John Brown University announced the formation of the College of Education and Human Services today at a ceremony on the Siloam Springs campus. The new college brings together JBU’s College of Education with the Graduate Counseling program (the largest in the state), and undergraduate programs in psychology, kinesiology and family studies.

The College of Education and Human Services will also be home to JBU’s new nursing program, which launches with its first pre-nursing class this fall.

“The professions represented in this new college embrace JBU’s mission of training students to serve others,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “To bring these service-centric disciplines into one college is a natural step in the forward momentum of our university.”

The university also announced that Dr. Jeff Terrell has joined JBU as dean of the new college. Dr. Terrell comes to JBU from Richmont Graduate University, where he served as president from 2003 until 2013. He is also past president of the Christian Association of Psychological Studies and section editor of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

“We are blessed to have someone with Jeff’s academic and professional experience leading the new College of Education and Human Services,” said Dr. Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs. “He is a broadly published expert in the field of psychology, a college administrator with a record of success and, most importantly, committed to the cause of Christ over all.”

Dr. Terrell is a licensed psychologist, and holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

“We are called by God to care for others,” said Dr. Terrell. “The graduates of the College of Education and Human Service live out this call for caring service, whether by meeting people’s physical or mental health needs, or through teaching the next generation. I am excited to be a part of this important work at John Brown University.

The college is expected to have more than 600 students enrolled in its various programs this fall semester.

Rebecca Ridings, John Brown University graduate counseling student, sees the new college as a way to better equip students to make a bigger impact on generations to come.

Dr. Jeff Terrell, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, shares his vision for the new college.