Author: Houghton STAR

The student newspaper of Houghton College for more than 100 years.

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God and Your 20’s

By Dr. Craig Whitmore

It’s my opinion that your 20’s are your most formative years. Now, I thought about writing a piece on politics, church leadership, or some other non-divisive concept, but I really think this topic is more worthy of your attention. Your 20’s are crucial to forming the person you will become. I am not discounting the importance of earlier stages of life. Childhood experiences often have an incredible influence on your future self. In my own life, I trace my decision to get serious about following Jesus to my time in middle school. You can probably look back to experiences in high school that helped shape your journey here, to Houghton.

But the 20’s, where you are now, in my opinion, are working at a whole other level. This is when many of us first get to live our lives how we want. We start choosing when we go to sleep (I’m sure none of you reading this ever stay up past 11pm on a school night), if we eat breakfast, brush our teeth, wash our clothes (please decide to do all of those, your future self will thank you), and what habits we want to continue into our future. 

Despite the exhilaration of all this freedom, I’ve often thought of the 20’s as an extended version of Lord of the Flies. Most of my poor decisions in life trace to these years. God graciously guided me through so many potential pitfalls that I’ve seen many 20-somethings fall into. I have a family friend who attends another college here in New York who has already seen three students in her dorm complex taken away by either ambulance or police since the beginning of the semester. Freedom is great, but without the choice to act responsibly, it seems to always lead to problems.

One choice that I would argue is of paramount importance is what you choose to do about “church” in your 20’s. I once heard the results of a study that found Christian university students used more water (to shower) during church service times on Sunday mornings than any other day of the week. I haven’t been able to verify the accuracy (nor even the existence of this study), but I would imagine that the concept wouldn’t surprise many of you. I can remember when I was a 20-something undergrad deciding that I would attend the “Church of the Fluffy Pillow” instead of making the trip to a local church.

My own journey through my 20’s was very … tumultuous. I struggled with understanding my place and purpose in life, even as a life-long Christian. Depression, losing my sense of self, and struggling to make friends were all part of this magical experience. I attended five different schools trying out several different degree programs along the way (including teaching, which it took five years to come back to). I stayed moderately involved with local churches, but it wasn’t until I really started serving in a youth ministry that God “grounded” me in a good way. I found that serving others at church helped me better understand myself, what I wanted to do, and gave me clarity on where God was leading me. I’m pretty sure I got much more from being a youth group volunteer than the youth did. Including a wife: finding my spouse at church, someone who was heading the same way that I was in life, has been the greatest blessing God has sent my way.

And here is where I would make my appeal to you as a once-was-20-something, current father of three 20-somethings and a part-time youth director (well, mini-director at best – we only have 30 5th-12th grade students): find a way to stay plugged in with a local church. Whether you just attend on Sundays (the pastor will probably memorize your name the first week), attend their college group (staffed by people who, oddly enough, want to minister to 20-somethings), volunteer in children’s programs (they will think you are OLD, but you will definitely be loved on), or serve in some other capacity, God will use it to help shape who you will be for the rest of your life.

The 20’s are perhaps the most difficult, fantastic, challenging, formative time of life. God used the experience of volunteering at a local youth group to pull me from the doldrums of 20-somethingness and into the person I am now. You also might find that plugging into a local church helps set you up for the rest of your wife … er, life. ★

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Stories In Focus

Ransom Poythress

By Lydia Merrill ('25)

“If you’ve ever been a student in one of Dr. Ransom Poythress’s STEM classes at Houghton University, you probably know that he is enthusiastic and dedicated,” Lydia Zampella (‘25) said. Yet, there’s so much more to Poythress than what’s seen in the classroom. From his journey to Houghton and his life beyond academia, to the story behind his childhood stuffed animal, Froggy, there’s a wealth of experiences and passions that define him. 

Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with his brother and family pets, Poythress had a Christ-centered childhood with the support of his parents. The intellectual environment that his parents provided inspired him to get a Biology degree, and later a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Boston University. His diverse background in faith (which includes multiple denominations) and the rural location of Houghton led him to teach in the university’s biology department. Beginning with his first job at a toy store called Zany Brainy, where he enjoyed organizing the LEGO section, Poythress discussed some of the experiences that shaped him into who he is today. 

