[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF RONALD G. JOHNSON, PH.D., PRESIDENT OF 
                      MALONE COLLEGE, CANTON, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH REGULA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2007

  Mr. REGULA. Madam Speaker, a native of Michigan, Ron Johnson attended 
Malone College in 1960 and went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree in 
physics from Eastern Michigan University in 1963. He received a 
master's degree in radiation biophysics from the University of Kansas 
in 1967 and the doctorate in radiation biophysics, also from the 
University of Kansas, in 1970. Dr. Johnson returned to Malone College 
in 1970 to serve as assistant professor of physics, and was 
subsequently promoted to associate professor in 1974 and full professor 
in 1979. In 1981, he accepted the post of chief academic officer. His 
title was changed to provost in 1991 to more accurately describe his 
expanded duties and role at the College. He was named president in 
November 1994. At his inauguration in March of 1995 he announced the 
theme that would characterize his presidency--The Next Level of 
Excellence.
  Throughout Dr. Johnson's 25 years of administrative leadership, 
Malone College has experienced unprecedented growth and development in 
academics, the number of students in attendance, and physical plant. 
Since 1981, the number of full-time faculty has increased from 33 to 
111. In addition during his presidency, the percentage of faculty 
holding a terminal degree has increased from 48 percent to 71 percent. 
Enrollment has soared nearly 200 percent from 770 to 2300. Dr. Johnson 
has overseen the development of numerous academic programs, including 
the bachelor of science in nursing; two baccalaureate degree-completion 
programs in management and nursing; as well as graduate programs 
awarding master's degrees in education, counseling, Christian 
ministries, business administration, and nursing.
  During his tenure Malone also has developed innovative academic 
programs in zoo biology, forensic chemistry, sports/youth ministry, 
commercial music technology, and community health education, to name 
only a few of the more than 90 programs of study. Also of note--it is 
within Dr. Johnson's presidency that Malone has been honored with 2 
more prestigious distinctions: recognition by the Templeton Foundation 
as a national leader in character development, and ranking among the 
top colleges and universities in the Midwest under the category 
Universities--Master's according to U.S. News & World Report's 
America's Best Colleges 2006 and again in 2007. Dr. Johnson's 
experience and leadership have been instrumental during 3 of the Higher 
Learning Council of the North Central Association's decadal 
reaccreditations, including the most recent in the spring of 2004. 
During Johnson's presidency the College's endowment has grown nearly 
500 percent from $3.1 million to approximately $18 million.

  Appearances of such record growth are also evident in the physical 
changes that continue to take place on the campus. Dr. Johnson 
supervised the completion of Malone's newest structures--the Brehme 
Centennial Center, the Ewing Varsity Center, Mitchell Hall, and 
Haviland Hall, the School of Nursing building addition, Wellness 
Center, and the purchase/renovation of the Johnson Center for Worship 
and the Fine Arts (formerly First Christian Church). Other campus 
renovations under Dr. Johnson's guidance include the attractively 
landscaped Herbert W. Hoover Courtyard; the Marjorie Johnson Memory 
Garden, named in honor of Malone's beloved, late first lady; and the 
newly completed dining facility and entranceway to the Brehme 
Centennial Center.
  A leader in Christian higher education, Dr. Johnson is a member of 
the board of directors of the Christian College Consortium and its 
Fund, the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, Council of 
Presidents. At the state level he is vice-chair elect and a member of 
the executive committee of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. 
His service in the Evangelical Friends Church--Eastern Region has 
included serving as presiding clerk of the Yearly Meeting for 11 years 
and currently as a member of the executive board and the board of 
directors of Barclay Press. Locally, Dr. Johnson is a member of the 
Stark Development Board and the P-16 Compact. He has served the Canton 
Regional Chamber of Commerce and was chairman in 2000. He has served on 
the boards of Leadership Stark County and the Medical Education 
Foundation of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, 
and been involved with United Way of Stark County.
  He is father to 2 married children, Mark and Kristin, and grandfather 
to Cameron. He attends Jackson Friends Church, where he serves as an 
elder and Sunday school teacher.

                          ____________________