On July 13, 2026, the president of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), David Hoag, Ph.D. appointed Jason Stephens, Ph.D., the Vice President for Student Development at Olivet Nazarene University, a commissioner on the CCCU’s commission for Chief Student Development Officers.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve alongside outstanding student affairs leaders from across the CCCU,” Dr. Stephens said of the appointment. “I see this as an opportunity to represent Olivet. I look forward to sharing what God is doing on our campus while bringing back ideas and relationships that will continue to benefit our students.”
The CCCU was established in 1976 to support Christ-centered, accredited higher education institutions by offering collaborative research opportunities, peer networking and the sharing of best practices to enhance student experiences in college environments. Currently, there are more than 170 CCCU-affiliated institutions throughout the United States and around the world.
This three-year appointment will allow Dr. Stephens the opportunity to work with administrators from many of these other CCCU institutions. A CCCU commission is a volunteer appointment in which groups of commissioners, all of whom are student affairs leaders at their respective institutions, convene to participate in conversations around student development in Christian higher education. Each commissioner brings a wealth of knowledge and insights from their own experiences on college campuses to contribute to ongoing professional development. The Student Development Commission that Dr. Stephens has been appointed to has 10 leaders from various other member institutions.
“Student development is constantly evolving as colleges respond to the needs of today’s student on issues like mental health, discipleship, leadership development, and intersection of faith and culture,” he commented on the need for collaborative communication between similar institutions. “Being connected to a network of exceptional Christian higher education leaders allows us to learn from one another, share what is working at Olivet, and continually strengthen the student experience. Ultimately, our students benefit because we are able to make informed decisions based not only on our own experience but also on the collective wisdom of Christian colleges across the country.”
Dr. Stephens has served in his position as Vice President for Student Development at Olivet since 2022. He oversees non-academic student experience activities including athletics, community life, campus recreation, residential life, career services, health services, multiethnic student services, spiritual development, as well as emergency management and public safety. Dr. Stephens is also an active member of the Association for Christians in Student Development and served for several years on the executive committee as the business and finance chair.
“Olivet has always been dedicated to developing students academically, spiritually, and socially. Our emphasis on Christ-centered discipleship, leadership development, and caring for the whole student has shaped all of our graduates. Having a seat at the table allows us to share that legacy with other Christian colleges while continuing to learn from their experiences. It’s an opportunity not only to represent Olivet well but also to contribute to the future of Christian higher education.”
For more information about Student Life at Olivet, visit Olivet.edu/Life-at-Olivet
