Short Conversations with New BJU Leaders
Shortly after becoming President of BJU, Dr. McAllister appointed Dr. David Fisher as Provost and Executive Vice President and Dr. Matthew Weathers as the Chief Enrollment Officer. As summer progressed, more leadership decisions were announced. Dr. Kris Martin is the new Dean of the School of Business, Jeanine Aumiller became the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Brian Burch is now the Chief Operations and Technology Officer and Laurilyn Hall is the new Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
The Alumni Relations Department sat down with some of these new leaders so you could hear firsthand their backgrounds, their approach to their new roles and their passion for the mission of BJU. Currently, you can listen to our short conversations with Dr. David Fisher, Dr. Matthew Weathers, Dr. Kris Martin and Brian Burch by using one of the links below.
More of these interviews will be published in the coming weeks — including one this Thursday — so be sure to keep an eye on the Alumni Relations podcast feed or on our Bob Jones University Alumni Facebook page
First Regional Gatherings Happening Soon!
We are six weeks away from our first Alumni and Friends Regional Gatherings taking place in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas. These first two events are followed by seven more regional gatherings throughout the fall semester.
If you are considering attending a gathering, please use the link below for more information and to register for the event nearest you. Please contact the Alumni Relations Department with any questions you have regarding these events.
First Regional Gatherings Happening Soon!
We are six weeks away from our first Alumni and Friends Regional Gatherings taking place in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas. These first two events are followed by seven more regional gatherings throughout the fall semester.
If you are considering attending a gathering, please use the link below for more information and to register for the event nearest you. Please contact the Alumni Relations Department with any questions you have regarding these events.
Daily Prayer & Praise Guide
Last week, Dr. McAllister informed his leadership team that he plans to intentionally use August as a month of prayer for Bob Jones University. He is gathering specific prayer requests from department leaders across campus, and he is dedicating significant time throughout the month to focus on praying together for BJU. In that same spirit, the Alumni Relations Department and Advancement Departments have created a Daily Prayer & Praise guide for the month of August. As members of our BJU community, we covet your prayers and would be grateful if you partnered with us as we pray through the month of August.
Later this week, you will receive an email with access to the Daily Prayer and Praise guide for August. This guide will provide a specific prayer request or praise for each day during August. Thank you for praying!
Daily Prayer & Praise Guide
Last week, Dr. McAllister informed his leadership team that he plans to intentionally use August as a month of prayer for Bob Jones University. He is gathering specific prayer requests from department leaders across campus, and he is dedicating significant time throughout the month to focus on praying together for BJU. In that same spirit, the Alumni Relations Department and Advancement Departments have created a Daily Prayer & Praise guide for the month of August. As members of our BJU community, we covet your prayers and would be grateful if you partnered with us as we pray through the month of August.
Later this week, you will receive an email with access to the Daily Prayer and Praise guide for August. This guide will provide a specific prayer request or praise for each day during August. Thank you for praying!
Pursuit of Excellence
BJU students are constantly surpassing expectations and exceeding the standards of excellence that their professors set for them. The nursing and engineering programs recently reminded us of what that pursuit of excellence looks like.
After successfully navigating the rigorous BJU nursing program and graduating, there is one crucial test each nursing student must pass to become a nurse. This difficult test is called the NCLEX — National Council Licensure Examination — and is constructed not only to measure knowledge but also critical thinking and the ability to apply their knowledge to real scenarios. Scoring significantly above the national average is not new to BJU’s nursing program graduates, but this year’s students achieved a 100% pass rate! For comparison, the national pass rate average as reported by NCLEX is just over 88%.
Meanwhile, the BJU engineering program once again demonstrated what can happen when motivated students are mentored by incredible professors inside an intentionally created and real-world curriculum. One such example is Vitaly Bondarchuk, an engineering student who recently created a multitool prosthetic arm for his 7-year-old sister Bella as his final project before graduation. This heartwarming story was originally brought to light by some of our communication graduate students completing their own real-world project. Their video got the attention of the local media who came to campus to interview Vitaly and his professor, Dr. Jeff King. After the local broadcast aired, the story was picked up by national media outlets such as NBC News and People. You can read Vitaly’s full story here.
Pursuit of Excellence
BJU students are constantly surpassing expectations and exceeding the standards of excellence that their professors set for them. The nursing and engineering programs recently reminded us of what that pursuit of excellence looks like.
