Barry Loy
Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students
When I reflect on what Gordon means to me, I think of the people--the students, faculty, and staff who have shaped me for the past 24 years--a community that has challenged me to grow intellectually and spiritually. Gordon is more than an institution of higher learning; it is koinonia--a community where we are linked together in love by our common faith in Christ; life to life, person to person--that's the Gordon I know. We are not a perfect place or a perfect people, but we have a grand vision: to understand our calling in light of God's Revelation and to love one another as we seek to join together faith, learning and living. My greatest joy in working at Gordon is seeing God work in the lives of students when they are at their lowest; to see God working in and through this community to bring about redemption and reconciliation for those with broken hearts and broken spirits. Countless students have lived out the truth of Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." Their example strengthens me.
Sarah DiFrances '10
When asked about Gordon, my mind is flooded with countless thoughts and memories--friends, chapels, late-night coffee runs, Jenks Library; the past two and a half years have come to mean so many different things.
Gordon has become like a second home. Yet this sense of belonging does not lie in the beautiful grounds or buildings but in the people. Throughout my time at Gordon I have become part of a loving and close-knit community which is cultivated not only by students but a committed faculty and staff. On this campus I have developed meaningful friendships which will last far beyond my days at Gordon.
I have been challenged to ask questions in and out of the classroom to gain a better understanding of the world at large. I am also inspired and encouraged by my professors to develop my potential. Although the academics and extracurricular activities require hard work and perseverance, I am confident they will fully prepare me for the future. Most of all, Gordon has provided me with the resources to explore and strengthen my faith.
Russ Camp
Retired Biology Faculty
Throughout my 37 years at Gordon I appreciated the academic freedom to explore challenging topics at the interface of science and the Christian faith. I am thankful for the autonomy and encouragement I was given to explore and implement many scientific research projects in collaboration with my students and professional colleagues in other academic and industrial institutions. Because Gordon College is located in a region with many top-rated medical and academic/research institutions, I was able to tap these resources to strengthen the biology program at Gordon College through networking and collaborative research projects.
Gordon is a place where teamwork thrives. I recall so many wonderful times working with my colleagues in the classroom and laboratory to help students catch the passion for learning and research. Our efforts were acts of worship of God, Who made possible our ability to think His thoughts after Him.
Charae Spuler '96
When I was a student at Gordon there was a lot of emphasis on "living in community." It's interesting to me that God, knowing how imperfect and capable of hurting one another we are, designed His Kingdom this way. So although it wasn't always easy to be a part of this intermingling of so many different life stories in those few short years, I've come to realize I don't actually learn or mature very much in isolation. Gordon was for me a time and place to do a lot of growing up in a community of people who intelligently and honestly helped me understand the truth about myself, God and His purposes for my life. In some of those relationships I also witnessed profound redemption and grace, which has inspired me, particularly at critical times when I have felt inadequate or too broken to press on in my calling.
In the current economic climate, there are a lot of questions about the worth of a college education, and Gordon is--like most private colleges--a significant investment. However, a Christian college experience had a significant impact on me. Gordon offered very challenging and excellent academic preparation for my graduate school experience at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, where I received a master's degree in nursing and have gone on to practice in general pediatrics as a nurse practitioner at Garden City Pediatrics for the last three years. But so much more importantly, it gave me the spiritual foundation and fortitude to practice ethically and interpersonally in a Christ-centered manner.
Living and working on the North Shore, I am proud to call Gordon my alma mater as I interact directly with students and alumni in my workplace and community, and as I hear reflections from colleagues and neighbors who benefit from the Gordon community--whether it be because of a student or alumni employee, having attended a music, art or recreational program, or because of someone benefiting from the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness. Gordon's programs seem to consistently garner their praises and shine in our local communities.
