Meet The Prof

Shelly is a Professor of Education at Voorhees University. She discusses the complexities of student engagement in a world of virtual interactions. She emphasizes the importance of teaching interpersonal skills, coping with grief in educational settings, and the dual realities of the physical and spiritual worlds. Shelly also shares practical advice for young adults and parents, as well as insights for Christian professors navigating their influence on campus.
Read about Shelly: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/shelly-meyers/
Email Shelly: [email protected]
Book references:

The Six Conversations, by Heather Holleman, https://amzn.to/4dKtHht

The Anxious Generation, by by Jonathan Haidt, https://amzn.to/3YsaNq2

Watch Meet The Prof on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320
Find over 500 Christian Professors on MeetTheProf.com:
https://meettheprof.com/

Get free resources for answering questions about God at:
https://www.everystudent.com/
College students, follow us on Instagram and send us a question(s) for Christian professors by DM here:
https://www.instagram.com/meettheprofofficial/
If you’d like to financially support our Faculty Commons ministry, you can do so online at https://give.cru.org/0424344.

Shelly is a Professor of Education at Voorhees University. She shares her unique path to college through a football scholarship, and an embarrassing college moment with WWE superstar Bobby Lashley. Shelly opens up about making unhealthy choices which now informs her work with students, and recounts how she met her husband while "running away" from a toxic relationship to Alaska. She explains how both she and her husband see their work with students as their ministry field.

Read about Shelly:  https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/shelly-meyers/
Email Shelly: [email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320

Find over 500 Christian Professors on MeetTheProf.com:

https://meettheprof.com/

Get free resources for answering questions about God at:

https://www.everystudent.com/

College students, follow us on Instagram and send us a question(s) for Christian professors by DM here:

https://www.instagram.com/meettheprofofficial/

If you’d like to financially support our Faculty Commons ministry, you can do so online at https://give.cru.org/0424344.

In this episode, Jhon Figueroa, a chemistry professor at the University of South Florida, continues Part 2 of our interview and shares his insights on the intersection of faith and science, the importance of mentoring students, and how to engage in meaningful discussions about belief. He emphasizes the need for kindness in conversations, the significance of prayer in his teaching, and the value of maintaining relationships with students beyond the classroom. Jhon also offers advice for parents sending their children to college, encouraging them to stay involved and supportive.

Email Jhon: [email protected]
Read about Jhon: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jhon-figueroa/
Watch Meet The Prof on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

Find over 500 Christian Professors on MeetTheProf.com:
https://meettheprof.com/

Get free resources for answering questions about God at:
https://www.everystudent.com/
College students, follow us on Instagram and send us a question(s) for Christian professors by DM here:
https://www.instagram.com/meettheprofofficial/
If you’d like to financially support our Faculty Commons ministry, you can do so online at give.cru.org/0424344.

In this episode of Meet the Prof we sit down with Dr. Jhon Figueroa, professor of chemistry, Safety Coordinator and Undergraduate Lab Manager at the University of South Florida. Dr. Figueroa shares his incredible journey from arriving in the U.S. as a refugee, becoming a chemistry professor, learning to make chemistry relatable, and how becoming a father deepened his understanding of God’s love. Jhon’s story is full of lessons on perseverance, faith, and the power of gratitude.

Email Jhon: [email protected]

Read more about Jhon: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jhon-figueroa/

Here are the main takeaways:

1. Perseverance Through Adversity: Jhon’s journey from a refugee with no English proficiency to a PhD holder and chemistry professor demonstrates incredible resilience. He shares how structured discipline and a commitment to learning helped him overcome the barriers in his path.

2. Connecting Science and Faith: Jhon sees the complexity and design in chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, as evidence of God’s existence. He passionately explains how scientific discoveries reinforce his belief in intelligent design.

3. Impact of Fatherhood on Faith: Becoming a father transformed how Jhon understands God's love. His experience watching his child’s first vaccine injection deepened his empathy for God’s sacrifice of Jesus, offering a fresh lens through which he views scripture and faith.

4. Importance of Context in Teaching and Faith: Jhon emphasizes that just as he relates chemistry to students’ real-life experiences, sharing the gospel should begin by showing love and care for others. Context and personal connection are essential both in education and evangelism.

5. Gratitude as a Catalyst for Faith: Jhon’s turning point toward Christianity came when he realized he wasn’t thankful for life’s blessings. Hearing a preacher express gratitude for simple things led him to seek God and reevaluate his faith.

Watch Meet The Prof on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

Find over 500 Christian Professors on MeetTheProf.com:
https://meettheprof.com/

Get free resources for answering questions about God at:
https://www.everystudent.com/
College students, follow us on Instagram and send us a question(s) for Christian professors by DM here:
https://www.instagram.com/meettheprofofficial/
If you’d like to financially support our Faculty Commons ministry, you can do so online at give.cru.org/0424344.

Karen Petersen, the President of Hendrix College, shares the importance of joy, questioning, and community support in navigating college life. Petersen also offers valuable advice for students and parents, highlighting the significance of prayer and the need for open conversations about faith and doubt.

Dr. Karen Petersen is the president of Hendrix College. We discuss Dr. Petersen's embarrassing moment at her college graduation, her difficult childhood, and her transformation through encountering God's grace. She shares how her faith has influenced her leadership and the role of community in her spiritual growth. She talks about the importance of servant leadership and she encourages leaders to bring their whole selves to their roles and not separate their faith from their work. She shares her perspective on being a public believer and the pushback she has received, but emphasizes that it is small compared to what God has done in her life.

John Chen is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Baylor University.

Takeaways:

We sit down with Maria Tyler, Clinical Instructor of Nursing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She shares her new journey as a nurse educator, the pivotal role of empathy, her wisdom and passion for helping students find their purpose in life, and the importance of kindness and understanding toward students.

Find Christian Professors on MeetTheProf.com:
https://meettheprof.com/

Get free resources for answering questions about God at:
https://www.everystudent.com/
College students, follow us on Instagram and send us a video stating your name, year, college, major and a question(s) for Christian professors by DM on Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/meettheprofofficial/
If you’d like to give financially to the Faculty Commons ministry of Cru through Shane and Dorenda Hartley, you can do so online at give.cru.org/0424344