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Crane Named Director of MFT Grad Program

September 18, 2012

OBU's first marriage and family therapy graduate program was operated on the Shawnee campus from 1993-2005.

"The vision for reinstituting this program was birthed by Dr. Canaan Crane," said Dr. Stan Norman, provost and executive vice president for campus life. "His passion to restart this program and his determination to work for its re-accreditation make him the most suitable person to serve as the director of the master of science degree in marriage and family therapy. He understands the potential significance of such a degree, and I am confident that he will provide exceptional leadership to grow this program in academic excellence, Christian commitment and sustained viability. I am delighted that Dr. Crane has been appointed to this post."

The marriage and family therapy graduate program at OBU will extend the existing mission of the undergraduate programs into a technical degree program which will equip marriage and family therapists for Christian service in churches, agencies, on the mission field and in private practice. OBU's MFT graduate program will prepare competent professionals who will apply their Christian faith to help a diverse and hurting world.

"The marriage and family therapy program is an excellent fit with OBU's mission," Crane said. "Equipping professionals to bring healing to hurting families and individuals will allow Christ's love and the grace of God to be demonstrated in a very real way. Our families and relationships hold much potential to be sources of support and caring, and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy can give a student real tools to invest in promoting healthy marriages and families."

Crane earned his bachelor's degree from OBU in 1997 and his master's degree from OBU in 2000. He earned his doctorate in human environmental science, with a specialization in family science, from Oklahoma State University.

"I'm truly honored to be tasked with leading OBU's MFT program," Crane said. "I know that our program can build on OBU's solid reputation of academic excellence and equip students for the rigors of professional work while preparing those professionals to be 'salt and light' to the world."

Crane has been a licensed marital and family therapist since 2002 and an approved supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2005. He has been involved in counseling services at OBU, including career counseling and university counseling.

At OBU, he teaches undergraduate psychology courses including "Theories of Personality," "Basic Counseling Skills," "Theories of Counseling" and "Family Therapy: Theory and Practice." He also teaches "Introduction/Intermediate Rock Climbing" in OBU's Recreation and Wellness Center.

"As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), a supervisor for LMFTs and a professor at OBU, I've been able to see the powerful touch that a marriage and family therapist can have in people's lives," Crane said. "To take people where they are and show them compassion -- along with a challenge towards healthy relationships and living -- can free them for lives of purpose, meaning and true community."

The OBU Graduate School currently offers a master of business administration degree and a master of science in nursing degree. New tracks offering focuses in energy management and global nursing began in August at the Oklahoma City campus.

Click here for more information about the OBU Graduate School.