Pointing to Christ in the Field of Law

John Hart, General Counsel for Cedarville University, could have had a long and distinguished career with the U.S. Coast Guard. He does love salt water and sailing, having spent most of his growing-up years on Long Island. But it was the law that captured his interest, not the sea. 

Hart graduated from Cedarville in 1981 and went to work for the University in admissions. His interest in combining his love of the law with his desire to help Christian ministries was developed and refined during this time. He graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law, worked there as legal counsel for 27 years, and has been at his alma mater for the last eight years.

Throughout his career, Hart has never seen a divide between the secular aspects of what he does and the sacred. He sees his calling as a combination of the two: Yes, he wants to represent Cedarville well in legal proceedings, but he wants to do so in a kind, professional, and winsome way.  

“The lawyer on the other side of a case may not be a Christian, or their client may not be a Christian,” he said. “I want to advocate and represent the University in a way that is God-honoring.”

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John has a flair for the dramatic. He performed in theatre productions during his time as a student, and he saw that passion for the arts come full circle with his daughter Madison, a 2016 alumna, performing on the same stage in Alford Auditorium. She is pursuing an acting career in New York City.

John attended Huntington Christian School on Long Island, the same alma mater as Kim Jenerette, Cedarville’s Executive Director of Financial Aid.