Waynesburg University celebrated the 172nd anniversary of its charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tuesday, March 22, with a special convocation in Roberts Chapel.
Mark Clookie, Sr., formerly director of the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and currently co-founder and board director of Prevention Now, delivered the convocation address. Titled “Trust the Detours,” his address reflected on Proverbs 16:9.
“It’s not always about direction; it’s always about direction and timing – God’s timing...It’s all about following the path and being willing to let God take you down the path that he has for you, not that you have for yourself.”
During his speech, Clookie reflected on his journey, sharing stories of the many detours he faced in his own life, ultimately relying on his faith as he navigated his career and personal life.
“It’s not always about direction; it’s always about direction and timing – God’s timing...” Clookie said. “It’s all about following the path and being willing to let God take you down the path that he has for you, not that you have for yourself.”
Clookie credits his success to following God’s path, as he could have been discouraged when facing the many detours in his life, but instead chose to trust in God.
During the ceremony, Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee presented Clookie with the University’s A.B. Miller Leadership Award, in recognition of his exemplary community leadership.
“Your admirable 31-year career with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service illustrates your commitment to selfless community leadership and adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards,” Lee read from the award citation. “As you rose through the ranks of the agency, eventually retiring from federal service at the highest level of senior executive service, you helped make the world a safer place.”
With more than 38 years of criminal investigative, counterterrorism, counterintelligence and executive protection experience, Clookie has an extensive background in global security and law enforcement.
After retiring from federal service, Clookie joined the International Justice Mission, a non-government organization (NGO) focused on combating human trafficking, slavery and the sexual exploitation of children, as their Vice President for Investigations and Law Enforcement Development. In 2017, Clookie left the International Justice Mission to consult with several NGOs engaged in combating slavery and the trafficking of humans.
Currently, Clookie is a co-founder and board director of Prevention Now, a non-profit organization focused on preventing human trafficking within the United States.
During the ceremony, three faculty members received the University’s 2022 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards. Provost Dr. Dana Cook Baer presented the teaching excellence awards to Dr. Lawrence Stratton, associate professor of ethics and constitutional law and director of the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership; Dr. Kenneth Cairns, assistant professor of criminal justice and University counselor; and Jacob Judy, lecturer in biblical and ministry studies.
About Waynesburg University
Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with an additional site for graduate and professional programs in Southpointe.
# # #
