Along with sitting on the President’s Cabinet as Vice President for Student Development, Jason leads a dynamic team that gives vision to athletics, community life, campus recreation, residential life, health services, multiethnic student services, and spiritual development at ONU.
Dr. Stephens has more than 15 years of leadership experience in higher education. Prior to joining the ONU team, he served as the dean of students at Indiana Wesleyan University. He enjoys the challenges of making sure that each student’s college experience is both productive and memorable. His work reaches into every important touchpoint with students, including student activities, student conduct, new student orientation, first-year experience, retention, and student success.
He is an active member of the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD) and served for several years on the executive committee as the business and finance chair. He also chaired the Annual Conference Planning Team in 2022, bringing back the 800-person conference for the first in-person gathering after two years of virtual sessions.
A popular presenter, Dr. Stephens regularly speaks to a variety of groups about leadership development, retention and student success, and cultivating communities of belonging among first-year students.
A native of Pendleton, Indiana, Dr. Stephens is married to Kendra. They are the parents of Caleb and Hannah. The Stephens family attends Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene (K1) and are members of a dynamic small group there. His favorite self-care activities are “The West Wing” or “The Office,” going to the zoo or children’s museum with his family, collecting all things Batman, and cheering on the Indianapolis Colts and ONU Tiger athletes.
