"The Dr. Gary J. Oliver Endowed Chair in Marriage, Family, and Relationship Studies"

Position Summary

The Center for Healthy Relationships (CHR) at John Brown University (JBU) invites applications for the Dr. Gary J. Oliver Endowed Chair in Marriage, Family, and Relationship Studies, a prestigious position for a distinguished scholar and educator passionate about advancing relational health. This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the national discourse on relationship formation through research and the creation of innovative, evidence-based resources that foster resilient relationships.

Position Details

As the CHR continues to grow, we plan to become a leading national voice in the field of relationship formation, particularly for emerging adults. The Oliver Chair offers a dynamic platform to shape the future of relational health research by:

• Leading interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and education.
• Creating transformative resources that address relational challenges through a variety of media.
• Teaching at the graduate and/or undergraduate level.
• Elevating the Chair’s and the CHR’s national profile through scholarship, public engagement, and strategic partnerships.

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Oliver Chair will:

• Conduct and publish research in relationship development and marriage and family enrichment.
• Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses in Counseling (CACREP), Psychology, or Family and Human Services (2-2 teaching load).
• Engage in professional, university, and community service.
• Pursue external funding to support research initiatives.
• Collaborate across disciplines and institutions.
• Provide thought leadership to enhance the CHR’s and JBU’s academic reputation and visibility.

Program Overview of the CHR

The CHR is an endowed center within John Brown University, dedicated to equipping individuals and communities with practical tools for cultivating healthy relationships. Initially founded to strengthen marriages and family life, the CHR continues to prioritize this work, expanding its mission to include personal, collegiate, and professional contexts.

A core value of the CHR is the faithful integration of psychology, theology, clinical practice, and spiritual formation. Our work serves a diverse audience, both within JBU and beyond. On campus, we engage students, faculty, and staff through curriculum development, workshops, podcasts, confidential conversations, and digital resources. Externally, we equip first responders, clinicians, businesses, churches, the CCCU network, and the national and international academic community with research-based tools and training. Our resources are distinguished by their integration of scholarly rigor, theological depth, and practical relevance.

History of the CHR

Founded in 1998 through a gift from the Windgate Foundation, the Center for Healthy Relationships (CHR) began as the Center for Marriage and Family Studies under the leadership of Dr. Gary J. Oliver. From its inception, the CHR has focused on equipping individuals and couples to build strong marriages, families, and relational foundations.

Early initiatives included launching JBU’s Master’s program in counseling and establishing the university’s Community Counseling Clinic. The CHR continues to support JBU’s Graduate Counseling program through scholarships and graduate fellowships.

Beyond campus, the CHR has served churches, community leaders, and organizations locally and globally through workshops, assessment tools, and training resources. Its impact was nationally recognized with two federal Healthy Marriage Initiative grants (2006 and 2011), which significantly expanded its outreach and programming.

In September 2022, Dr. Rosemary Flaaten assumed the role of Executive Director of the CHR. Under her leadership, the CHR has significantly expanded its presence across the JBU campus, enhancing support for students, faculty, and staff through strategic programming and the development of various resources. During her tenure, the CHR launched the Relationships @ Work initiative, a series of workplace relational workshops designed to equip businesses and nonprofit organizations with evidence-based tools for fostering healthy teams and professional relationships. Postures of a Modern Marriage, another initiative developed under her leadership, is a digital resource currently being developed to support young couples. Additionally, BRAVE, a new program designed to help first responders with tools for healthy marriages, is expanding its reach to a national audience.

The CHR is recognized for its interdisciplinary collaboration and thoughtful approach across a broad spectrum of audiences. The Dr. Gary J. Oliver Endowed Chair in Marriage, Family, and Relationship Studies will advance the CHR’s national influence through scholarship, public engagement, and strategic partnerships.