“I went through a time in my early 20s where I kept trying to find value and worth in things other than Christ,” Poythress said. “First it was intelligence, then athletics, then relationships, then finances, and God kept chastening me by taking these things away. It was an incredibly painful period of life, but I can see now God’s loving care through it all. He disciplines those he loves and he really wanted me to trust and depend on him alone by removing the idols in my life (Hebrews 12:4-11).” 

Although Houghton is home to Poythress, he finds it interesting to think about where life could have led him. When asked about his potential alternate career, Poythress shared his passion for writing on the intersection of Christianity and science. 

“I’ve really enjoyed writing about apologetics, especially presuppositionalism, and how it applies to all facets of life and work,” he explained.

Even if some Houghton students haven’t had him as a professor, it is likely that they have found him on the quad demolishing the competition in ultimate frisbee—one of the many hobbies Poythress enjoys. Otherwise, his interests in board games, reading, watching movies and spending time with his four kids keeps him occupied.

“We are so blessed as a community,” Emma Ryan (‘25) said, “to have an influence like Poythress here with us to share York Peppermint Patties from his office and a strong faith based education with students.” 

Poythress never fails to make distraught students feel better since, admittedly, when asked whether or not he considers himself a silly goose, he shared: “In certain circumstances with certain people, absolutely.” ★

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Opinions

Theology Matters 

By Danielle Skinner

I hear them all the time: subtle, and not so subtle, arguments against theology. “Why don’t we just love Jesus?”, “It’s just so dense”, “It doesn’t really matter”, or my personal favorite: “I’m a pastor’s kid/missionary kid/Bible major/minor, I’m good”. 

Houghton is a beautiful place, with many people from different traditions and backgrounds and I think that is a wonderful thing. However, it seems that many times when we are all able to come together, it’s not because of unity in our desire to think through our own beliefs and be willing to hear others out on theirs, but out of a general attitude of apathy. I hear more criticisms of Chapel and required Spiritual Life classes than of any other requirement on campus (except, perhaps, the infinitely hated Transitions). And the complaints, more often than not, are not directed towards the theology expressed, but towards the very fact that we have to sit through theology at all. 

First off, let’s take a second to define theology. Theology isn’t dusty volumes of heavy books packed with endless, impossible to understand jargon. Theology is simply the study of God. Literally, it’s the word “Theos” (God), paired with the word “Logos” (logic or study). You literally cannot talk about God without expressing some form of theology. It’s just a question of whether your theology will be intentional, well thought out, scripture-based, and logical or half-baked, contrary to scripture, and undefendable. 

I hear, more and more, unsound arguments proclaiming theology as useless, unnecessary, and a low-on-the-list priority to any Christian concerned more with following Jesus instead of appearing Holy. With that, here are some of the most common arguments I hear against having a solid understanding of theology, and exactly why theology is necessary for walking with God.

  1. Theology just doesn’t really matter that much

    As you can probably already tell, theology matters a great deal to me. Our view of God impacts our worldview, our values, who we strive to be, our political views, and our actions. It impacts the songs we sing in worship, the church we go to, and the preaching we listen to. It impacts every aspect of our life and our walk with God. Therefore, there is no other area of human knowledge that could be more important to us. The Bible upholds the importance of wisdom and understanding, throughout the Old and New testaments. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are literally called The Wisdom Books, the entire book of Romans is Paul walking us through sound theology, and I could go on.  Without sound theology, heresy creeps into our personal beliefs, churches, and Christian communities. The songs we sing speak of a God inconsistent with the God of the Bible or turn into self-worship disguised as God worship. We can not defend our faith and, in fact, start questioning it with the slightest strawman argument against it. 

  2. Let’s just love Jesus

    First off, I love that you love Jesus. That’s great! But you know what you do when you love someone? You want to know them. You want to know what they like, what they don’t, and what they care about. You want to know all about them and their character. And that is exactly what theology is. It’s studying God, trying to know and understand Him and His Word better. So not wanting to study, talk about, or hear about theology so that we can just focus on “loving Jesus” doesn’t really work. We need to know God to be able to love Him.

  3. We need to leave room for the Spirit to move

    Yes and amen! However, how is knowing less about God going to make Him more able to move in your life? How is it going to give you more discernment in hearing His voice? God, by His very nature, cannot contradict Himself (Welcome to Theology 101). God speaks to us naturally, through creation, His Word, and apologetics, and He speaks to us supernaturally through miracles. There is no great cosmic battle between God the Father and God the Spirit on which way to talk to us. God is one, and in knowing Him more, studying Him makes us more aware of His presence and His voice.

