Meet The Prof

Rachelle is a full-time Lecturer of Communications in the Department of Civil Engineering at Clemson University. She also operates a marketing and fundraising consulting boutique -- Beckner Creative. Rachelle shares her journey from a career in nonprofit work to becoming an educator. She shares her experiences of grappling with career transitions, offering valuable insights and triumphs she encountered along the way. At Clemson University she teaches communication skills to civil engineering students. You’ll be encouraged by Rachelle’s authenticity as she reflects on personal growth and spiritual development.

Connect with her by email: [email protected]

and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachellebeckner/

and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachellebeckner/

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Phil Bishop, [email protected], is a retired Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Alabama. Phil shares how the complexity of the human body points to design and the existence of a Creator. He describes the challenges of faith in science seen in “Retraction Watch”. He advises students dealing with doubts about God. and he challenges Christian professors that they communicate something negative about Christianity by their silence. 

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Robbie Quinn, [email protected], is an Associate Professor of Art Education of East Carolina University. He shares the importance of finding mentors, how art can be a reflection of God's beauty and creativity, the influential platform and future of art education, his experience writing a textbook, and his experience of stepping out of his comfort zones in college and the positive impact it had on his life. 

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Aba is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, [email protected].  He reveals his deep-rooted love for the Word of God which was shaped by his upbringing. He has witnessed divine interventions in his health and others’. As a professor, Aba ministers to students, sharing his faith and experiencing miraculous moments of healing. He emphasizes the importance of personal spiritual growth and encourages others to initiate spiritual conversations by allowing the Word of God to guide and embolden them.

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Laurie Kubicek is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Sacramento State, [email protected]

Laurie shares her journey into teaching, reflecting on the joy she found in the classroom and connecting with her students. She tells of her own tearful college send-off, the complexities of faith and academia, the importance of perseverance, and the power of prayer. 

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Isaac Loh, [email protected], is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He shares about taking steps of faith as a professor, approaching friends who are not following Christ in a way that is not judgmental, how to encourage students struggling with faith, and how professors can break barriers with students through lunch conversations.

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

“Profe Jara”, as her students call her, shares a pivotal experience in her faith journey when she was invited to a Christian retreat as an international student, her long-term commitment and joy taking groups of students on overseas trips, how she incorporates her Christian faith naturally into her curriculum, and her encouraging experiences with Christian community on campus.

Watch this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/VqfcfKH24SQ

Learn more about this professor at:  https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/marianella-jara/

Email this professor at:  [email protected]

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Writing Novels
04:09 Embarrassing College Moment
06:13 Turning Point in Faith
08:49 Struggling with Doubt
10:34 Experiencing God's Love
12:14 Bonding with Students on Trips
12:49 Incorporating Faith into the Curriculum
18:39 Dealing with Doubt and Belief in God
18:45 Challenges of Connecting with Other Professors
20:01 Limited Time for Interactions
20:28 Believers in Academia
21:28 Challenging the Separation of Faith and Academia
21:49 Perceptions of Professors
22:33 Supportive Students
22:37 Advice for 18-Year-Old Self
23:34 Advice for Graduating Seniors
24:12 Advice for Christian Professors
25:12 Advice for Parents of College Students
25:42 Contacting the Professor
27:27 Introduction and Website Resources
27:56 How to Ask a Question and Be Featured on the Show
28:26 Sharing and Subscribing
28:54 Financial Support for Faculty Commons Ministry

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

watch this interview on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/rp3NW03GqQ8

Greg shares his approach to sharing his faith with students and respecting their spiritual journeys, insights on creating a relatable and approachable classroom environment, tearing down the wall between students and faculty, the value of making mistakes and overcoming challenges, integrating faith with education, the Christian value of doing a job well, and advice for students and Christian faculty.

Learn more about Greg on MeetTheProf.com at:

https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/greg-williams/

email: [email protected]

In this episode you’ll hear:

00:00 Emotions as an Engineer

03:18 Choosing Civil Engineering

05:48 How He Got Into Coastal Engineering

07:36 Sharing Faith with Students

12:58 Respect for Spiritual Journeys

15:20 Creating a Relatable and Approachable Classroom Environment

16:32 Tearing Down the Wall Between Students and Faculty

18:44 The Value of Making Mistakes and Overcoming Challenges

21:23 Question from Blessing

23:32 The Christian Value of Doing a Job Well

25:45 Advice for Students and Christian Faculty

27:17 Appreciating the Beauty of Both Mountains and Beach

29:18 Introduction and Website Information

29:48 How to Ask a Question and Be Featured on the Show

30:17 Sharing and Subscribing

30:45 Financial Support and Conclusion

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Greg talks about his love for bluegrass music, learning to play the banjo, and an embarrassing moment from his college days about being “pantsed”.

He shares the stabling influence of his grandparents on his early faith, the importance of finding like-minded peers, and the role of scripture in his life. 

Greg reflects on the compatibility of his engineering mindset with his faith and the importance of embracing doubt versus ignoring it. 

Learn more at MeetTheProf.com:  https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/greg-williams/

email: [email protected]

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Rick Olsen is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. His current research focuses on the intersection of popular culture, rhetoric, and values/faith. Rick shares his dream of bamboo entrepreneurship, much to his kids' chagrin. He discusses the importance of discernment and wisdom, emphasizing the need to apply eternal truths to local situations. Rick shares insights that Shane believes could be a future book, on balancing provision, purpose, passions, pace, and peace in order to live a sustainable life. He challenges the notion that only certain careers can glorify God, emphasizing the importance of being an expression of who God made us to be in any profession. Dr. Olsen also offers advice for parents of college students and encourages integrating faith into all aspects of life.

Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:

• Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/
• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV

Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos

You can support Meet The Prof through Shane Hartley's work with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠⁠