Former Brownwood resident, and Howard Payne University Vice-President Dr. Brad Johnson was recently named President of College of the Ozarks, in Point Lookout, Missouri.

Johnson spent about twelve years in Brownwood in two different jobs at Howard Payne.  From 1996 – 1999 he was Director of Counseling at the university.  He moved to Abilene for four years, but returned in 2003 when Dr. Lanny Hall was hired as President.  For nearly ten years Johnson served at Howard Payne first as Vice-President of Enrollment and Student Services, and then Vice-President of Advancement.

After graduating from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Johnson moved to Brownwood in 1996 to work at Howard Payne.  “That was my first professional job in higher education.  I absolutely fell in love with higher education and Howard Payne University.  It’s a great place with wonderful people.  I met my bride there (Laura Lacey Johnson).  We both loved Brownwood and the people there.”

In 2012 Johnson was hired by Southwest Baptist University, in Bolivar, Missouri, as Vice-President of Advancement.  And then Johnson was named President of College of the Ozarks on June 1 of this year.

College of the Ozarks is very unique.  They focus on bright students who may not have the financial resources for college.  All students are given a job on campus, where they work 15 hours per week.  That pays for their tuition.  If the student is willing to stay over the summer and work full time (40 hours per week) for twelve weeks, his or her room and board is also free.  All students have the opportunity to graduate debt-free.  The College has earned the nickname “Hard Work U.”

“This is a fantastic place, one of only nine work colleges in the nation, and we are one of the more advanced work colleges.  We really do a great job here.  The students are remarkable,” said Johnson.

There is a great variety of campus jobs available for the students.  They may work in the cafeteria, construction, landscaping, or office jobs in administration.  Or they may work in the College dairy farm, the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen, the Stained Glass and Candle Shop, Edwards Mill (an 1800’s-era grist mill replica), the Ralph Foster Museum, or The Keeter Center (the College’s own student-run lodging, dining, and conference facility).

Johnson commented “I feel like this work college model is something that the country really needs right now.  The development of the work ethic, and the support that the students get in that endeavor is something that really and truly sets College of the Ozarks apart.”

College of the Ozarks is a Christian college, and that is an important part of the program.  The College’s Vision:  “The vision of College of the Ozarks is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.”   Johnson said “The College has Presbyterian roots, but is very open to other denominations.  We are very intentional about our Christian faith, but it does not have to be Presbyterian.  It can be Methodist, Baptist, or whatever.”

College of the Ozarks is in southern Missouri, near Branson.  Current enrollment is 1,512 students.  Minimum academic requirements are a high school grade-point average of 3.0, SAT 1030, and ACT 20, although most of their students have grades and scores much higher than that.  But Valorie Coleman with the College says they look at more than just academic numbers.  “About 90% of the student body is need based.  Our mission is to provide an education to those who are found worthy, but unable to pay for that training.”  And a big part of the admission process is an interview with the student. “We do an in-person interview with each applicant, and there is more emphasis on that interview process than anything else.  We want to see if the student is a match.  They look at things like community service, work experience, is this student a well-rounded student.  Yes, we are looking for great academics, but there is a fuller picture here.  We are looking to develop students of a Christ-like character, who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.”

A free college education sounds great, but how good is it?  Well, U.S. News and World Reports annual college ratings ranks College of the Ozarks #1 in the “Regional Colleges in the Midwest” category, which covers eleven states.  COFO (short for College of the Ozarks) offers more than fifty degree programs.  The most popular majors are Nursing, Elementary Education, Business Administration and Management, Accounting, Agriculture and Animal Science, Conservation and Wildlife Management, and Psychology.   COFO also offers degree programs in Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Engineering, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and many others.  They have pre-professional programs for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary, and Law, with a good record of acceptance in these post-graduate schools.

And if you like sports, COFO fields athletic teams in baseball, basketball, track, cheer, and volleyball.

Local residents will remember Brad Johnson’s wife, Laura Lacey Johnson.  She is busy serving as First Lady of the College, wife, and mom.  Also she is writing Bible study books, and recently published one entitled “Ten Second Prayers.”  The Johnsons have two children, Evan and Ellie, who were little tykes in Brownwood, but now are teenagers and enrolled at Branson, Missouri High School.

Asked what his vision and goals are for College of the Ozarks, Johnson said he is still working on that, having been on campus only six weeks.  But certainly he wants to ensure the financial base of the college.  “I want to continue to secure the future financially so we can continue to do this from now on.”  Also he will focus on strengthening the “Five Pillars” of the College:  Academic, Christian, Cultural, Patriotic, and Vocational.

Anyone who remembers Dr. Brad Johnson from his days at Howard Payne University will be very happy for him becoming President of College of the Ozarks.

If you know a good student who wants to go to college, but may not have the resources to do so, perhaps College of the Ozarks is for him or her.  For more information go to the web site www.cofo.edu, or call 800-222-0525 or 417-334-6411.