  4. Theology makes people proud and hypocritical

    We all know that person. They are so proud of their knowledge of God, they fail to see that their own life is riddled with sin. The self-proclaimed “Super Christian” who can rattle on about divine simplicity or the absolute attributes of God, but then go cut someone off in traffic, berate the poor Starbucks worker for not getting them their coffee order right, and yell at their kids for not being ready for church on time. We know the person who loves big words and jargon but looks nothing like Jesus. The idolatry of doctrine over God is a subtle but very real phenomenon. It is absolutely true that loving God requires not just hearing the word, not just knowing the word, but doing what He says, following His teachings. However, faith needs to be based on a sound theology. Without knowledge of the truth of scripture, idolatry and heresy run rampant. Faith becomes useless because it is based on a God of our own creation. Faith requires both understanding and action, a sound knowledge of doctrine and a willingness to do what it says. Jesus argued against the Pharisees and Sagisties with a perfect knowledge of scripture and infallible logic. Theology doesn’t make people prideful, sinful nature makes people prideful. Theology combined with action is the solution, not trying to forfeit theology all together.

  5. Theology is too dense and difficult to understand

    True, some theology can be VERY dense. However, I am not arguing that every Christian needs a doctorate of theology. I certainly don’t plan to get one. However, you don’t need a doctorate to have a solid, defendable theology. You don’t need to know the term Divine Simplicity, but you do need to understand that God is self-sustaining and depends on no one, to understand that God can love us perfectly because He has no needs on which that love is contingent and He can not fail as He is not made up of parts or lesser beings, which are fallible.

  6. No one can ever fully understand God

    Yes, this is true. We all possess an imperfect theology. Our human reasoning is fallible and unable to fully comprehend an infinite, all knowing, and all present God. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. We are all sinners in the process of being sanctified, who can never truly be free from the presence of sin on earth, but in growing closer to God by pursuing righteousness, we also grow closer to God through studying theology, though imperfectly. 

    The pursuit to know God is one of the most influential experiences we can go through. A solid understanding of theology should humble us, strengthen our faith, prepare us to “give a defense to anyone who asks”, and most importantly, align, not only our values, but also our actions more and more with Christ. How in the world could that possibly not matter? ★
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Columns

Madame Web Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedeman (’25)

Madame Web is a genuine abomination to filmmaking. Like a ruined spider’s web, the entire movie is ridden with plot holes and the tarnished carcasses of all the cast’s careers. Half of the movie sounds like a table read, with uncharacteristic monotony in voice and action – I’ve seen animals give better performances. Most of the actors lack actual character, voice inflection, and human emotion, while the villain is the most single note character whose voice sounds like it’s been dubbed in English. It’s truly impressive that studio executives decided to greenlight a project THIS appalling. Cheesy dialogue, random plot conveniences, terribly laughable special effects, and a budget that appears to have consisted of two nickels. Genuinely cringey, silly, horrendous, dumb (pick your adjective) in every degree.

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Stories In Focus

Embracing the Shift

Portrait of Joey Schunemann
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
By Hannah Strudivant ('25)

Embarking on a lifestyle change can be both exhilarating and terrifying. Whether someone is driven by a desire for new challenges, seeking better work-life balance, or simply craving a fresh start, transitioning to a new profession requires careful consideration and strategic planning. 

Joey Schunemann (‘24) is the jack of all trades: working for the Admissions Office in reception, leading tours and working among Student Life while on the Campus Activities Board (CAB) for three years. 

For being only a recent graduate himself, Schunemann has courageously stepped into the role of Resident Director (RD) for Houghton University’s two men’s halls: Shenawana Hall and Rothenbuehler Hall. 

Schunemann, with no prior residence life experience, effortlessly leads with organization and purpose.

“It was a complicated transition to the RD role,” Schunemann stated, “and I felt prepared but certainly nervous at times… Ultimately I just have to trust that I will be given what I need in the season that I need it.” 

Schunemann is grateful for all the support he has gotten from everyone in the Student Life office. 

The endless support and wisdom that is willingly provided in this community is the type that keeps people wanting to stay. Schunemann accredits CAB for preparing him for this role. He stated, “It is interesting to have no prior RA experience, but I really do feel like my time as a camp program director, counselor, and CAB director have all been silently equipping me over the years.” 

