Meet The Prof
Shane Hartley and Spence Hackney receive questions from college students and ask them to Christian professors in a fun, insightful interview format.Our mission: to encourage Christ-centered conversations on the college campus.We hope these interviews will help college students, inspire professors, and encourage parents and grandparents of college students.
MTP 84: How to Help Students Find Jesus Through Small Steps of Faith, Len Lecci and Michelle Messer
Have you ever shared some of your spiritual story, given someone a Christian book, or invited a friend to church, and wondered whether it made any difference?
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Len Lecci, a psychology professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Michelle Messer, a UNCW graduate student whose journey to faith included a graduation gift from Dr. Lecci.
One of the most encouraging parts of our conversation was hearing Len explain that Michelle was the first student to give him feedback about the book. H...
MTP 83: How to Trust God When You Don’t Know What’s Next | Spence Hackney
My friend and original Meet The Prof cohost, Spence Hackney, joins me again to share what God’s been doing in his life. After selling the business he led for about 25 years, Spence found himself asking some honest questions about his identity and whether God still had work for him to do. We talk about waiting on the Lord and following the Holy Spirit.
Spence also shares about the AWE Conference in Wilmington on October 10, where listeners can hear from Christian leaders serving in places where following Jesus is costly. Spence explains supporting his wife Tara’s writ...
MTP 82: How God Is Awakening Spiritual Hunger on a Secular Campus, Doug Allen and Jason Huang
From New Atheism to a New Openness to God
For years, Professor Doug Allen and other Christian faculty members at Simon Fraser University struggled to generate meaningful spiritual interest on their campus. At the height of new atheism, they bought potato chips and invited students to ask questions about the Bible. They discovered that the students were more interested in challenging whether God existed at all.
But over time, Doug began noticing a change. The aggressive skepticism that had once characterized many students was giving way to a new spiritual...
MTP 81: Lane Weaver, How to Make Yourself Available for Spiritual Conversations with Students
I was inspired by my interview with Lane Weaver, a faculty member in Utah State University’s music department and director of its marching band. He discusses how professors can build spiritually meaningful relationships with students, how Cru and apologetics strengthened his faith during college, how he recently discipled a new Iranian believer, and how he opens his office for prayer with students! He encourages professors to be intentionally available, create safe places for honest questions, and remember that they are teaching people—not merely subjects.
Read more about Lane Weaver online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/prof...
MTP 80: Jay Northington & Mathew Nelson, How 2 Simple Steps Can Connect Christian Professors and Students & Change a Campus
Professor Jay Northington (Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University) and graduate student Mathew Nelson share a simple 2-step strategy any campus can use to start a Bible study connecting professors and students around God's Word:
Step 1: Christian professors make it known that they follow Jesus
Step 2: Christian students find them and initiate ministry ideas
Jay and Mathew discuss why students long for Christian mentors, how faith can transform engineering (and any field of study) into worship, the value of multi-generational discipleship, and how God uses ordinary conversations to create extraordinary ministry opportunities.
Whether you're...
MTP 79: Dr. Kim Shorter, Hitting Rock Bottom in Postdoctoral Years, Until God Rescued
Dr. Kim Shorter is a Full Professor of Biology at University of South Carolina Upstate. Her research focuses on epigenetics and neuroscience, and she recently received a National Institutes of Health grant of $517,000 supporting her work. She shares about her battle with depression and anxiety during a difficult postdoctoral appointment and answers college student Ashley Davis’ question, ‘How do you show grace in the classroom when discussing science and faith?’
Some of Shane’s highlights:
Growing up in church but not truly knowing ChristThe sermon on Jesus’ crucifixion that chang...MTP 78: Robert Kaita, Princeton, Creatively Integrating Faith and Field, and a Response to a Hostile Student That Leads Another Student to Jesus
Dr. Robert Kaita is Senior Physicist Emeritus at the Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University, where he conducted nuclear fusion energy research for nearly four decades. In this episode, he discusses mentoring graduate students, integrating Christian faith naturally within academia, helping introverted professors engage spiritually with students, and approaching retirement as a new calling from God.
Read more about Robert Kaita online:
Meet The Prof Profile for Robert Kaita
Main Takeaways
• The university should teach students how to think critically, not simply memorize in...
MTP 77: Gbola Adesogan on How to Surrender Fully as a Christian Professor and Spark Revival on Campus
Dr. Gbola Adesogan is a professor of Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Florida and serves as Associate Vice President and Director of the Global Food Systems Institute. In this interview, he shares his powerful testimony of transformation, his journey of surrender to Christ, and how a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit has shaped his life, work, and relationships with students. He also describes practical ways he engages students in Christ-centered conversations and encourages faculty to see their role as a single calling—to be ambassadors for Christ.
Read more about Gbola Adesogan on...
MTP 76: How Jesus reached a professor through a Christian student and rescued her from imposter syndrome, Dr. Kate Fogarty-Read, Associate Professor in Family Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida
In this interview, Dr. Kate Fogarty-Read shares her journey to faith in Christ during graduate school through the influence of one of her undergrad students, how Jesus sustained her through academic challenges, her involvement in mentoring graduate students, and her experience leading a faculty mission trip to Italy. She also discusses how faith and science can work together and offers practical advice for Christian faculty who want to make an impact on campus.
Read more about Kate Fogarty-Read online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/kate-fogarty-read/
Main...
MTP 75: Anita Stephen, Why Do So Many Christian Professors Limit Their Faith to Sundays?
In this episode, we interview Anita Stephen, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Florida. Anita challenges professors not to compartmentalize their faith but to live it out boldly and naturally in everyday academic life. She shares how God reshaped her heart from striving and self-focus to listening and kindness, and how that transformation now shapes her relationships with students, colleagues, and the broader campus community.
Read more about Anita Stephen online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/anita-stephen/
Resources from Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry:
Find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof...MTP 74: "Why do many Christian professors feel alone on campus?" Dr. Lanny Griffin, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
Lanny Griffin is a longtime professor of mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). Over the course of his career he has served as a department chair, Army Reserve officer, and faculty member at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
If you’d like to learn more about Professor Griffin, you can find his profile at: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/lanny-griffin/
KEY TAKEAWAYS
God often pursues people before they begin seeking Him.Many Christian professors feel isolated until they intentionally look for other believers.Simple relational invitations—like coff...MTP 73: Is it safe for Christian professors to talk about their faith in class? Charles Kemp, Part 2
Dr. Charles Kemp, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Shawnee State University, talks about being a Christian professor and integrating his faith on campus, on Meet The Prof, episodes 72 and 73.
He also discusses:
Is it safe to be a Christian professor today?
How to talk about faith as a professor.
Can professors talk about Christianity in class?
Being bold about faith as a professor.
Christian professors afraid to speak up.
How Christian professors influence students?
Finding other Christian faculty on campus.
How professors can mentor students spiritually.
Should...
MTP 72: Charles Kemp Part 1, How Can Professors Share Jesus Naturally with their Students?
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Charles Kemp, Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Program Coordinator and Intervention Specialist at Shawnee State University in Ohio. Charles shares his journey from a fear-based view of God to a deep experience of God’s love, his years serving missionary kids in West Africa and Papua New Guinea, and the surprising path that led him into higher education. He also explains how he boldly but wisely identifies himself as a Jesus follower in the classroom and models community for a generation hungry for relationships.
Read more ab...
MTP 71: Kara Powell Pt 2, humble leadership, sharing Jesus, not judging, and Future-Focused Church
Dr. Kara Powell, Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, unpacks humble leadership in academic settings, how students can share faith without judgment, and key ideas from her new book Future Focused Church. She shares practical moves churches and professors can make to prioritize young people, build supportive communities, and love neighbors in tangible ways.
Read: Future-Focused Church: Leading through Change, Engaging the Next Generation, and Building a More Diverse Tomorrow https://a.co/d/8v7RGxl
By: Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Raymond Chang
MTP 70: Kara Powell, Part 1, Christian Professors Are in Full-Time Ministry, Building Community & Leading With Humility
In part 1 of this inspiring interview, Dr. Kara Powell, Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, shares stories from her own faith journey, her passion for reaching young people, and practical advice for professors navigating doubt, boldness, humility, and transformation in academia and in the Church.
Main Takeaways:
Christian professors are in full-time ministry, even on non-faith-based campuses.Building community is essential for courage and clarity, especially in a culture of fear around faith.Doubt is not toxic—sil...MTP 69: Karen Liller Pt 2, Why a student called her brave, & Christian USF profs launch a community
Dr. Karen Liller, Distinguished University Health Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, shares how consistent, respectful openness about her Christian faith—something as simple as wearing a cross daily—has sparked student conversations, encouraged fellow faculty, and shaped her public-health advocacy and research on injury and suicide prevention. She also spotlights USF’s faculty prayer community, her Activist Lab, and the role churches can play in reaching youth.
