individualism or become an interest group aligned with a particular sociopolitical agenda.”

At Olivet, Dr. Allen met his wife, Laura (Kirst) ’11, a math education major, member of the volleyball team and student in Olivet’s first Honors Program cohort. After their marriage, they lived for two years in Jackson, Mississippi, where Laura worked for Teach for America teaching in the Jackson Public School District. They then spent a year teaching English in South Korea before beginning graduate school, Dr. Allen at Trinity and Laura at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she completed a Master of Public Administration degree. It was while teaching Sunday school at Trinity that Dr. Allen realized studying sociology might be where God was leading him.

“At its core, sociology is about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. I want our students to see the spirit in which we do that and be equipped to do it well. I want them to recognize they can face the hardest questions society asks them with the realization that their faith offers something profound to say in response.”

“I was passionate about the kinds of questions sociology asks, and I didn’t see a lot of Christians active in that field,” he says. “It seemed like there was a discouraging duality: You could either be a sociologist or a Christian. I wasn’t satisfied by that. I wanted to know: Can I follow the scientific method, follow the facts and still be faithful to the truths of Christianity?”

Part of this, he acknowledges, was his upbringing as a missionary kid.

“I saw from my experiences abroad that the truths of Christianity transcend national and cultural contexts,” he says. “Sociology helps untangle where we mistake cultural realities for the fundamentals of our faith.”

Dr. Allen currently teaches classes in Sociology of the Family, Ethnic Relations, Urban and Rural Sociology, and Research Methods. Laura works part time for the Success Sequence Program, which provides Illinois schools with character-based health curriculum, and together they are raising their three children: Kaya, 7; Levi, 4; and Avery 2.

Dr. Allen speaks about his hope for his students in terms of equipping.

“At its core, sociology is about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes,” he says. “I want our students to see the spirit in which we do that and be equipped to do it well. I want them to recognize they can face the hardest questions society asks them with the realization that their faith offers something profound to say in response.”

In terms of his own research, he is eager to bring students along in projects applying sociological research and analysis in service of the local community.

“I want to serve the community,” he says. “And I want to help the Olivet community ask questions about itself. I could be happy doing this another 40 years.”

Dr. Stephen Case

MAKING ART FROM THE EVERYDAY

Olivet Nazarene University art professor Mary Beth Koszut helps her students recognize that mistakes and failures can become moments of significance.

“That’s what I’m doing in this process,” professor Koszut says, explaining her latest art series.

Mommy Monsters is a series of surrealist pieces on the frustrations and joys of motherhood, some of which have been recently exhibited on campus and at the Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights.

“I’m taking the idea of spills or mistakes and making meaning from them,” she says.

Professor Koszut, who studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has taught art and art education courses at Olivet in the Department of Art and Digital Media since 2012, says this latest project was inspired by a session at the National Art Education Association that focused on balancing teaching with creating. Often, art educators feel torn between the demands of teaching art and producing art.

“It’s especially challenging for moms,” professor Koszut adds. “At the time, my kids were toddlers, and my art had shifted to the margins of my time. I was asking myself, ‘How am I still creating, still pursuing art?’”

The answer, she says, came in the everyday experiences of mothering.

“I started working with literal spills, failed drawings and leftover paint,” she says.

The result was a shift from the large, abstract oil pieces on canvas she had created in the past. These new pieces are smaller, each only 5 x 7 inches, and created in watercolor, gouache and colored pencils. The images are at once haunting and whimsical, evoking the everyday experiences of motherhood in dynamic surrealist vistas.

“Sometimes, students think their work has to be perfect, and this can be paralyzing,” professor Koszut explains. “But there’s a challenge and a reward in working with your mistakes.”

The materials she used for this particular series, for example, are especially unforgiving.

“I’ll spill paint on the page and force myself to work within that constraint,” she says.

When asked whether Mommy Monsters is completed, professor Koszut admits she’s not sure.

“I think it will always be evolving, but I’m continuing work that focuses on motherhood,” she says.

Her latest piece is a return to working on largescale panels inspired by the mothering instincts of octopuses. Some octopuses will stay with their eggs until they hatch, after which the mother octopus dies.