Schunemann’s story is a testament to the power of transferable skills and the importance of supportive environments in making significant career transitions. 

For those considering a similar change, Schunemann’s experience serves as a valuable reminder that preparation, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace support can make all the difference in turning a daunting change into a rewarding new chapter. ★

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Campus News

Freshmen 2028

Class of 2028 standing on the Houghton Chapel steps.
Courtesy of Michael Blankenship 
By Rethy Armes ('26)

Each year the number of enrolled students has increased here at Houghton University. Houghton is founded on Wesleyan Christian values and currently exists as the most affordable private Christian university which draws students in. 

Three freshmen were asked about their decision to attend Houghton and how their first week went. 

Ethan Obergfell, a freshman who lives in the area, said, “the strong Christian student body and the fantastic people” drew him in. He heard about it through friends and family members who also went to Houghton.  

Obergfell said that before he came to Houghton, he attended a school with a graduating class of 81 students. Although the class size is comparable, he stated it “feels much larger because everyone is more spread out.” 

He remarked the first week has gone well and he is looking forward to his freshman baseball season. 

Obergfell chose Houghton because he liked “the baseball culture they were creating and” wanted to be a part of it. He plans to “major in business and sports recreation so later in life [he] can become an athletic director.” 

After his first week, Obergfell said he enjoyed the first baseball practice and watching another student give haircuts. 

Johnathan Nelson is a freshman from Pittsburgh, PA on track to study Exercise Science. He is on the men’s soccer team and part of the Science Honors program. 

Nelson chose to attend Houghton for a few reasons. He said, “[he] wanted to play soccer in college [and] wanted to get a quality education, which Houghton offers.” He also chose to attend “Houghton because of their unique campus.” 

The university’s campus is roughly 1,300 acres and is beautiful year-round. Nelson said one of the perks of living here is that, “Houghton has a large campus, everything is walkable. This means that you don’t need a car to get to places and can enjoy everything on campus.”

Kisheri Ehabe is a freshman who heard about Houghton through a teacher. The teacher said this was “a school with a TCK [third-culture-kid] friendly environment.” 

Ehabe is from Cameroon in Central Africa and is unsure when she will be able to return because of flight costs. She thought she would “do better in a Christ-centered community.”  

Ehabe is planning to study Global studies and Communications. At Houghton, she said she would have the opportunity “to be in a good environment at an affordable price” and be able “to go to London for the honors trip.” 

As part of the Honors program that Houghton offers to freshmen during the spring semester, Ehabe will be going to London and is “looking forward to visiting the cities and going to shows and events.” 

These three freshmen came to Houghton for similar reasons, and their faith played a part in it. They are looking forward to the rest of their semester and are excited about what it will bring. ★

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Columns

Dune Part 2 Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

Dune Part 2 was my most anticipated movie of this year. At the moment of writing this, I have seen it three times in theaters. When it was first released I got the privilege of seeing the movie in IMAX, and I was so enthralled, that I went and saw it again the very next day.

I can confidently say that the stereotype of “sequels being worse than the originals” does not even remotely apply here. Despite my love of Dune Part 1, I can admit that it is slow and long. However, I find beauty in that. Part 2, takes what the first movie did and improves on it in every way. Is it slow? Not at all. Does it manage to find that sweet spot between world-building and action? Yes. 

The movie focuses primarily on the spiritual aspects of the Dune universe. The author of the Dune series based the spiritual elements loosely on Islam, and even though I am no Islamic scholar, from what I do know, it has a fascinating sci-fi representation. The juxtaposition of believers and non-believers in the “Lisan Al-Giab” (Messiah), creates a tense religious atmosphere among the inhabitants of Arrakis – The Fremen. As Paul becomes accustomed to the Fremen ways he is worshiped by some and scoffed at by others. 

In the first movie, I scoffed at the idea of Timothee Chalamet playing Paul, who is supposed to grow into a powerful messianic leader, but I can say that Chalamet pulls the role off beautifully, being equally emotionally resonant and powerfully dominant. Zendaya plays Chani well; a skilled and capable fighter who falls in love with Paul as he ascends. Rebecca Ferguson plays Lady Jessica wonderfully, hiding so much calculating intelligence behind her eyes as she manipulates others for her and Paul’s benefit. Javier Bardem plays Stilgar, a believer of the Fremen tribe in the Lisan Al-Giab, who comes off as an intelligent warrior, intensely spiritual man, and loyal follower, almost to the point of being funny. However, the main standout is Austin Butler’s portrayal of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen: a devilishly psychotic Harkonnen warrior, equally thirsty for both power and blood. Butler plays the role magnificently. Every time he comes on the screen he commands it with menacing gravitas. 