After successfully navigating the rigorous BJU nursing program and graduating, there is one crucial test each nursing student must pass to become a nurse. This difficult test is called the NCLEX — National Council Licensure Examination — and is constructed not only to measure knowledge but also critical thinking and the ability to apply their knowledge to real scenarios. Scoring significantly above the national average is not new to BJU’s nursing program graduates, but this year’s students achieved a 100% pass rate! For comparison, the national pass rate average as reported by NCLEX is just over 88%.
Meanwhile, the BJU engineering program once again demonstrated what can happen when motivated students are mentored by incredible professors inside an intentionally created and real-world curriculum. One such example is Vitaly Bondarchuk, an engineering student who recently created a multitool prosthetic arm for his 7-year-old sister Bella as his final project before graduation. This heartwarming story was originally brought to light by some of our communication graduate students completing their own real-world project. Their video got the attention of the local media who came to campus to interview Vitaly and his professor, Dr. Jeff King. After the local broadcast aired, the story was picked up by national media outlets such as NBC News and People. You can read Vitaly’s full story here.
2025 SCOPE Graduates Reflect on Their Achievements
Recent 2025 graduates reflect on their journeys as SCOPE students, highlighting the flexibility that made it possible and the importance of a Christ-centered education.
“My degree really helps me develop as a person, and being in ministry, my whole life is devoted to investing in other people.” – Eric Herb, 2025 MA in Biblical Studies
Graduates at last spring’s graduation ceremony share their thoughts and reflections on achieving their “next impossible” through SCOPE. Reflecting the wide range of degrees that SCOPE students embody, a series of short videos tells their inspiring stories.
2025 SCOPE Graduates Reflect on Their Achievements
Graduates at last spring’s graduation ceremony share their thoughts and reflections on achieving their “next impossible” through SCOPE. Reflecting the wide range of degrees that SCOPE students embody, a series of short videos tells their inspiring stories.
Employment Opportunities
BJU Faculty/Staff Positions
BJA Positions
Alumni Updates
Future Bruins
Bolyard, Ethan ‘12, ’14 and Catherine (Wiles) ’13, Elijah Knox, June 29, 2025
Custer, Seth and Moriah (Hamilton) ’14, Lily Marie, July 4, 2025
Henderson, Carter ’21 and Julia (Maier) ’21, Arthur Lloyd, June 19, 2025
Ohler, David ’16 and Katelyn (Fenton) ’16, Mallory Jane, November 14, 2024
Marriages
King: Joy Fonte ‘23 to Tyler, March 3, 2025
Matthews: Rebekah Baxa ’25 to Caleb ‘24, July 7, 2025
Leonard: Mikayla Steele ’22 to Carter, May 17, 2025
Weiss: Hannah Perreault ’22 to Andrew ’23, June 2024
Deaths
Borg, Mark Alan ’84, July 4, 2025
Brown, Daniel Stewart, Jr ’82, June 26, 2025
Bryson, Reva Ballard ’56, May 15, 2025
Cox, Willard (Will) Robertson ’74, July 11, 2025
Garrett, Robert Doran, Jr ’83 July 11, 2025
Groen, Gene Leroy ’67, July 15, 2025
Knight, Cydia (Small) ’53, July 6, 2025
O’Neal, Craig Alan ’76, July 15, 2025
Pinner, Jay-Martin ’76, July 22, 2025
Rush, Joshua (Josh) Murray ’17, July 19, 2025
Savage, Janet (Gearhart) ’55, July 5, 2025
Smith, Sherry (Weldy) ’67, June 26, 2025
Steveson, Peter Allan ’64, RFS, July 10, 2025
Tang, Tuch Keong ’81, July 25, 2025
Weldy, Timothy Peach ’71, May 31, 2025
Wilson, Donald Wayne ’78, July 11, 2025
Class Notes
Rev. Aaron Woody Cavanaugh ’05 has been voted in as assistant pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in St. Clair Shores, MI. He will gradually transition into the senior pastor role.
Dr. Timothy Joel Wagner ’13 was selected to receive Michigan Technological University’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award in the Assistant Professor/Assistant Teaching Professor category. He is an assistant teaching professor of mathematical sciences. He is the course coordinator for Calculus 2, director of the Math Learning Center and faculty advisor to Tech’s disc golf club.
