Oral History Project
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Role
President (1978-2003); Chancellor (2003- )
Description
Dr. Paul H. Dixon became the eighth president of Cedarville College in 1978. A graduate of Tennessee Temple University and Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Dixon spent 14 years as an evangelist before becoming president. In 1986, while president, he earned his doctorate in higher education from the University of Cincinnati. He also holds an honorary doctor of divinity degree from his alma mater and the honorary doctor of laws degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
A glance at the 25 years of Dr. Dixon's presidency reveals great achievements for Cedarville University. However, Dr. Dixon was always the first to say that the only explanation for Cedarville is God. The success of the University may have been due in part to Dixon's God-given ability to balance stability and change. Without fail, Dr. Dixon kept the University in step with its credo - "for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ" - and its mission "to provide an education consistent with biblical truth." Faculty and staff named his strong emphasis on chapel and his challenging sermons as two of the most significant characteristics of his presidency. His evident, passionate desire for students to take part in the Great Commission never waned. Under Dr. Dixon's leadership, daily required chapel continued to be a priority on campus.
Yet the very opposite of stability - change - was another building block of Dr. Dixon's tenure. With a strong vision and a strategic plan in hand before he even began his job, Dixon led the University through tremendous growth. In his 25 years, $100 million in facilities were built on a campus that expanded from 180 acres to 400. Cedarville attained university status in 2000, offering more than 100 programs, including graduate degrees. Enrollment blossomed from 1,185 students in 1978 to more than 3,000, and the faculty grew from 60 to 203. Also, the University's focus on technology positioned it as a leader in the digital age.
As Dr. Dixon came to the conclusion of his 25 years as president, he certainly modeled the life verse which he and his wife, Pat, chose: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23). In May 2003, Dr. Dixon became the Chancellor of the University, as the mantle of the presidency was passed to Dr. William E. Brown, formerly the president of Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. The Dixon Ministry Center, opened in 1996, was named in honor of Paul and Pat Dixon.
Media Type
Video
Interview Date
Spring 2019
Interview Duration
34:38
Interviewer
Dr. Andrew Harris
Years of Service
1978-
School or Department
Administration
Keywords
Cedarville, oral history, Paul Dixon
Publisher
Cedarville University
Interview Location
Cedarville, Ohio, United States of America
Disciplines
Higher Education
Digitization Date
March 24, 2021
Recommended Citation
Dixon, Paul H., "Paul H. Dixon" (2019). Oral History Project. 23.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/oral_histories/23
