STILLPOINT Archive: last updated 04/09/2009
“Why Gordon?” | Three New Faculty Respond
By Calen Rubin
It was like a job interview all over again for Gordon’s three newest faculty when asked “Why Gordon College?”
Roger Johnson, at Messiah College for 24 years, will be a visiting economics professor for the 2008–2009 academic year; Andrew Logemann recently completed his Ph.D. in English while teaching at Indiana University; and Kent Seibert taught at Wheaton College for 13 years and now looks forward to teaching economics long-term at Gordon. What attracted these faculty--all with different goals and at different points in their careers--to Gordon?
Roger Johnson first met Stephen Smith, chair of economics and business, 20 years ago in Hong Kong. After years of meeting at international conferences, Smith invited Johnson to Gordon as a visiting professor. Johnson will teach four economics courses, including Principles of Microeconomics and Labor Economics. His research interests include political economy and the Mondragón cooperatives in Spain.
Andrew Logemann did his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College. He enjoyed the Christian environment and wanted to have that “deeper level of connection between faculty and students” in his teaching career. A proud father of twin baby girls, he is thankful to be teaching at Gordon this year.
Kent Seibert fell in love with Gordon 17 years ago while completing his doctorate at Boston University. He taught one class at Gordon during that time, and, as his first experience with a Christian college, he loved the idea of “integrating faith with study.” He looks forward to teaching two new business courses, among others, on leadership and organizational behavior. His research interests focus on the transition from college to the workplace and the idea of business as missions.
Department chairs Stephen Smith, economics and business, and Andrea Frankwitz, English, hope to use the expertise of these new colleagues in new courses in the future. Smith says, “This is a terrific step forward for our departments.”