CCBC Alumni, CCBC Faculty, Health Professions Pathway
Drew Osmeyer, a respected mortician and CCBC alum, is shaping the next generation of funeral service professionals.
When Drew Osmeyer teaches classes in CCBC’s Mortuary Science program, he often encounters two kinds of students: those raised in funeral homes and those drawn to the profession for the first time. No matter their background, Osmeyer is more than an instructor. He’s a mentor who understands their journeys and is ready to guide them.
A licensed mortician and former president of the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, Osmeyer holds a business degree from the University of Maryland and works full time in his family’s funeral supply business. He is also a proud graduate of CCBC’s Mortuary Science program.
“I enrolled in the program as a student because I sell caskets to funeral homes and wanted to better understand my clients’ perspectives and daily work,” he says. He now balances his full-time job with part-time mortician work and teaching at CCBC, an opportunity he accepted without hesitation.
Osmeyer’s courses focus on the business side of funeral directing, where he shows students how to manage, market and run funeral services profitably and with integrity.
“We talk a lot about how to balance compassion with running an ethical and successful business,” he says. “Funeral directors need to make a living, and we teach students how to do that in a moral and legal way.”
Additional curriculum covers anatomy, religious traditions, restorative art, funeral customs and professional ethics, reflecting the many sides of the profession.
Mortuary science is a really cool field. It blends science, business, art and compassion. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.
CCBC’s Mortuary Science program is Maryland’s only fully accredited associate degree in the field and is recognized in all 50 states. In contrast to some fully online programs, CCBC’s mortuary science courses are taught on campus, which Osmeyer believes gives students an edge. Face-to-face classes foster discussion, broaden students’ perspectives and help them build connections in this close-knit industry.
As someone who grew up in the funeral business, Osmeyer recognizes and appreciates the newest generation of students, who he believes will reshape the industry and public perception.
“Those who come to this program without a background in funeral services are people who feel called to this work,” he says. “They’re passionate about it. They’re on social media sharing what they do and demystifying death care. It’s really great to see.”