By Felicity Neptune, News Editor
Dr. Steve Stogsdill, assistant professor and head of the department of communication, has listened to over 10,000 speeches. According to his biography on the Hardin-Simmons University faculty page, Dr. Stogsdill did not actually intend to go to to college.
“God has a sense of humor and irony. I didn’t set out to be a college professor,” writes Dr. Stogsdill in his biography. “In fact, I didn’t even want to go to college. Then three years out of high school God told me to go.”
Although he did not intend on going to college, Dr. Stogsdill has received four degrees from three universities and has taught 24 various communication courses during his 25 years of teaching college students. “Teaching is my passion. I absolutely love it,” Dr. Stogsdill said.
Dr. Stogsdill received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies at Hannibal-LaGrange College in 1989 and his Master of Arts in Religious Studies and Master of Arts in Communication at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1994. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. in Organizational Communication at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Stogsdill has been teaching at HSU since 2007 but applied once before. “I applied in 2006 but since my dissertation wasn’t complete, they told me no. Some schools will hire you even if it isn’t finished in good faith that you will get it done, but it’s pretty rare,” Dr. Stogsdill said.
When his dissertation was complete, he looked online looking for jobs in the area and found the position was available again. Dr. Stogsdill applied another time and was given an interview with the department head at the time, Charlene Strickland, associate professor of communication.
“After teaching at a small Baptist college and then going to A&M, I’m so glad to be at a faith based college. Because of its size, I’m able to be open about my faith, and be personable with my students,” Dr. Stogsdill said.
Faith is a big part of Dr. Stogsdill’s life. Currently, he is an elder at a local church, The Belonging. “I love God, my family, teaching young people, serving in our church, participating in mission projects in Texas and mission trips in the Dominican Republic. I’m an ordained minister and an occasional preacher,” writes Dr. Stogsdill in his biography. Other hobbies listed include watching movies, playing with his kids and reading books with his wife.