Dune Part 2 is one of the most beautifully shot movies that I have seen in a long time. Cinematographer Greig Fraser captures the beauty and simplicity of the dunes. One would think it hard to capture beauty in a sandy environment but through twilight, eclipse, and natural lighting the color palette of Dune is surprisingly varied. At one point in the film, certain scenes are filmed using an infrared camera. I have never (to my knowledge) witnessed the use of one of these cameras in a film before and it crafted the scenes it was used in beautifully. The pale soft white is utilized to film a particularly brutal scene so the contrast of color and content was an odd but tasteful choice. Hans Zimmer’s score is immaculate. It captures an almost tribal feeling in its use of drums, unorthodox instruments, and sounds. Yet, at the same time, it is a beautiful composition, brimming with emotional resonance and profound meaning.

The last half hour of the movie is one of the most impressively shot, incredibly well-acted, and beautifully lit, endings. As I said, I have seen it three times and every time the ending’s technical aspects just floor me. You don’t have to love the first movie to enjoy the second. I strongly recommend the movie. One of the easiest 10/10 movies I have ever seen.

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Opinions

We Have no Mouth, But We Must Speak

By Christian Welker

As I looked back over my college experience, there was this nagging sensation following me that I struggled to put my finger on. However, through conversations with friends and memories of the Houghton I first applied to, one phrase came to mind:

We have been silenced.

Let me be clear. This is not about Houghton’s academics. The classroom can be a spot for discussion and questions, which I believe is one of Houghton’s most amazing features. But we, students, have been taught a different lesson when we step out of the classroom.

Through the Houghton Rock, we’ve been taught that expressions of our sexuality, if they don’t match with Wesleyan virtues, will be met with anger and American flags.

Through the relocation of the Rock, we’ve been taught that the methods of creative expression will be regulated to the Field of Dreams if they make for uncomfortable press.

Through the Rainbow Alliance Cooperative, we’ve been taught that clubs and people who don’t adhere to the status quo will lose their ability to speak and gather freely on campus.

Through the Mosaic Center and the Center for Sustainability, we’ve watched programs designed to begin these conversations fall to ruin and vanish, becoming mere shadows of what they were meant to be. 

My first serious opinion for The Houghton STAR was about debate in the modern world, which has become more about winning than discussing opposing views. In my four years at Houghton, I’ve seen that belief taken to the extreme. We are afraid to speak because others will do anything to win. It seems that if someone’s views do not perfectly align with the status quo presented to them, there is no support for them to present their ideas safely.

Conversation appears to have withered and died, with its only remains being the shallow roots of widely accepted facts, recycled endlessly from chapel pulpits and STAR articles: Jesus loves us. We should love others. Get off your phones during Chapel. Even Around the Table, which was supposed to be a place where deeper conversations occurred, has fallen into this pattern.

There is nothing inherently wrong with these messages. They can be timely and important in the right context, but the problem that has arisen is that these are the only conversations happening. This has cheapened those messages when deeper, more meaningful discussions could be paired with “Jesus loves us, we should love others” to take the message to the next level.

I’ve spoken to freshmen and sophomores who have told me that Houghton doesn’t seem like a place where open conversations can happen. Students find their bubbles and stay within them and rarely, if ever, bridge the gaps that form between them. I’m drawn to compare this to my freshman year (2020), when conversations about difficult topics happened frequently. Issues like race, sexuality, politics, and religious beliefs were commonplace, and there was little fear of expressing one’s own beliefs. Houghton was the place that broke the assumptions and stereotypes that I had started my college experience with. I had grown up in a conservative Christian environment and was simply never exposed to the LGBTQIA+ community, or the struggles that minorities go through on a daily basis. These conversations helped me round out my understanding and grow more accepting of ideas contrary to my own, shifting my perspective on social issues in ways that drastically changed who I was. These conversations made me the complete person I am today.

I’m afraid that the Houghton where those conversations happened is gone. 

