LCU new directors, promotions announced

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News

PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University has announced two key promotions, as well as new student life personnel for the new 2023-24 academic year.

Evelyn Onishea Dean has been named vice president for business affairs/chief financial officer, and Joshua Joy Dara has been named special assistant to the president for legal affairs and strategic projects.

Since May 2020, Dean has served as LCU’s executive director of finance and chief financial officer.

In her role, she is responsible for assuring compliance of the university for accreditation criteria applicable to business affairs by establishing and operating appropriate systems of accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls. She also represents the president as the administrative liaison to the trustee committee on the Business Affairs and Investment Subcommittee, specifically by preparing the university budget, interpreting the budget to the board and executive leadership, regulating the administration of all university funds, having audits made of all accounts and advising the board on the acquisition, maintenance, and improvement of university property; ensuring adequate insurance coverage for all the university property and its operations.

Dean, a certified public accountant, previously worked at the University’s auditing firm, Payne, Moore, and Herrington. At the public accounting firm, she planned and performed the university’s annual financial statement and federal award compliance audits for eleven years. Dean is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Business Administrators of Christian Colleges and the National and Southern Associations of College and University Business Officers.

“The University continues to be a place led by some of God’s choicest servants,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “I am personally grateful for the leaders we are promoting and adding to our team at Louisiana Christian University. Every person we hire strengthens and enhances the Mission and Vision for LCU.”

Dara, who is an assistant professor and the chair of the criminal justice department, is a licensed attorney and senior pastor of Zion Hill Church Family (non-denominational church), Pineville. He joined the faculty of LCU full-time in 2017.

“I personally appreciate the trust and confidence that Dr. Brewer has in me,” Dara said. “I seriously believe in the mission of LCU, and I certainly consider it an honor and a privilege to serve on its leadership team. I am a product of the mission work of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nigeria, West Africa. So, I consider it a sacred duty to be a part of a Baptist-owned University with a mission of preparing graduates and transforming lives.”

In addition to the promotions, the department of student life has hired two new key positions. Zachary Johnson has been hired as the new director of student life and the new director of international student affairs is Quinton Thibodeaux.

Both Thibodeaux and Johnson are LCU alumni.

Thibodeaux, originally from Breaux Bridge, earned his Bachelor of Arts in history in 2019 from LCU and completed his master’s in sports administration at Northwestern State University in 2021.

Johnson is a lifelong resident of Pineville. He and his wife, Molly, have four children, and he said he is excited to join the LCU staff.

“I have claimed Psalm 78:4 as my life verse,” Johnson said. “It says that I will declare the good works of God to the next generation and not hide it from them. I am excited to join a university that declares that goal as its own. I pray that my time at LCU results in men and women who can focus on their schoolwork, extracurriculars, and God’s plan for their lives as my team and I ensure their housing needs are met.”