Read more about Karen Liller online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/karen-liller/
MTP 68: Karen Liller Part 1, How to Build Resilience and Encourage Compassion
Spence and I were impressed by Karen's compassion for her students. In part 1 of this interview, Dr. Karen Liller, Distinguished University Health Professor at the University of South Florida and Director of the Activist Lab, shares her journey of faith, grief, and resilience. From childhood imagination to moments of public embarrassment, to losing her sister to cancer, Karen reveals how God patiently restored her faith and gave her opportunities to love and teach with compassion.
Read more about Karen Liller online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/karen-liller/
Main Takeaways
Professors face embarrassing an...MTP 67: “And I Will Give You Rest”: Finding Your True Identity in Jesus through Sabbath Keeping, Roundtable Part 2
This episode is part 2 of our roundtable discussion with Christian professors from around the country. We explore themes of Sabbath rest and identity in Christ, and professors share personal stories and practical ways to keep Jesus at the center of academic life and our identity.
Main Takeaways
Practicing Sabbath is vital to resisting the pressure to overwork and to reorient identity around Jesus.A Christian worldview informs not just professional work but all of life—relationships, attitudes, and service.Professors can openly identify as Christians in class wh...MTP 66: Roundtable Discussion, How to Recenter Your Identity on Jesus Instead of Work, Part 1
In this unique roundtable format of Meet The Prof, we gather over a dozen Christian professors from campuses across the country to discuss a timely and personal question: how do we avoid getting our identity from our work instead of Christ? Inspired by a powerful clip from Sara Myers, the episode explores real struggles, vulnerable stories, and practical steps professors are taking to keep Jesus at the center.
Main Takeaways
Professors often derive their sense of worth from their productivity or professional status, but this can lead...MTP 65: Denis LaClare Pt 2, How to Launch Ministries at Community Colleges and More
Dr. Denis LaClare, Professor of Education at Porterville College in California, shares his inspiring journey of launching both faculty and student ministries. With experience in both campus ministry and higher education, Denis opens up about his outreach to international students, creative tabling strategies, and bold witness alongside fellow professors. He provides a practical, Spirit-led model for engaging students and colleagues through friendship, prayer, and partnership with ministries like InterVarsity and Bridges International.
Read more about Denis LaClare online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/denis-laclare/
R...
MTP 64: Denis LaClare Part 1, How to Step Into Disciple-Making by Launching a Student or Faculty Ministry
Dr. Denis LaClare is a Professor of Education at Porterville College in California with a rare perspective: he serves both as a campus minister and as a full-time professor. In this episode, Denis shares his powerful testimony of how a sports-focused Canadian student came to Christ through brokenness, family, and a coach's profanity. He also opens up about the challenges of early evangelism, his transition from ministry to the classroom, and how professors can step into disciple-making right where they are.
Read more about Denis LaClare online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors...
MTP 63: Sara Myers Part 2, How to Launch a Campus Fellowship and Pray for Your Students
In Part 2 of our interview, Dr. Sara Myers, Associate Chancellor of Research and Creative Activity and Professor of Biomechanics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), shares how she has grown bolder in her faith as a professor. In response to a student’s question about faith and legal boundaries, she gives practical advice for Christian professors. Sara also tells the story of starting a thriving Christian faculty fellowship at UNO and shares tips on engaging students and new faculty.
Read more about Sara Myers online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/pr...
MTP 62 Sara Myers Pt 1, How do you surrender your professional identity to Jesus? 🧑⚕️🧑🏭🧑💼👨💼👷
In this episode of Meet the Prof, we sit down with Dr. Sara Myers, Professor of Biomechanics and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Sara shares openly about a challenging season in her marriage during grad school, and how God used that time to deepen her faith, reshape her priorities, and teach her to surrender both her career and parenting to Him.
Read more about Sara Myers online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/sara-myers
Main Takeaways
MTP 61: Jonathan Boreyko Pt 2, How to Reject War Mindset, Worship in Fog Harvesting & God's Tenure
In this second episode, Dr. Jonathan Boreyko, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, shares how he integrates his Christian faith into his teaching, collaborates with ministries through the Bradley Study Center, and encourages bold yet peaceful Christian witness on campus. He discusses student doubts, research on fog harvesting and synthetic trees, and what it means to be a scientist and a Christian without falling into the trap of culture war thinking. His testimony of leading discussions on books by John Lennox and seeing students return to faith is both inspiring and practical for professors and students.<...
