Get To Know Bob Lutz 

By Isaiah Rubio 

Cedarville University recently welcomed a new member to the family – well, kind of. Bob Lutz, a ’01 alumnus of Cedarville University, returned to fill the role of vice president of strategic initiatives. This new senior-level position focuses on working with university leaders to advance the mission, expand opportunities, and increase the ministry of Cedarville University. 

“My job is unique. I work with our university leaders, primarily the president and the Cabinet,” Lutz said. “I’m really around campus meeting with leaders, staff, faculty, deans, vice presidents, etc., talking through this initiative, like online programs and just understanding, ‘How does this affect you? What do you need to make this succeed? How do we make this work for students? What are the unintended consequences?’’ 

The most pressing issue is Cedarville’s upcoming online degree programs. Lutz played a crucial role in covering all the angles involved with the online degree programs to make sure of a smooth launch. Not only is academics important, but also translating campus culture and creating an online community.

Despite being the new hire, Lutz is no stranger to Cedarville. On top of being a graduate of the university, Lutz worked on staff and later dean for student leadership development. 

After his time at Cedarville, Bob Lutz took on the roles of vice president for student development and dean of students at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida – until he would be brought back to Cedarville again. He feels like his experience with students, and passion for shaping their futures, has prepared him well for the challenge ahead of him.

“I want to understand Christian education in new ways. I want to understand students in new ways. I want to understand what is our mission field, and what is the future for Cedarville University?” Lutz said, “And that stuff excites me. So I think I learned that along the way. But now you know, the application is just bigger and more riskier and more exciting.”

Lutz does not just help manage a university, but also a beautiful family. He has been married to his wife Clara, who is also a Cedarville graduate, for nearly 14 years. Their family includes three children: Vivian, Ryle and Wynafred. Many of Lutz’s hobbies are family-oriented. He enjoys sharing his love for sports with his children, who play a variety of sports, and taking walks with his wife.

While Lutz and his wife readjust to Cedarville weather, his children are experiencing something rather new. His children were primarily raised back in Florida, so adjusting to Ohio’s cold weather has been a fun experience for them. 

“They want to go outside in shorts,” Lutz said. “When we moved here, I think they firmly thought that in the first week, they would see snow. And we got here on September 30.” 

Despite the cold weather and lack of snow, Lutz is excited to be back at Cedarville. The connection and community that Lutz was able to be a part of in years past was one of the things he was most excited to be a part of again.

“I came to love the people I worked with here.” Lutz said, when asked about what drew him back to Cedarville. “There are amazing, Godly, hardworking, excellent people at every level. Whether you’re talking to a front receptionist, all the way to president, vice president or board, I’ve found them bought in excited, humble, and that’s unique.”

As the Lutz family settles into Cedarville, finding community in church is also important. Back in Florida, Lutz served as an elder in his church for five years. While still missing their church in Florida, the Lutz family is committed to finding the right church for them in their new environment. 

“We have it down to two or three churches,” Lutz said. “We hope to join a church sometime by January, we don’t want to stay shopping. We want to actually commit.” 

Although Cedarville is familiar to Lutz, it has changed a lot since 2001. New people, new staff and new students fill the chapel seats. As Lutz settles in, it is important to him that he gets to know you! 

“I would love to get to know students,” Lutz said, “I mean, I’ve gone from where I knew way too much about students to not knowing many of our students. So if you see the bald guy walking across the sidewalk, say hi, let me know I can get to know you.” 

Contact with Bob Lutz can be made through email, rlutz@cedarville.edu., or through the Cedarville University website. 

Isaiah Rubio is a senior Broadcasting, Digital Media and Journalism major with a concentration in audio. He enjoys fishing, producing music and playing video games in his free time. 

Photo by Scott Huck