Almost 15 years ago the Christian student groups here at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia were holding a “Jesus Week” and wanted a panel of Christian professors to answer any faith-related questions that students might have. This sounded scary — Christianity has generally been viewed very critically by faculty and students here in Canada. […]
It was the end of my first lecture and a student in the back left-hand corner of the auditorium raised their hand to ask the third, and final, question. After being called on, he voiced rather loudly, “So, were you a virgin when you married your wife?” Not a typical question a student asks their […]
I am stepping back into academia this year after a two-year detour working at my church. This brings with it a fresh excitement for returning to Boise State and engaging in ministry with students and faculty here. What I wasn’t prepared for – and have been pleasantly surprised by – is the movement of Christ […]
My husband James and I met as students at the University of Florida. Four years ago, we were grateful that God led us back as faculty, opening opportunities to engage with current students, and join my home department of Microbiology and Cell Science. For several years, on each of my birthdays, I seek a word […]
One of my favorite things about my job is mentoring students who hope to become attorneys. In my own college and law school experience, the Lord used people and programs for low-income students to help me get started. As a pre-law advisor I work with students who overwhelmingly come from backgrounds like mine. To equip and encourage […]
“Fall forward in faith” – one of my pastor’s favorite sayings – echoed in my head as the young lady in front of me started veering off topic during our 30-minute meeting. I was teaching a doctoral methods class and met with each student in the first couple of weeks to customize their final project. […]
The longer I have navigated the classroom, the more I’ve come to embrace the old saying “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Throughout Scripture we also see that God looks at the heart—our motives and thought life—as more important than our behaviors. I have found it helpful […]
“Jill” (not her real name) had just finished her undergrad degree in engineering and was working on her MBA. She had recently gotten out of a toxic relationship and was confused and lonely. She was struggling with her concept of God and who He is. She called me and we talked on the phone a […]
Since the pandemic, I have been more involved in teaching online classes, which has allowed me to teach students from around the nation. Recently, while teaching an online class, I had a great learning assistant who was a recent graduate. Although I never met my assistant in person, we began to form a collegial bond […]
As the current Faculty Advisor for Cru’s student ministry at the University of Florida, I have found my true calling—serving God by serving others. I am continually inspired by an amazing group of students who courageously share their faith, pray for and help others, and create a markably warm and welcoming community. But first, let […]