“I really went down a rabbit hole on that one,” professor Koszut says, explaining the significance of the specific corals and sea life portrayed in the painting. “It’s about the sacrifices of motherhood — but also the balance between holding on and letting go.”

Motherhood was the theme of an exhibition this past spring at Olivet’s Victorian House Gallery that featured professor Koszut’s work as well as that of other artists from across the country.

For professor Koszut, the process of creating art goes hand in hand with shaping the next generation of artists and art educators. It’s important, she emphasizes to her students through her teaching and her own creative process, to honor “being where you are, using everyday experiences as fuel for your own artwork.”

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Lauren Beatty

You can go to college anywhere. That is, perhaps, a controversial thing for a university marketing department to publish. But it’s true. There are nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States for students to choose from and as many areas of study as one can imagine. However, not every higher education institution offers an experience that encourages students to grow mind, body and soul. There are even fewer that focus first on spiritual development.

What sets Olivet Nazarene University apart as an institution of excellence is the focus on developing students holistically. Our mission is to provide high-quality academic instruction for the purpose of personal development, career and professional readiness, and the preparation of individuals for lives of service to God and humanity. We want our students to grow personally and professionally as they make the most of their college experience, and we know that the basis of that growth is a healthy sense of belonging within a community.

Focus on Faith

Olivet seeks to provide a community-centered environment in which students can find the intersection of belief and belonging. The University is founded on Christian principles and lifestyle standards, but the student body represents more than 40 denominations, religions and faith backgrounds, which bring forth diversity of thought and conversation.

Twice a week, students, faculty and staff gather in the 3,000-seat Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel to participate in corporate worship and hear from renowned pastors, authors, business leaders, professional athletes, artists and other skilled guest speakers. As part of their Christian liberal arts education, Olivet students complete courses that unpack the relevance of Scripture and Christian traditions. Faculty incorporate devotionals into their curriculum and create an environment for asking questions and seeking answers.

The Office of Spiritual Development provides programming that seeks to equip leaders who are strong in their spiritual formation and to create a vibrant campus environment in which all students

feel they belong. Spiritual Development encompasses discipleship and evangelism initiatives to engage in seven abiding habits: God’s Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, servanthood, stewardship and witnessing.

Beyond the classroom, opportunities abound for students to further their faith journeys through student ministries and community engagement projects. Many of the student spiritual life activities are wrapped into the Shalom Project, which seeks to inspire, empower and equip the campus community in the creative act of restoring broken relationships through ministry opportunities on and off campus. Each year, the entire campus community is encouraged to participate in Serve Day to support the work of local community organizations. Students also benefit from exposure to faith in action in different parts of the country and the world on yearly mission trips. These cross-cultural encounters help to expand students’ worldviews and perspectives on how people live around the world.

Expand the Mind

A strong educational foundation sets up students for success in careers full of meaning and purpose, and Olivet is consistently ranked and endorsed as a top institution for its academic programs. The University offers more than 150 majors, minors and concentrations to undergraduate students (and an additional 20-plus areas of study for graduate and continuing studies candidates).

Most areas of study require mentored learning experiences, such as clinical rotations, student teaching, job shadowing or internships. These opportunities allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom directly into the industry in which they are pursuing a career. Students have completed internships with industry leaders including NASA, the Grand Rapids Museum of Art, the Mississippi Aquarium, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Nucor Steel and Caterpillar Inc. as well as local churches, hospitals, school districts, political campaigns, nonprofit organizations and more.

Students are encouraged to pursue research projects under faculty mentorship to deepen their compre-

hension of a subject as they contribute to the global knowledge base. Those who are interested in exploring internationally may spend a semester or summer studying off campus through more than 15 established partnerships with higher education institutions which promote interactive scholarship from Honduras to Uganda. As they combine travel with education, students gain insight into and appreciation for the varied cultures, languages and traditions that exist elsewhere in the world.

Body in Motion

The residential nature of Olivet facilitates ample opportunities for students to develop socially, emotionally and physically. The University offers more than 90 academic department service clubs, organizations, multiethnic affinity associations, interest groups and honor societies to cater to the wide range of interests and passions represented in the student body.

