What Emeritus Means to Four Covenant Professors

Four recently retired professors, Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies Ray Clark, Professor of English Paul Hesselink, Professor of Sociology Jack Muller, and Professor of Computer Science Doug Sizemore, were  honored with Emeritus status. Clark, Hesselink, and Muller are continuing to teach at Covenant as adjunct faculty.

All four professors emeriti have served between 35 and 42 years on the faculty at Covenant. Jeff Hall, Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained that they all have demonstrated “a level of personal sacrifice, commitment to the heart of the [college’s] mission, and have touched the lives of thousands.”

Hall noted that instructors who have been granted Emeritus status “have given wisdom to the community” and have also served as significant figures academically. Their roles as teachers and scholars are positions that they have held for a long time.

Further, he said, for most professors, “this means serving as teacher at the college for seven or more years.” However, “this requirement could change depending upon the level of service a person gives to the college.”

And how do professors benefit from the Emeritus position? The faculty handbook notes that it is by the Emeritus title that professors receive recognition and honor for their work. They also get access to library resources, office space (whenever available), and stipends for adjunct teaching.

Individual responses to the Emeritus status have varied. Hesselink mentioned that continuing teaching as an Emeritus professor offers “renewed interaction with good students and old friends on the faculty and an opportunity to earn some money and postpone the day of tapping into the retirement accounts. It gives me something meaningful to do with my time.”

Clark noted that, “The Emeritus status doesn’t have much of anything to do with my teaching, but the age and experience (43 years) certainly does. I love to teach, and to just go ‘cold turkey’ would drive both me and my wife a little crazy.”

For Muller, “The Emeritus position is independent of how long you will continue teaching.” He said, “I will continue [teaching] as long as I perceive God wants me to.”

Finally, for Sizemore, the Emeritus status is an “honor and title that is given for distinctive service.” He explained that although he will not be at Covenant, the Emeritus status remains recognition for his 35 years of service to Covenant.

Overall, the Emeritus status remains an honor. It is the highest recognition for the service that these four Covenant professors have provided to the college for many years.

“Ray Clark brought the Bible to life, Doug Sizemore connected us to the computer age, Paul Hesselink considered learning and wisdom as important in doing selfless work at Covenant, and Jack Muller made social theory applicable to consistent Christian thinking,” Hall said.  Even from this brief summary, it is clear that each of these faculty members has left his mark on the college and has exemplified the ideals of the Covenant community.