Mark Sloneker: A Journey of Service and Knowledge
Since joining Jarvis Christian University’s Olin Library and Communications Center nearly six years ago, Access Librarian Mark Sloneker has become a familiar face and a cornerstone of the academic community for students visiting the library.
With a heart to help others, he knows his work ensures that every student has access to the tools they need to succeed. He helps foster a culture of inquiry and academic excellence that allows students to thrive and succeed.
The third of four siblings and the only boy, Sloneker grew up in a Christian home in Santa Cruz, California, where his father was a local minister. After graduating from Soquel High School in 1972, Mark Sloneker earned a Bachelor in Sacred Literature degree from Ozark Bible College, now known as Ozark Christian College, in Joplin, Missouri. Following graduation, he ministered to a church in Great Falls, Montana for four years, but felt better suited for teaching than preaching. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to work on a counseling degree.
With his new degree in hand, he ministered to a church in Great Falls, Montana, for four years, but felt better suited for teaching than preaching. He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked on a counseling degree for a year. He and his wife, Mindy, married in 1985 in Carthage, Missouri.
Earning his master's degree in Church History from Cincinnati Christian University in 1992, he delved deeply into the rigorous and enriching history of the Christian faith, its leaders, and its movements. He said he later felt privileged to teach adjunct classes in church history and the restoration movement during his tenure working at Ozark Christian College library, where the new library director encouraged him to pursue a career as a librarian.
In 2002, he completed his Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
In 2002, he completed his Master's in Library and Information Science degree from the University of Missouri—Columbia, a decision inspired by his love of books and a deep belief in the importance of information accessibility.
With his academic background in both church history and library science, he understands the value of historical knowledge and how to organize and make that knowledge accessible to the next generation of scholars.
Before coming to Jarvis in 2018, he had worked for 31 years in the library of Ozark Christian College where his responsibilities included cataloging books and different media, overseeing the audio-visual department and collection development department. He does many of those same duties here at Jarvis, but knows a well-organized library is not just a place to house books, but a space where minds are nurtured, ideas flourish, and learning is transformative. He empowers students to explore new ideas, think critically, and approach the world with a deep respect for knowledge and history.
Fostering a culture of inquiry and academic excellence, his days are filled with teaching students from all academic disciplines how to access resources for their research papers, guiding them through digital databases, and offering advice on proper citation methods. He takes the time necessary to ensure students leave the library feeling confident and informed.
With an earned reputation as a patient and understanding guide, he takes pride in seeing students grow and succeed. He says he has enjoyed building relationships with people at Jarvis, especially those with whom he can discuss history and current events. His dedication to the university and its students is unwavering, and his legacy is cemented not just in the archives of the library, but in the hearts of the many students whose lives he touched through the time he has spent answering questions or curating resources.
Beyond his role as a librarian, Sloneker has a passion for fostering a welcoming environment. He greets students with a warm smile and is ready to assist, whether helping a freshman navigate research databases or advising a senior on a thesis paper. An integral part of a community that values growth, knowledge, and kindness, he is more than just a librarian to students, faculty, and staff—he’s a resource, mentor, and friend to all who enter the library doors.