Each semester, the Office of Student Development plans a full program of social activities across campus for students to have fun and build inclusive relationships. Students enjoy a wide variety of yearly traditions and special activities, including Ollies Follies class competitions, the Rock and Glow silent disco, an annual Christmas party, liveband karaoke, the Mr. ONU skit and talent show, plays and musicals, outdoor movies, contemporary music concerts provided by Shine.FM, and other gatherings that encourage students to connect with their peers. Students also oversee the annual publication process of the Aurora yearbook.

Athletic Activities

The Perry Student Life and Recreation Center houses a swimming pool, four-story climbing wall, field house, fitness facilities, weekly exercise classes, study spaces and gaming areas — all of which are available for students to use for free. Olivet also boasts a robust intramural program with 20 sports offered at a variety of levels. On average, more than 1,400 students participate in at least one intramural sport each year.

Students who want to play sports at an intercollegiate competitive level can go through the recruitment process for any of the University’s 23 varsity athletic teams or the men’s club ice hockey team. Coed sports include cheerleading and varsity esports. Olivet athletic teams compete nationally through affiliation in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and through conference play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), Mid-States Football Association and Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (swimming). Multiple alumni have built on their college training to compete professionally with teams including the Chicago Cubs, the New York Yankees, the Chicago Fire and USA Track and Field.

For 16 consecutive years, Olivet’s athletic program has won the CCAC All-Sports Cup, which is based on championships and rankings across CCAC-affiliated sports. In addition, when it comes to success in the classroom, hundreds of Olivet athletes are consistently named to the CCAC All-Academic Team each year. Scholarships are available for many student-athletes.

Engaging in the Arts

From its inception as a liberal arts higher education institution, Olivet has supported creative growth through performances and exhibitions that feature student accomplishments in the areas of drama, art and music. ONU Theatre produces a full season of musicals and plays, ranging from Broadway favorites to Pulitzer Prize winners to original productions. Many shows are student-directed, and all productions allow for student involvement beyond the stage, including costuming, choreography, set design, set construction, sound design, lighting design and production assistant roles.

Students who are interested in artistic exploration may take courses within the Department of Art and Digital Media. Rotating exhibitions are displayed in gallery areas around campus throughout the year to showcase student work. There are also a variety of on-campus student photography, videography and graphic designer roles that allow students to gain work experience as they hone their craft.

More than 600 students are involved annually in the over 20 vocal and instrumental ensembles offered through the School of Music. Regardless of major, all students who are musically inclined are encouraged to get involved. Groups include the Tiger Marching Band, University Orchestra, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Orpheus Choir, Proclamation Gospel Choir, Concert Singers, Sound of Praise and Piano Ensemble. These and many other ensembles offer some merit-based and participation scholarships.

The School of Music offers a variety of performances, including annual productions of Handel’s Messiah and the holiday favorite Sounds of the Season concert, and it partners with ONU Theatre to produce the spring musical. Additionally, many music ensembles travel throughout the country and around the world to minister through music. The Tiger Marching Band has performed in London, in Rome and at the U.S. presidential inauguration; Concert Singers has traveled to Greece and Paraguay; and Orpheus Choir has taken trips to Kenya and Puerto Rico.

Making the Most

Regardless of what students choose to study, there are endless opportunities for growth while experiencing life at Olivet — a university committed to offering an “Education With a Christian Purpose” since 1907. The mission to be a higher education institution that holistically strengthens the minds as well as the physical and spiritual well-being of students has remained as the school continues to grow its programs, invest in infrastructure, enhance accessibility, evolve policies and increase the capacity to care for more than 2,500 residential students and 500 online students.

At the Commencement ceremony each May, we see the face value of higher education as our graduates cross the stage — their faces beaming with pride for all they have accomplished and excited anticipation for what’s to come. We want our students to grow personally and professionally as they make the most of their college experience. We know that the basis of that growth is a healthy sense of belonging within a community — which is something that our students, faculty and alumni constantly mention when talking about what makes Olivet a great institution.

You can go to college anywhere, but we believe that you belong here.

Lauren Beatty ’13 is a freelance writer, author, editor and an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication at Olivet. She earned a Master of Arts degree in cross-cultural and sustainable business management from the American University of Paris in 2014. Her thesis explored the evolution of socially responsible business practices in America. In 2020 she co-founded Philo Collective, a small business offering Europeaninspired baked goods, yoga classes, workshops and other events.

IN PURSUIT OF A CALLING: A PROCESS IN BECOMING

“One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is ongoing learning, a commitment to stretching, and a life filled with intellectual, personal and professional growth.”

A Conversation With Dr. Amber Residori

Society puts an immense amount of pressure on young adults to figure out what they want to do “when they grow up.” Common questions of juniors and seniors in high school center on where they plan to go to college and what they want to study — both of which imply that young adults should have their next steps perfectly calculated and planned.

Perhaps a better focus should be on who they want to become, suggests Dr. Amber Residori ’93, dean of the College of Professional Studies. She frequently speaks to incoming freshmen and transfer students about spending less time fretting about picking a major and more time considering their inherent talents and abilities and how they might use those gifts to build a purpose-driven life.

“I wish I had a megaphone and permission to walk the hallways of high schools everywhere so I could tell students, ‘You do NOT need to have a major picked before coming to college,’” says Dr. Residori. “Students put a lot of pressure on themselves to have huge life decisions made before they’re even 18 years old. Choosing a career [path] is important … but it is far more important for students — especially as they make college visits — to ask questions and understand how a university will walk beside them, guide them and help lead them through a process of finding their calling than to immediately commit to a major.”

Part of the process of becoming is for students to experiment. Dr. Residori emphasizes that one of the simplest ways to figure out what the best college fit will be is to visit different campus environments.

“You don’t need to have everything figured out,” she says. “You just need to take the next step. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re on a campus, and imagine yourself growing, learning and developing beside the students, professors and staff you meet during your visit.”

It can also be very beneficial to connect with mentors, family members, coaches and friends who appear to be grounded in purposeful careers and volunteer work. Asking questions about their personal journeys can be very enlightening for young adults, but Dr. Residori cautions against idolizing their apparent successes.

“We admire the accomplishments of our role models and often want to capture their unique qualities so that we can emulate their success,” she says. “Ironically, these role models would likely explain that they have not yet fully become. Instead, their unique

quality is that they have never quit becoming. They have been mindful to capture valuable life lessons that were embedded within failure and success and within the mundane and the exciting.

“You see, individuals who have truly become never settle. They stretch themselves so that they are constantly in the process of developing, improving and transforming. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is ongoing learning, a commitment to stretching, and a life filled with intellectual, personal and professional growth.”

Olivet Nazarene University, a liberal arts institution, is committed to guiding students through the growth-filled process of becoming. A liberal arts education offers a comprehensive way of teaching young adults how to think — not what to think — so they become well-rounded individuals. This holistic approach exposes students to an array of academic disciplines like the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences, all of which count toward graduation requirements.

“Employers want to hire individuals who have strong character and can think comprehensively, communicate well, consider alternatives when solving problems and work successfully within a team,” says Dr. Residori. “A liberal arts education provides these skills and prepares students for a lifetime of becoming. We know that college years are a key time in students’ lives when they continue to clarify their values, morals and the lens through which they see the world, so where they attend college and who walks beside them matters immensely.”

Certain jobs and industries require specific educational trainings, licensing and postgraduate degrees, but Dr. Residori suggests that everyone can benefit from educational opportunities that integrate personal development into career preparedness.

“Our students become doctors, social workers, engineers, accountants, pastors and countless other careers while fulfilling dreams they may have imagined since childhood,” she says. “But, more importantly, our students become men and women who lead, who are committed to ongoing growth, and who strive to glorify God as they serve professionally and personally. Becoming is a process, and we are grateful for the privilege of walking beside students as they realize how their unique qualities were designed by God to serve His Kingdom and love His people in incredible ways.”

