After five years of searching, a Biochemistry professor has been hired. According to Karen Torraca, Chair of the Chemistry department, Paul Martino will join Houghton faculty in the Paine Center for Science.
Torraca stated “We really expect faculty to mentor students in the Christian faith. Having that particular combination of having someone who is really good at science, in particular biochemistry, and mentoring students from a Christian perspective I think is a really tough combination to find.” In Professor Martino, the hiring board believes it has found that combination.
Torraca said she appreciated Martino’s academic and professional experience. She recalled the board was “excited that he has lots of teaching experience already so not somebody who had just gotten out of graduate school.” She continued, “He comes to us from Carson Newman, which is a four year institution, where he taught Biochemistry as well as Organic Chemistry so he has teaching experience which has been great in terms of having him bring those experiences into the department”.
Additionally, Torraca explained that there was also the expectation for applicants to present the research they sought to conduct while working at Houghton. Martino said the expectation for further research was a major reason why he wanted to teach in an undergraduate college. He remarked, “I came back east to follow my dream of being at a small undergraduate liberal arts college where I could actively do research in my field.”
This semester, Martino is teaching general education Chemistry courses, including Introduction to Nutrition. Colleen Shannon ‘17, a student in Martino’s Nutrition class, observed the difficulties of teaching the class, and stated, “I think overall one of the most challenging parts of teaching a gen ed course is that you have a wide range of students, where some students are chem[istry] majors or on the bio[logy] track and they have a lot of background and consistency in their bio[ology] education and then there are other students who are just checking a box off.” In this situation, she acknowledged the positive difference it makes to have a teacher who knows and is passionate about the subject material. She recalled a particular instance when Martino excitedly explained proteins to the class and allowed her to feel some secondhand excitement for the subject.
In this class, students are able to witness not only his experience in teaching and the field of Biochemistry, but also the impact of his Christian perspective. Another Nutrition student, Jessica Robinson ‘18 commented on his method of presenting faith into his teaching, and stated he has “The awe of ‘Look what our God is able to do’… Our God is so cool that he is able to do all of this and make our bodies so intricate.” Shannon added his commitment to Christianity is evident “implicitly in the way he carries a joyful spirit in the way he teaches.”