Institution

John Brown University’s mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. Founded in 1919, JBU is a Christ-centered, Biblically-faithful, interdenominational university that represents the best of Protestant evangelicalism in our commitment to the following theological principles: the fundamental human need for conversion and lifelong discipleship; the centrality of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for the redemption of human beings; high regard for, and obedience to, the Bible as our authority; and active involvement in a local church, in missions and in ministries that work for Biblical justice and serve people in need. At JBU, we seek to integrate faith and learning, foster holistic Christian formation, promote pragmatic liberal arts education, and prepare people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life. Consistent with its evangelical identity, JBU’s board of trustees has articulated institutional commitments on certain theological issues or university practices. With God’s help, JBU seeks to live out these commitments faithfully and humbly with grace and truth.All employees must affirm JBU’s Employee Expectations and Articles of Faith.

With more than 2,250 students from 37 states and 42 countries, JBU offers approximately 50 undergraduate programs, seven fully online bachelor’s degrees, and 12 graduate degrees in business, education, cybersecurity, and counseling. JBU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds program-specific accreditations from various agencies.” More information is available at jbu.edu/accreditation.

JBU has benefited from stable and excellent leadership throughout the organization. President Chip Pollard started in 2004 and has led the organization in consistently meeting enrollment goals, completing two capital campaigns and launching a third, completing two strategic plans and launching a third, 17 major building projects, encouraging efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and students, and navigating the educational and financial challenges of the pandemic successfully. He served on the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board for thirteen years and as chair for five years. Most of the president’s cabinet has served for over 20 years, and all cabinet members have held volunteer leadership positions in the CCCU, ACSD, CIC, NACUBO, and other higher education associations. JBU’s board of trustees are people of deep Christian faith, generous spirit, and professional expertise, with an average length of service of 11 years. They are deeply committed to maintaining JBU’s mission to educate students to honor God and serve others.

JBU has experienced a season of God’s favor and blessing, for which we are grateful. In the last 20 years, JBU has received over $300 million in gifts and grants and has built or renovated over 90% of the university’s facilities. JBU has only about $4 million of debt on over $220 million of assets. During that same time, JBU’s endowment has grown from about $50 million to over $150 million, much of it dedicated to scholarships and academic programs and to support maintenance costs for new facilities. This financial strength has enabled JBU to retain excellent faculty and staff with consistent compensation increases and funds for faculty and staff development. JBU has not been immune to the economic and cultural challenges facing higher education, but it is positioned better than many institutions to respond.

JBU has received national recognition from many national newspapers and industry journals. For instance, in eight out of the last nine years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has named JBU on its “high honor roll” in its “Great Place to Work” survey. The Wall Street Journal has named JBU to its Best Colleges list since 2019, ranking us the top private school in Arkansas (2020) and top Arkansas university overall (2022, 2024). We are typically in the top 10% in our category (master’s level universities in the South) in U.S. News and World Report rankings.

JBU is located in Northwest Arkansas, a region predicted to have the third fastest job growth rate in the country behind only Austin, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. Three of the largest corporations in the world are located here—Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt—and there is a growing technology, entrepreneurial, and art business ecosystem in the region. The quality of life is enhanced with a world-class art museum, Crystal Bridges, 25 miles from campus, over 400 miles of mountain biking trails, several state and national historic sites, parks, and large lakes, and a new $33 million whitewater rafting park just five miles south of campus. Siloam Springs has approximately 18,350 people with affordable housing and good private and public schools.

Essential Qualifications

• A committed follower of Jesus Christ Proven record of scholarly research and publication in relationship formation.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching.
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to collaborate across diverse viewpoints and populations.
• A passion for teaching, scholarship, spiritual formation within the evangelical tradition as expressed in JBU’s statement of faith.
• Ph.D. or terminal degree in Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, Christian ministry leadership, or relevant field.

Preferred Qualifications

• National or international recognition in the field.
• Successful track record of securing research funding.
• Engaging and effective communicator.
• Experience creating content to support marriages.
• Clinical experience in counseling.
• Professional licensure in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or Social Work with competency in a variety of therapeutic approaches.

Salary

A competitive salary exists which will be commensurate with training and/or experience. In addition, JBU offers a comprehensive benefits package including 403(b) retirement plan, medical and dental insurance, tuition remission, leave related to the birth of a child, adoption leave, and moving expenses.

Important Dates

Position begins July 1, 2026. The screening process begins December 1, 2025 and continues until the position is filled.