HONORS PROGRAM

When Anna Shoup ’25 was considering her options for college, she wasn’t just interested in an academic environment that would advance her career goals. She desired a community of like-minded peers who would challenge and encourage her interests. Although her mom and grandma had attended Olivet, she wasn’t immediately convinced that it would be the right fit. However, after being invited to apply for the University Honors Program, her interest in the University shifted.

“I had no doubt that Olivet would provide me with great educational opportunities,” Anna says, “and I saw that the interdisciplinary Honors Program would be a big part of that. But finding out that the cohort format would give me a built-in group of people to interact with was a big selling point for me.”

These core Honors Program classes ask students to consider what it means to be human through rich class discussions and meaningful assignments. For Anna, who declared double majors of environmental science and philosophy, the robust discussions with her peers and the Honors Program faculty helped her formulate a deeper understanding of how to apply theoretical concepts to practical action steps.

“I was thriving academically,” Anna says of her first two years in the Honors Program. “And my hope that I would find relational connections through the program really played out. The content was deep and difficult, and there were topics we really had to wrestle through. I especially loved the faith and film class. My friends got together twice a week to watch a movie that we would discuss in class.”

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

When she moved into Williams Hall her freshman year, Anna hardly knew anyone. But she was excited to step out of her comfort zone. Participating in the freshman Honors Program retreat that occurs a few days before the official start of the school year helped her integrate into the campus community.

During their first two years of college, students in the University Honors Program take four cross-disciplinary courses which satisfy four general education courses.

Lauren Beatty

In addition to the rigorous Honors Program curriculum and balancing a heavy course load from her two majors (and two minors of legal studies and geology), Anna was highly involved in campus life while at Olivet. She worked in Benner Library and at the Ludwig Information Desk, served as a resident assistant for three years, was a teaching assistant for the earth and space sciences program, and did other small jobs within the Walker School of STEM.

During her time at Olivet, Anna also took advantage of multiple educational travel opportunities, including trips to Alaska for field research, the Au Sable Institute on Whidbey Island in Washington state, and Oxford University in England. These experiences helped her refine the types of work that she did (and didn’t) want to do after graduation.

“Philosophy can be a fast track to law school for undergrad students,” Anna says. “Olivet’s pre-law director, professor Charles Emmerich, had always encouraged me to consider law school as a good way to combine my skill sets and interests. Spending time at the Au Sable Institute helped me realize that I really loved engaging in conversations about the ethical implications of how scientific decisions play out in policies.”

When Anna returned to campus for the fall semester of her senior year, she was set on applying for law school. At the same time, she was deep in the process of writing her capstone thesis for the Honors Program. During their junior and senior years, Honors Program students engage in faculty-mentored research in their field of study. Under the mentorship of Ryan Himes, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology, Anna’s project focused on completing an energy audit for Olivet. The goal was to establish a baseline of Olivet’s energy consumption data to provide key campus decision-makers with a foundation of information for how future projects like solar batteries could benefit the University.

“My initial lofty Honors Program project ideas regarding carbon emissions had to change a lot when I decided to work on a real-life project with real people at a real institution,” Anna says. “But I really wanted to work on a practical project to impact the place where I was living. Olivet had previously installed solar panels, but the University was missing out on renewable energy storage solutions. We started digging into and learning about all of these policy-related incentives that could change the cost of the project and realized that there was potential for a big profit margin.

“It was the coolest experience ever. I sat in on all these business meetings about solar batteries

and learned so much throughout the project about renewable energy, electrification and challenges that the University might face. It was really interesting to see the change I was able to contribute to as an undergraduate student.”

While working hard to finish the capstone project and prepare presentations for Honors Day and Scholar Week, Anna sat for the LSAT twice and devoted time to her nine law school applications.

“Applying to law school was really brutal — it’s not for the faint of heart,” Anna says. “It’s a very competitive field of study to begin with, but there was a national uptick in applications that fall. The offers that I eventually received were really good. I visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I really fell in love with it. The city was great, and there seemed to be a lot of environmental law opportunities.”

To cap off her senior year, Anna’s academic efforts were recognized when she received the inaugural Mike and Karen Pence Award for Law scholarship. She graduated summa cum laude with a full résumé of unique experiences and a group of deep friendships.

“I wouldn’t have done anything different,” Anna reflects on her college journey. “I definitely think people should do the University Honors Program, and see it through to the end. All of the people I stayed close with over my four years of college were people who started and finished the Honors Program with me — those are relationships I treasure a lot. Give yourself the option to take advantage of every opportunity, and I believe you will have a successful and fulfilling undergrad experience.”

The culmination of students’ research is published in ELAIA: The Olivet Nazarene University Honors Journal. All volumes of ELAIA can be read online at issuu.com/Olivet. For more details about the Honors Program and application information, visit Olivet.edu/Honors.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Young Alumni Making a Difference

Lauren Beatty

Sosuo Anigboro ’24 immigrated from Nigeria to Indiana at 15, repeating high school years she had already completed. She embraced this challenge, earning 35 college credits through AP classes. At Olivet Nazarene University, she double-majored in accounting and finance while participating extensively in campus activities. Despite graduating summa cum laude in three years, she learned that success required both technical knowledge and relational skills, leading to her current role as a staff auditor at Ernst & Young in Virginia.

Olivet Nazarene University’s School of Education prepares teachers with strong academic foundations and Christian purpose. Graduate Jacob Hildenbrandt ’19 exemplifies this mission, transitioning from elementary teacher to dean of students at Thompson Crossing Elementary School in Indianapolis. His Olivet experience, including mentorship from faculty like Dr. Kelly Brown ’92 and leadership roles, shaped his career philosophy. As an administrator, he emphasizes supporting students, staff and parents while maintaining Christian values of joy, fairness and encouragement through daily educational challenges.

Vincent Giuliano ’24 overcame Tourette syndrome through athletics, discovering sports helped reduce his symptoms. At Olivet Nazarene University, he became an exceptional student-athlete, breaking eight school records and earning NAIA All-American honors five times. Despite struggling academically initially, he maintained dean’s list status while pursuing kinesiology. After graduation, he found success at Grand Valley State University, earning his master’s degree with a 4.0 GPA while competing on championship relay teams.

By nature, a liberal arts educational environment gives students the chance to curate a vibrant multidisciplinary experience. Grace Beatty ’25, who majored in biology with minors in chemistry and history, led the ONU Dance team as the artistic director, and choregraphed the spring musical and other School of Music events, has found this to be true.

Grace grew up in Kankakee, Illinois, and was very familiar with Olivet Nazarene University. However, like many other “townies,” she wasn’t initially interested in attending a school that was so close to home.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing-commercial graphics with a second major in studio art-photography from Olivet Nazarene University, Noah Sears ’23/’25 MBA knew he wanted to learn more about marketing. As he began to investigate his options, he discovered two paths simultaneously.

Noah was able to combine his love for marketing, his love for pole vaulting and his desire to continue learning. In addition, he accepted a graduate assistant position as junior project manager and creative assistant for the Office of Marketing and began serving as ONU’s pole vault coach.

The career path of a fine artist is hardly ever linear. For many, there is an ebb and flow of work, side gigs and financial stability. But for some, full-time artistic employment provides both creative expression and meaningful work.

Hope Olson ’14 has spent the last 10 years working as a painter, specializing in large, colorful acrylic works. She typically paints four collections per year, each comprised of 10 to 15 paintings. In general, her highly stylized work showcases quotidian moments of life that transport the viewer to days gone by through a lens of youthful modernism.

“My work ethic really grew while I was a student at Olivet Nazarene University,” says Bruk Desta ’24. “As a college student, I learned how to work at a different level of difficulty than I did in my high school days. I learned how to discipline myself and focus.”

Those skills were what he needed to achieve the first goal he set for himself after his May 2024 graduation from ONU: to pay off his student loans in one year. He took a job in sales and marketing with Evo Marketing, although his undergraduate degree is in kinesiology. He began his training period with the company while he was still a student.

From the moment Chloe Nagi ’23 stepped foot on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University as a college freshman, she knew she wanted to go on a mission trip. She enrolled at Olivet as an undecided major in fall 2019, and after taking a few general education courses, she decided to study biology. Chloe was interested in the coursework but determined to avoid anything to do with medicine or health care. She had struggled with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder from a young age, and one of her primary obsessions was to avoid being sick or dealing with other people who were sick.