MTP 60: Jonathan Boreyko Part 1 on Why Your Kid’s College Years Matter, Faith, Fluids and Grade Anxiety
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jonathan Boreyko, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. Jonathan shares his journey from a works-based "moralistic therapeutic deism" to a vibrant faith in Christ sparked by a Bible study in Romans. He discusses teaching thermodynamics with a theological twist, guiding students through conversations about truth, and using C.S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man to frame knowledge under objective morality. We also hear some hilarious classroom moments and how a water polo teammate helped transform his spiritual life.
Read more ab...
MTP 59: Jane Zhang Part 2, God & Government Policies for Colleges, Faculty Prayer, & Natural Witnessing
In this inspiring second part of our interview, Dr. Qiong “Jane” Zhang, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida, shares her thoughts as a Christian professor about governmental policies affecting colleges and international students. She shares how she initiated a faculty prayer group on campus, offers prayer to students without rejection, and shares Christ naturally through daily conversations. Jane reflects on the importance of Christian faculty seeing their role as a strategic calling, her family’s salvation story, and her current season of discerning God’s next step as her husband pastors in New H...
MTP 58: Jane Zhang Part 1, How God's Love Embraces International Students Apart from Performance
Dr. Jane Qiong Zhang is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida. In this episode, she shares her powerful story of moving from China to the U.S. for graduate school and encountering the love of God in a small, remote town. She opens up about her early struggles with performance-based identity, the life-changing moment she embraced God’s unconditional love, and the creative ways she now makes her faith visible to students inside and outside the classroom.
Read more about Jane Zhang online:
https://mee...
MTP 57: Jon Walker Part 2, How One Professor Started a Christian Student Group on His Campus
In this episode of Meet The Prof, Jon Walker, Professor of History at Forsyth Tech Community College, shares real-life stories of starting and leading a Christian student group on a community college campus. Jon talks about the power of offering prayer to students, building a sense of belonging, and creating space for Christ-centered conversations through Bible studies and outreach events like Spring Fling.
He also gives practical advice for Christian professors considering how to influence their campuses, encourages students who are wrestling with doubts about God, and shares his vision for new campus worship events like Ash W...
MTP 56: Jon Walker Part 1 on Teaching as a Calling
In this episode, Shane and Spence talk with Jon Walker, a history professor at Forsyth Tech Community College. Jon shares about his spiritual journey, how he wrestled with the decision between full-time ministry and teaching, and what it means to integrate faith in the classroom. He opens up about trauma in his early professional career, how God used those moments to redirect him, and how he now views teaching as a true calling and ministry. This episode will especially encourage Christian professors who are trying to discern their vocational path or how to express their faith naturally on...
MTP 55: Jeff Colbert Part 2 on Classroom Debates, Praying for Students, and Professors’ Faith Steps
Jeff Colbert, Political Science professor at UNC Greensboro, shares wisdom on how Christian professors can be a godly influence without dominating classroom debates. He talks about praying for students, encouraging respectful dialogue, and building Christian faculty community. He also offers heartfelt advice for parents, students, and faculty—and shares how God is prompting him to re-engage in leadership on campus.
Read more about Jeff Colbert online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jeff-colbert
Campus email: [email protected]
Main Takeaways:
MTP 54: Jeff Colbert Part 1, How One Professor Bridges Beliefs & Politics in the Classroom
What happens when a college professor breaks into tears… at Disney World? Or gets spiritually called out by a student? We sit down with Jeff Colbert, Political Science professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Jeff shares his love for Disney World, how his own freshman year changed everything. He tells how as a professor, his life was transformed by an anonymous note from a student. And he gives practical examples of integrating his Christian faith into his classroom with an atmosphere of respect.
Read more about Jeff Colbert online:
https://mee...
MTP 53: Jonathan Pettigrew, Part 2, Going Deep with Worldviews & Professors’ Evangelism
In this episode of Meet The Prof, Shane Hartley continues with part 2 of his interview with Dr. Jonathan Pettigrew, a professor in the School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. They go deep discussing how Dr. Pettigrew integrates his Christian faith into his academic career, mentors students in their spiritual journeys, and addresses worldview presuppositions within the academic environment.
Read more about Jonathan Pettigrew online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jonathan-pettigrew/
Contact: [email protected]
<...