In its place, a silent campus has arisen. When conversations do happen, they have become loud, angry, and fear-inducing. The old Houghton would have embraced Chapel talks on uncomfortable subjects. It would have stoked the flames of discussion instead of suffocating voices out of fear that the fire would escape the bubble that we are in.

I miss that Houghton.

The new Houghton that has risen in its place threatens to collapse the community we’ve spent so long building. This new Houghton of simple chapel messages and simple opinions. This new Houghton of silence and silencing. This new Houghton where the only discussions that happen must take place in the classroom or administration-approved events. While the old Houghton boasted student-led forums on difficult topics and personal experiences, this new Houghton has forums led by singular faculty members where questions can be submitted via an online form and fed to the speakers via middlemen.

What is there, then, to be done? This silenced Houghton has become the new normal. How can we return conversation and debate to a silent campus without an explosive result?

Beginning the conversation is key to returning to the old Houghton. We must embrace the difficult and scary conversations, stand out from the crowd, and show why we are unique. We must listen to the voices that we disagree with instead of shutting them down or shutting them out. We cannot expect that the opportunity for these conversations will be handed to us; we must make these opportunities for ourselves.

I wouldn’t have become the man I am today in this new silent Houghton. Those who were willing to speak, the LGBTQIA+ students, the liberals, the conservatives, and speakers who challenged our view of the Bible and the God that we worship, shook my beliefs to their core. Despite the potential backlash they faced, they began the conversations and fundamentally changed who I am, making me love God and others in ways that this new Houghton’s “Jesus loves you, this is all” message would never have managed. I will forever be grateful to those people and the Houghton who allowed them to do what they did.

My only hope is that those following me will have that experience. I pray that Houghton will allow them to burst their bubbles and make connections instead of silencing them to maintain a status quo.

We have to begin the conversation.

Even when it feels like we have been silenced, we can still use our voices to improve the world. ★

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Stories In Focus

Dr. Marcus Dean

Dr. Marcus Dean staff photo - Courtesy of Marcomm
By Abigail Bates ('26)

Dr. Marcus Dean is a professor of Global Studies, and the Director of Off-Campus Studies at Houghton University.

Before coming to Houghton, Professor Dean and his family were Wesleyan missionaries. At the time, Professor Dean pursued his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies with the expectation that he would use it in Latin America, however he decided to teach college courses instead.

Growing up in the Wesleyan Church, Professor Dean had always known about Houghton, but it wasn’t until his hunt for a teaching position that he became involved in the community. In 2003, Professor Dean joined Houghton’s faculty.

“At first I taught Spanish and worked with Off-Campus studies,” Professor Dean stated, “but soon moved more into the classes I am teaching now, in the areas of Intercultural Studies and Missions.”

Off-Campus Studies Assistant, Karen Hotchkiss first met Professor Dean just before she interviewed for the assistant position.

“He has worked tirelessly to make sure there are study abroad opportunities for our students,” Hotchkiss said. “He’s very knowledgeable and works with students to make sure they find a good fit for their passions.”

Professor Peter Meilaender—the Dean of Religion, Humanities and Global Studies, and a professor of Political Science—has worked together with Professor Dean for a long time, in a number of contexts: in the Off-Campus Studies office when taking students abroad, reviewing International Development majors’ senior capstone projects (along with Dr. Oakerson) and developing the new Global Studies major.

“His background in missions gives him a perspective that most of us lack in trying to understand different cultures,” Professor Meilaender remarked, “and many Houghton students have benefited from his experience over the years.”

Professor Meilaender commented that Professor Dean has worked hard to give students opportunities to travel and engage in other cultures, even as enrollment in the program dropped over the past few decades.

“But Dr. Dean,” Professor Meilaender said, “despite these challenges, has remained committed to helping students understand, engage, and travel the world.”

In both the last academic year (2022-2023) and this current year (2023-2024), Professor Dean has worked tirelessly, helping students complete their requirements in the discontinued Intercultural Studies and International Development majors.

“Dr. Dean puts in long hours on behalf of his students,” Professor Meilaender added. “He is in his office more than most faculty and is always available to students.”

Professor Dean has always enjoyed teaching, especially in the work he does to inform students about different cultures. He hopes that by sharing his experiences of living in other parts of the world, his students will be able to meaningfully interact with our increasingly diverse world and touch the lives of people facing cultural differences. To make choices, thinking, “How can we be like Christ?”