In a district of over 2,000 educators, first-year teacher Gabriel Vicencio ’24 has achieved something extraordinary — though to those who know his passion for teaching, it’s hardly surprising. Gabriel, who teaches fifth grade at Clow Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois, was named a recent recipient of the A+ Educator Award for Indian Prairie School District 204, the fourth largest school district in the state.

The award comes with a $1,000 check to enhance the classroom experience. But it’s not just the money that makes this honor special. It’s the recognition that Gabriel is making a difference.

AT A GLANCE

STUDENTS

More than 3,200 (2,500 undergraduates) from nearly every U.S. state, 25 countries and more than 35 religious denominations.

ALUMNI

Olivet Nazarene University has graduated many notable alumni who have given back to the University, the Olivet region, the Church and the world in so many ways. There are more than 40,000 living alumni making a worldwide impact.

ACADEMICS

Over 150 areas of undergraduate study and graduate degrees, including the Doctor of Education: Ethical Leadership, offered on campus and online through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Professional Studies and the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. Study-abroad opportunities have included Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, Egypt, Honduras, Romania, Japan, Uganda, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

ACCREDITATION

Olivet Nazarene University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Specialized accreditation includes the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council on Social Work Education, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. In addition, the Teacher Education program is recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as an education preparation provider.

ATHLETICS

Home of the Tigers, Olivet Nazarene University fields 23 intercollegiate teams. Olivet provides competitive athletic awards and scholarships for qualifying candidates. Varsity teams for men include basketball, baseball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Varsity teams for women include basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. In addition to varsity sports, more than half the student body participate in Olivet’s thriving intramural and club sports programs.

COLLEGIATE IDENTITY

University Colors: Purple and gold Tagline and Motto: “Education With a Christian Purpose” and “We Believe. You Belong Here.”

Mascot: Toby the Tiger Religious Affiliation: Church of the Nazarene School Song: “Alma Mater, Olivet” by Byron Carmony ’39 University Seal: Symbol of truth and justice; containing the dove of peace, the cross, the lamp of learning and the Holy Bible

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

More than 90 clubs and organizations representing diverse interests, including a campus yearbook and literary magazine; Enactus business club; Student Philanthropy Council; ROTC; radio broadcasting (Shine.FM); numerous choral and instrumental ensembles (including ONU Marching Band and the University Orchestra); drama and musical theatre performances; intramural athletics; and community volunteer and spiritual life organizations.

MISSION

“We seek the strongest scholarship and the deepest piety, knowing that they are thoroughly compatible ... and a Christian environment where not only knowledge but character is sought.” — University Catalog, 1915.

CAMPUS

Olivet Nazarene University has a beautiful, park-like campus featuring 35 major buildings on 275 acres. Located in the village of Bourbonnais, Illinois, just 45 miles south of Chicago’s Loop, the campus is situated on what was once tallgrass prairie. While not much of the original habitat remains, caretakers of the University have spent the past few decades intentionally planting trees native to the area as well as diversifying the flora. In spring 2022, Olivet joined the ranks of internationally accredited arboreta with a Level I Certification through the Morton Arboretum’s interactive community, ArbNet.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

This Christian community is committed to making worship of God the central focus of our lives. Our faith in Jesus Christ cannot be separated from the educational experience, and we seek to honor God in all we learn, say and do. Through chapel services, each segment of the University community has the opportunity to join with others in worship and receive instruction in the Word and encouragement to serve. Notable and world-renowned speakers regularly address the Olivet community during chapel.

ACCOLADES

Regularly among the Best Colleges in U.S. News rankings, Olivet Nazarene University has also been a top 10 Best Value School for multiple years and has earned special recognition for Social Mobility. In 2024 Olivet was named a Four-Star College by Money Magazine, and Forbes ranked the McGraw School of Business MBA No. 9 in the U.S. in the Best MBA Accelerated Online Programs category. A recognized College of Distinction for more than a dozen years, Olivet received special badges for the schools of Business, STEM, Education and Nursing. WalletHub also ranked Olivet in its top 10 list of Best Colleges & Universities in Illinois.