MTP 52: Jonathan Pettigrew Part 1, From Campus Minister to Professor, learning to profess Christ through faith-learning integration
Jonathan Pettigrew is a professor in the School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. In part 1 of our interview, he shares how his journey from campus minister to professor shaped his understanding of student discipleship, faith-learning integration, and ministry through academia. He offers deep reflections on spiritual formation, parenting, and how Christian professors can pursue scholarship as an act of worship.
Read more about Jonathan Pettigrew on Meet The Prof:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jonathan-pettigrew/
Main Takeaways:
Professors can influence hundreds...MTP 51: Ashlee Balena, Part 2, How a Syllabus Link Led to Saving a Woman’s Life in a Guatemalan Dump
Dr. Ashlee Balena is a senior lecturer of Spanish at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. In this episode, she shares powerful stories of following God's promptings in everyday life, from small acts of kindness to moments of deep spiritual impact. She also discusses her approach to classroom engagement, including her strong stance on technology use, and reflects on the blessings that come from stepping out in faith.
Read more about Ashlee Balena online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/ashlee-balena/
Ashlee Balena’s Campus Email: bale...
MTP 50: Ashlee Balena, Part 1, UNC Wilmington, Sharing Christ as a Professor While Keeping Your Job
Dr. Ashlee Balena, Senior Lecturer of Spanish at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, shares how she integrates her Christian faith into her role as a professor. We discuss her journey back to Christ, practical ways she signals to students that she is a safe space for Christ-centered conversations, and bold steps of obedience that have led to incredible opportunities for sharing Christ on campus.
You can view Dr. Ashlee Balena's profile on Meet The Prof at:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professo...
Email Dr. Balena: [email protected]
Main Takeaways:
Ashl...
MTP 49: Janet Reed, Part 2 on Teaching Controversial Topics While Staying True to Your Faith 🤔
In this episode of Meet The Prof, Shane Hartley continues his conversation with Dr. Janet Reed, Professor of Nursing at Kent State University. Janet shares how she navigates teaching topics that could conflict with her faith, her research on generative AI and virtual reality in healthcare, and how faith underpins her academic work. She also provides practical advice for professors managing heavy workloads, mentoring students, and making a spiritual impact on campus.
Read more about Janet Reed: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/janet-reed/
Email Dr. Janet Reed: jreed56...
MTP 48: Janet Reed, Part 1 on Finding Christian Faculty & Staff on Your Campus 🔭
In this episode of Meet The Prof, Shane interviews Dr. Janet Reed, an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Kent State University. Janet shares how she integrates her faith into her work as a nursing professor, from helping create a Christian faculty and staff group on campus to naturally engaging students in spiritual conversations. She also discusses how being attentive to opportunities can open doors to faith discussions, how she overcame struggles with perfectionism, and how technology like virtual reality is shaping nursing education.
Read more about Janet Reed online: <...
MTP 47: Derek Crews Part 2 on A Professor’s Prayer List: How to Minister to Students Online
In this episode of Meet The Prof, Shane continues his conversation with Derek Crews, a Professor of Management at Texas Woman’s University. Derek shares how his approach to student relationships has changed over the years as he transitioned from in-person to primarily online teaching. He explains how he intentionally prays for his students and subtly integrates his faith in ways that spark spiritual conversations. From personal prayer lists to inviting students into his home for the holidays, Derek offers practical examples of how Christian professors can influence students for Christ in both virtual an...
MTP 46: How to Enjoy Your Job as a Ministry, Derek Crews, Part 1, from Texas Woman's University
In this episode of Meet the Prof, Shane interviews Dr. Derek Crews, a Professor of Management at Texas Woman's University. Dr. Crews emphasizes the importance of serving Christ in every profession and the need for Christian faculty to support one another in their calling as a professor. He discusses his experience teaching at a predominantly female university, the importance of mentorship, and how his personal challenges—including the loss of his father—have shaped his approach to teaching.
Read more about Dr. Derek Crews online:
Meet The Prof...
MTP 45: How The “Overlap Principle” Can Help You Avoid Burnout, Steve Hall, NC State, Part 2
In this episode, Shane Hartley chats with NC State professor Steve Hall about overcoming fear, sharing faith in the classroom, and mentoring students. Steve offers helpful advice to other professors to avoid burnout and live out their faith on campus.
Read more about Steve Hall online:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/steven-hall/
Professor Hall's Campus Email Address:
Christian faculty, staff, and grad students, you’re invited to the A Common Call conference on Feb. 7 & 8, 2025 in Raleigh, NC. Check out th...
