Faculty Archives

Spotlight on Dr. Weaire: Dead Elephants and the Art of Latin Grammar

By the time I applied to Hillsdale, I had a pretty good handle on Latin grammar, and I tested into the 201 level. I suppose that I thought that I had seen it all. One Latin class is the same as any other, right? Wrong.

Professors of Influence: Dr. Stephens

A short, square man strides confidently into a classroom full of chattering freshmen. They don’t notice him. They are too busy arguing about Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, attempting to show off all that they learned from the preparatory assignment that Hillsdale prescribes to all incoming freshmen. The short man stops at his desk, looks ‘round the room quizzically, wondering at the air rich with arrogance, and slams his portfolio down hard. The sharp slap of paper on desk mutes the debate, and all students turn their heads to wonder at the man standing before them.

Dr. Yaniga: A Passion for German

As anyone who has chatted with Dr. Fred Yaniga knows, he is passionate about everything German—the language, the culture, and the country itself. Walking down the hallway or in the cafeteria, Dr. Yaniga converses with students and professors in German as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and for him, it is just that.

Spotlight on Dr. Somerville: A South Korean Childhood

As many students already know, Dr. Somerville loves storytelling. Yes, as an English professor, he has a vested interest in telling stories—fictional or not—but in almost every class, he seems to sneak in just one more anecdote about his past. He certainly has had an interesting life.

Dr. Whalen “Absolutely Thrilled” to Be a New Part of Hillsdale College

From the beginning of his teaching career, Dr. Benedict Whalen has “aspired to teach at a small liberal arts school.” His invitation to teach at Hillsdale College allowed him to finally realize this dream.

Dr. Charles N. Steele

Dr. Charles N. Steele holds the Herman and Suzanne Dettwiler Chair in Economics at Hillsdale College, and regularly teaches the “Austrian Economics” class, as well as “History of Economic Thought.”

Dr. David Stewart in front of bookshelves.

Dr. David Stewart, Professor of History

The most striking feature of Dr. Stewart’s office is how full it is. From the floor to the ceiling, books fill the many-tiered shelves. Biographies, textbooks, and all things history decorate the professor’s workspace, interrupted only by the presence of one golden couch which sits opposite from Dr. Stewart’s chair. The atmosphere Stewart has created makes students feel invited and relaxed, while simultaneously putting them in the mindset of the professor’s passion and chosen craft: history.

Professor Lewis Butler

Professor Lewis Butler is in his second year as an adjunct professor in Hillsdale’s Economics department. A recent graduate of the college, Professor Butler returned to academia when he received a call from department head Dr. Gary Wolfram in the summer of 2012.

Professor Knecht’s New Art Exhibit

From taking my art classes, I knew the Hillsdale art department had loads of talent. I’ve learned a lot of techniques and styles from my professors, but I rarely think of them as artists outside of the classroom bubble. All that changed when I saw Professor Sam Knecht’s new exhibit, From the Studio and Beyond, in the Daughtrey Gallery on campus.

Hillsdale Faculty signing their books for students in the Hillsdale College bookstore.

Book Signing Displays Professors’ Work

On February 18, the college held a book signing for several of our professors who have recently published books. This event enabled students to see what their professors are working on to benefit the academic community outside the classroom.

Dr. Anthony Swinehart

By the time he was eight, Anthony Swinehart knew that he wanted to study aquatic biology. His determination was hardly surprising—he had spent the first years of his life fishing the waters of a nearby lake, where ample opportunities for adventure and investigation piqued the interest of a curious young boy.