BY THE NUMBERS

INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TEAMS

500+ students in music ensembles

VOLUMES IN ONU BENNER LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER

3,332

INTRAMURAL SPORTS AND TOURNAMENTS, WITH MORE THAN 1,540 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR

from Olivet to Chicago an n ual global and local mi s sion trips

AREAS OF STUDY

UNDERGRADUATE AREAS OF STUDY AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Art

Art – Studio Art

Art Education

Communication Studies

Corporate Communication

English

English as a Second Language

English as a Second Language

Education

English Education

Geography

History

Leadership Studies

Legal Studies

Literature

Multimedia Communication

Multimedia Communication –Film Studies

Multimedia Communication –

Journalism

Multimedia Communication –Live Event Media Management

Multimedia Communication –Radio/Audio Media

Multimedia Communication –TV/Video Production

Musical Theatre

Photography

Political Science

Political Science – Public Policy

Pre-Art Therapy

Pre-Law

Psychology

Public Relations &

Strategic Communication

Social Science Education

Sociology

Spanish

Spanish Education

Theatre Production & Performance

Writing

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Commercial Music

Music

Music – Composition

Music Education

Music – Performance

Music – Recording Arts

Worship Arts

WALKER SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

Actuarial Science

Biology

Chemistry

Chemistry – Biochemistry

Chemistry – Earth/Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry – Forensics

Computer Science –Networking & Data Communications

Computer Science –

Software Development

Computer Science –

Software Entrepreneurship

Computing Technology

Cybersecurity

Data Science

Earth & Space Science

Engineering – Architectural

Engineering – Chemical & Biochemical

Engineering – Civil

Engineering – Computer

Engineering – Electrical

Engineering – Mechanical

Environmental Science

Geological Science

Geological Science –Geochemistry

Geological Science –Geotechnical

Geological Science – Life Science

Mathematics

Mathematics Education

Physical Sciences

Pre-Dental

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Optometry

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Physician’s Assistant

Pre-Veterinary

Science Education – Biology

Science Education – Chemistry

Science Education – Earth/Space Science

Zoology

COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice – Criminology

Criminal Justice –Law Enforcement

Health Education

Interior Design

Kinesiology

Kinesiology – Exercise Physiology

Kinesiology – Pre-Athletic Training

Kinesiology – Pre-Occupational Therapy

Kinesiology – Pre-Physical Therapy

Military Affairs

Military Science

Physical Education

Recreation & Sport Studies

Social Work

Sport Management

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Child Development

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

Special Education

Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction

Master of Arts in Education:

Educational Leadership

Master of Arts in Education:

Reading Specialist

Doctor of Education:

Ethical Leadership

MCGRAW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Accounting

Business – Human Resource

Management

Business – Management

Business – Operations

Management

Business – Philanthropy/Not-forProfit

Business – Public Administration

Business Administration

Economics

Economics & Finance –

Applied Economics

Economics & Finance –

Certified Financial Planning

Economics & Finance –

Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurship

Finance

International Business

Management

Management Information

Systems

Marketing

Marketing – Commercial

Graphics

Marketing – Corporate Relations

Marketing – International

Marketing – Management

Master of Business Administration

Master of Organizational Leadership

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Master of Science in Nursing: Education

Master of Science in Nursing: Transformational Leadership RN to BSN

SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Biblical Languages

Biblical Studies

Children’s Ministry

Christian Education

Christian Ministry

Christian Studies

Greek

Hebrew

Intercultural Studies

Ministerial Missions

Pastoral Ministry

Philosophy

Philosophy & Religion

Pre-Seminary Theology

Youth Ministry

Master of Arts: Christian Ministry

Master of Arts: Family Ministry

Master of Arts: Ministerial Studies

Master of Arts:

Missional Multiplication

Master of Arts: Pastoral Leadership

Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry

Master of Arts: Religion

Master of Arts: Urban Ministry

Master of Divinity

Master of Ministry

Master of Ministry: Spanish