North Central State College adds premortuary program

MANSFIELD – Dressed in a new black suit, Shane Cullen, of Mansfield, said he wants to become a funeral director — and a move by a local college will help him do that.

He smiled at the idea of there someday being a Cullen Funeral Home.

"Yes, there will be. It's going to be a growing business, and it's job security," he said.

His mother, Debbie Cullen, said, "He's wanted to do this for 10 years."

Cullen, a premortuary student at North Central State College, will work this fall to obtain an associate degree in mortuary science and transfer two years of credit toward a bachelor's degree in that field from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Representatives from both colleges were on hand Thursday to sign an articulation agreement, which officials said is the first of its kind in the state.

North Central President Dorey Diab said the two-year program will teach students about the social and natural sciences and the business aspect of being a funeral director.

Eugene Kramer, president of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, said with today's costs for higher education, colleges have to figure out a way to keep costs down. He said he believes in the community college system.

"This is the first dedicated program. We have articulation agreements with ... institutes in three states now. It's actually new to the college. It's only been since I've gotten there we've decided to do this kind of situation," Kramer said.

Devan Kennedy, who attends Kent State University, was one of two students present for the signing ceremony.

She has wanted to be a funeral director since the seventh grade and told her mother exactly that as a teen.

"I remember going to a funeral home when my grandma died and I remember it was very comforting," she said. Kennedy of Fredericktown works summers at Wappners Funeral Directors.

Pam Williams, funeral director at Williams Funeral Services and one of several funeral directors at the signing, said she is glad such an opportunity is becoming a reality.

"I'm hoping that this will make the funeral profession a little bit more accessible to some of our young people," Williams said.

Gregg Busch, dean of liberal arts at the college, said the articulation agreement will help students move seamlessly to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

lwhitmir@nncogannett.com

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