Faculty Archives

Exploring The Central Science

If you ask the Hillsdale College chemistry faculty to describe their field, you might hear them call chemistry the “central” science. “Not necessarily the best science, mind you. It just connects everything. Besides, that title just makes chemistry sound cool,” jokes Dr. Matthew Young.

The Artwork on the Walls of Our Minds

Some people may think it’s crazy to expect high school students to memorize and recite a 280 line poem. Dr. Ellen Condict thinks otherwise.

History is Now: Dr. Yaniga Remembers the Day the Berlin Wall Came Down

Hillsdale’s chapter of the Young Americans for Freedom annually celebrates the tearing down of the Berlin Wall with a spray-painted drywall partition, which students and professors wreck with a sledgehammer. The experience is no doubt meaningful, but it’s hardly novel to Dr. Yaniga, who was actually in Berlin and helped tear down the real wall.

Science Isn’t for Everyone at First, Even for Your Professor

You came to Hillsdale to be educated in the liberal arts—emphasis on the arts. Yet, students are still required to have some knowledge of the sciences. Don’t like chemistry? Don’t worry—you’re in good company. In fact, you might even end up liking it.

Learning German with Dr. Naumann

Learning to talk is hard. It takes a long time, it’s frustrating, and it requires extreme patience from the teacher. Most people learn to speak from their parents and a sibling or two. When learning a second language—especially from word number one—the process is a whole lot more frustrating and requires infinitely more conscious effort than learning a mother tongue at two years old. It also requires infinitely more patience from the teacher.

The Dynamic Balance Between Music and Liberal Arts

Dr. Derek Stauff, the newest musicologist in the Hillsdale music department, brings with him a plethora of knowledge in music history—specifically 17th century German music—and an energy to equal that of the current music professors.

Biblical Narrative: The Summer Session to Take

Studying biblical narrative requires particular focus because of its unique challenges. As LaRae Ferguson explains, “I feel like we have to unlearn more things when studying the Bible than with other texts. We come to the Bible with many assumptions, primarily that it’s holy literature. We have to temporarily set those assumptions aside before we can bring them back and gain a richer understanding of the text.”

Hillsdale Reflections

Yesterday, I finished my last class at Hillsdale College: French 201. After the students left, I stood there for a moment trying to take in this really important event, and what should pop into my head but the Carol Burnett song: “I’m so glad we’ve had this time together / just to have a laugh or sing a song / seems we just get started and before you know it / comes the time we have to say so long.”

Summer Reading – Provost David Whalen

This summer we’ll be asking different professors, staff, and departments for their summer reading lists. Here are Dr. Whalen’s picks!

The Beauty I See

Professor of Religion Dr. Don Westblade discusses his travels to Turkey and Uganda.

Faculty