Pre-med to pastor to mathematical science professor
Vanessa Schutt
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
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According to mathematical science professor Harry Sheller, his "notion of high-tech is different colored chalk."
Sheller, who is temporarily teaching full-time at Pacific while other professors are on sabbatical, is quick to point out the many benefits of chalkboards.
For example, "chalk never runs out unexpectedly. You can always see the end coming. Furthermore, mathematicians like chalkboards because larger arm movements inspire creativity," said Sheller.
Although this is his first year teaching full-time at Pacific, Sheller has been with Pacific for two years. Before coming to Pacific, he taught at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore.
But Sheller's story really begins when he was a pre-med student with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He decided that there was no better way to gain medical experience than to live and work in a third world country.
After spending two years in Nigeria, however, Sheller decided to pursue a different career.
"When I returned from Nigeria it was clear to me that as an American I lived at a level that was incompatible with calling myself a brother of the other peoples on the planet," said Sheller.
The search for that human connection led Sheller to become a pastor.
Several years later, another experience abroad prompted Sheller to change careers again.
In 1987 Sheller traveled to Nicaragua as part of the "Witness for Peace" program, which at that time was protesting the human rights violations of the Sandinista regime.
While he was in Nicaragua, Sheller realized how insulated he was as a pastor. He decided that he needed contact with a broader portion of the population.
So, when he got back to the United States, he went back to school, this time at the University of Oregon to get an Interdisciplinary masters degree, which was "two thirds math and one third education," according to Sheller.
Sheller said that the reason that he chose to teach mathematics is that for many people math is a barrier and one of the rewarding parts of teaching is helping students get over those barriers.
He is unsure whether or not he will continue teaching full-time after this year, but he will be teaching both statistics and calculus in the spring.
Sheller, who is temporarily teaching full-time at Pacific while other professors are on sabbatical, is quick to point out the many benefits of chalkboards.
For example, "chalk never runs out unexpectedly. You can always see the end coming. Furthermore, mathematicians like chalkboards because larger arm movements inspire creativity," said Sheller.
Although this is his first year teaching full-time at Pacific, Sheller has been with Pacific for two years. Before coming to Pacific, he taught at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore.
But Sheller's story really begins when he was a pre-med student with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He decided that there was no better way to gain medical experience than to live and work in a third world country.
After spending two years in Nigeria, however, Sheller decided to pursue a different career.
"When I returned from Nigeria it was clear to me that as an American I lived at a level that was incompatible with calling myself a brother of the other peoples on the planet," said Sheller.
The search for that human connection led Sheller to become a pastor.
Several years later, another experience abroad prompted Sheller to change careers again.
In 1987 Sheller traveled to Nicaragua as part of the "Witness for Peace" program, which at that time was protesting the human rights violations of the Sandinista regime.
While he was in Nicaragua, Sheller realized how insulated he was as a pastor. He decided that he needed contact with a broader portion of the population.
So, when he got back to the United States, he went back to school, this time at the University of Oregon to get an Interdisciplinary masters degree, which was "two thirds math and one third education," according to Sheller.
Sheller said that the reason that he chose to teach mathematics is that for many people math is a barrier and one of the rewarding parts of teaching is helping students get over those barriers.
He is unsure whether or not he will continue teaching full-time after this year, but he will be teaching both statistics and calculus in the spring.
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