Joy Fagan Leaving Cedarville After This Semester

Bible professor Joy Fagan is resigning from Cedarville after two decades of service to the university. Her last day is Dec. 20.

“The why is tricky,” she said. “Every administration has the right to take the university in a particular direction, and every faculty and staff member has the responsibility to determine if they are a good fit for that direction.”

Fagan said she believes she is no longer a good fit for the university, particularly because of her role as a woman teaching in the Bible department.

“I also believe that when God closes doors, he opens doors,” she said.

Fagan will be spending more time at Safe Harbor House, which she founded in September 2009.

“Ironically, when I resign, we will be celebrating our two-year anniversary of 24/7 residential treatment,” she said. “I want to help women coming out of difficult circumstances. That is what I want to (continue).”

While employed by Cedarville for the past two decades, Fagan has coached basketball and softball teams, served as a resident director, and taught Spanish and Bible courses.

During two of her first years at Cedarville, Fagan oversaw a campus-wide discipleship program she fashioned for the students. Because there was a large response by students to the program, Mark Irving was eventually hired to take over discipleship ministries.

“It was nothing like it is today,” Fagan said. “Mark has done a phenomenal job.”

Fagan said pouring into students is what is most memorable about her time at Cedarville.

“When you coach and you are a resident director, you really do get a little taste of living life together,” Fagan said. “It is what the church really should be doing.”

Although her departure is difficult, Fagan said she wishes nothing but good for the university.

“I have often felt undeserving to be at such a quality institution that strives to be for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ,” she said. “I have spent 20 years here, and I am celebrating those years.”

Anna Dembowski is a sophomore journalism major and an arts & entertainment writer for Cedars. She likes nearly anything that is the color purple and enjoys spelling the word “agathokakological.”