“It is interesting that we really don’t know how what we do will [eventually] end up,” Professor Dean contemplated. “My first year here, I had a student in class [Dr. Klejment-Lavin, who] has been on the mission field, now has his doctorate, is a college professor, and will be the speaker Monday April 22nd for the Chamberlain Missions Lecture … teaching really is about the long term, but today matters so that students engage for the long term.”

In his years of teaching, Professor Dean has learned alongside students in order to continue connecting with them. He enjoys exploring new topics and areas students are interested in, and applying that knowledge in future conversations.

Julia Collins (‘26) describes Professor Dean as a good professor who has a lot of knowledge in addition to personal experience.

“The most important thing I’ve learned from him,” Collins said, “is that Christians need to be tolerant towards other cultures. It is important to treat everyone with love and respect.”

Professor Dean’s classes have been described by students as informative, interesting, organized, and students know what to expect from him.

 “His teaching style is organized and foreseeable,” Chesnie Waddingham (‘26) said. “He follows a set schedule when assignments are due … I like it because it’s nice to know what to expect, and I can trust nothing is going to sneak up on me to do [later]. I think he does it this way for the benefit of the students. It prevents a lot of stress for us.”

Waddingham described Professor Dean’s lectures as being calm and incorporating group discussion and interactions about one to two times a class.

“I love Marcus Dean,” Waddingham declared. “He is very approachable, and cares deeply for his students and what he is teaching us. I appreciate [his] comforting classroom atmosphere, and I know that his office door is always open if I need anything.”

Waddingham explained that one of the biggest things she’s learned from Professor Dean is the practice of considering her assumptions and beliefs about the world, while aligning her reflections with scripture.

“He encourages all of us to see the world through the lens of the Bible, and it’s a beautiful and powerful thing,” Waddingham reflected.

Looking towards the future, Professor Dean said, “We always look forward to understanding what God has next. Before we came here, we had no idea what would be next. Yet I am now finishing my 21st year at Houghton! I need to remind myself that I can look forward to what God will do.” ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Rene Stempert

Rene Stempert with her son - Courtesy of Renee Stempert
By Anna Catherman ('24)

On July 4, 2024, Rene Stempert will celebrate her 30th year on the job. 

“My first day on the job was a paid holiday, so that was kinda cool,” Stempert said. 

Stempert started off on that day in July 1994 as a custodian in Gillette Hall. Now, she serves as the lead custodian for Sodexo, who promoted her to the role five years ago.

As lead custodian, there is no “typical” day on the job. Stempert does whatever’s at the top of her to-do list. She trains new hires and cleans guest bedrooms down at the Flats and in the President’s House. She is certified in pool maintenance. In the summer, she maintains all the hard floors on campus, scrubbing between tiles. 

Although Stempert’s day-to-day work is primarily keeping campus clean and safe, Stempert views her work not as a chore but as a ministry. 

Serving exclusively in Gillette for decades, Stempert made it her mission to learn the names of every girl in Gillette. Some years, she succeeded. She even knows many pets. Stempert recalls a seeing-eye dog named Brownie was the first service animal to live in Gillette with his owner, Elicia.

Now that Stempert’s work covers most of campus, she hasn’t had as close a connection to Gillette residents. But she gets to meet and train more students – up to 40 each semester, plus 3-6 new staff per year. 

When students skip work or their performance goes down, Stempert has a heart-to-heart with them. Three times this year, she’s used the parable of talents as a reminder to be faithful in the small tasks. At the end of December last year, she saw a student in Paine who looked like he was depressed and struggling, so she stopped and prayed with him. 

Stempert used to struggle a lot with being grumpy and short with people, and explained that she is still working at showing love and kindness. 

Working at Houghton has helped Stempert’s faith grow. The first time she shared her faith journey in 2001 was a major turning point for her. She had accepted Christ a decade prior, after a childhood riddled with sexual abuse, a stint in the Air Force and marrying a man who became verbally and emotionally abusive. There were no sudden revelations for Stempert. 

“I really wish my faith story had started off more intensely because I continued to make a lot of stupid choices in my life,” Stempert confessed. 

But God used moments throughout the years to slowly transform Stempert. Sharing her story was a big one. One that helped her understand what testimony and ministry are. 

Stempert strives to put what she’s learned into action. This year, she felt a strong call to invite people to come to her church. Thanks to her initiative, five First Year students are now attending Belfast Free Methodist. ★