Malone Alumni News

Erin Brown Thomas '07 recently won an Academy Award for her role as associate producer on the short film "The Singers." The film tied for Best Live Action short film.  Congratulations to Erin on this success! The Pioneer community is cheering you on and looking forward to your continued impact in film.  To read more about Erin's win, click here to read her interview with the Canton Repository .

Brian McFee '97 was recently named assistant principal at East Central High School.  He has over 25 years of educational experience and is known for being a collaborative leader who values strong relationships, high expectations, and creating an environment for students to thrive. Brian earned a Master of Educational Administration from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical and Health Education from Malone College. Congratulations to Brian on this accomplishment! Your alma mater is cheering you on in this next chapter.  This post is adapted from 812noww.com. You can view the original article here . 

  This article President Greg Miller, Ph.D.,  first appeared in Crain's Cleveland Business . It has been shared here with permission.  The landscape of American higher education is undergoing a historic, turbulent reconfiguration. The structural causes of this shift have been analyzed at length: rapid technological disruption, sharp regional demographic declines, mounting student debt, and an evolving corporate workforce. The fallout is undeniable; since the pandemic, nearly 50 not-for-profit colleges have closed their doors, and another 40 have merged. For institutions in the Midwest and Northeast, where population shifts are felt most acutely, the warning signs are blinking wildly. Yet, amidst this widespread volatility, there is a distinct sector experiencing remarkable resilience. As president of Malone University, I hold radical hope for the future of our institution and the roughly 200 Christ-centered, Bible-based universities across the country — including member s...

  Congratulations to Ashton Dulin '18 who was recently featured in Sports Illustrated as one of the Top Colts of 2026! Here's a small excerpt from the article: To say that Ashton Dulin is a vital part of the Colts' overall operation would be understating it. From his contributions on special teams as a gunner and blocker to his offensive production whenever called upon and everything in between, Dulin is a player whose efforts often go unnoticed, or at least underappreciated. When it comes to his anticipated increased workload on offense, Dulin's proven reliability has put him on the inside track to becoming the Colts' third starting wide receiver... If you've watched even a single game of Ashton Dulin's career thus far, it's evident that he epitomizes consistency, and that's precisely why he's expected to earn his spot as a starter in the Colts' offense in 2026. We're excited to cheer Ashton on in the season ahead! You can click here to ...

Congratulations to Jessica (Parcher) Shelenberger '02 on her promotion to associate dean for student success at Westminster College!  In her new role, Jessica will provide strategic leadership for student support initiatives within the Student Success Center. In addition to academic success programs, she will oversee accessibility resources, coordinated care and the CARE early alert program. We are cheering on Jessica in this accomplishment, and praying for her success as she continues to cares for students in her new role at Westminster College!  This is adapted from a feature in New Castle News. You can view the original article here for more information.   

This article by President Greg Miller, Ph.D., appeared first in print in the Canton Repository . It has been reshared here with permission.  The warning signals across the American higher education landscape are flashing bright red.  Driven by shifting demographics, mounting student debt, rapid technological changes, and evolving workforce needs, the sector is shrinking. Since 2020, nearly 50 nonprofit colleges have closed their doors and another 40 have merged — largely concentrated right here in the Midwest and Northeast. Given these sobering statistics, people are often surprised when I express deep hopefulness about the future of Malone University and the roughly 200 institutions like us across the country (the member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and the International Alliance for Christian Education). My confidence is not wishful thinking; it is grounded in our distinct, unchanging mission. In this fractured cultural moment, Christ...

Pamela "Pam" Smith '77 of Canton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026.  Pam graduated from Canton McKinley High School in 1960 and pursued music at the St. Louis School of Music in Missouri, training as a concert pianist after beginning piano lessons at the age of six. She later earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Malone College.  Pam taught kindergarten and first grade at St. Paul's Catholic School and Edgefield Elementary in Plain Township before concluding her career teaching fourth grade at Amherst Elementary in Jackson Local Schools.  After teaching, Pam and her best friend, Carol, co-founded The Village Goose Country Store, which grew into a popular curtain and home décor shop before retiring after over 20 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pam's friends and family during this difficult time. To read the full obituary, click here .