Professors at APU become more than professors; they become friends, mentors and academic co-workers. They invite students over for games, for dinner, for Bible study and help make Azusa Pacifc a place where thousands of students have treasured memories.
Stories of professors who have made a lifelong impact by being friends and mentors, as well as educators, make it common for students to seek professors’ advice and counsel.
As a result, professors at APU tend to stick around. Every campus department has at least one professor who has been teaching for 20 years or more. John Hartley, Ph.D., exemplifies this.
Hartley, a professor of Old Testament biblical studies, has been teaching at APU since his graduation from Brandeis University 47 years ago. While his distinguished academic career has taken him from Harvard University to Fuller Theological Seminary to Asbury Theological Seminary, Hartley has not left his place at APU as chair of APU’s Department of Biblical Studies since 1983. Prior to that, Hartley was chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion.
“[I] led the division of philosophy and religion for eight years, hiring key faculty that enhanced both the scholarship and teaching [in the department],” Hartley said.
Hartley traveled with students to Israel twice—poignant experiences late in his storied career.
“Twice I took students to Israel to study the cultural and historical geography of Israel as well as become acquainted with present-day Israel to study on site,” he said. “One trip included exploring Sinai for 10 days. One day, [we] climbed Mt. Sinai to see the sunrise.”
After a 47-year career, Hartley’s place at APU has been more than solidified. As he approaches the end of his final semester, a retirement celebration was held for him in light of the legacy he will leave. The celebration featured old and new students, friends, family and fellow professors, some of whom have known Hartley since long before most current APU students got here.
While retirement is certainly something to celebrate, for someone as committed as Hartley, it also represents a sad goodbye. Hartley said there is a certain amount of reflection in the midst of his farewell, particularly when it comes to his colleagues and students. He said that he will miss intellectual engagement with both.
Hartley is recognized for his effort to connect with students on a daily basis. Both colleagues and students see him as a source of joy, kindness and wisdom in and outside of the classroom.
Professor of English Carole Lambert, Ph.D., acknowledged Hartley’s presence as a professor and his renown.
“[Hartley] has been known, at least since I arrived at APU in 1986, as a very wise teacher of biblical wisdom literature,” Lambert said. “He was one of the original professors in the Honors Program founded in 1993.”
One of Hartley’s students, junior global studies major Alex Dobbs, highlighted Hartley’s kindness, care and attention to scholarly detail.
“Dr. Hartley is kind, humble, joyful, energetic and wise,” Dobbs said. “What I have appreciated most about having Dr. Hartley as a professor is that he cares so much about his students.”
Dobbs said that out of kindness, Hartley has provided him with readings to help him explore topics he is interested in. He added that Hartley also spends time after every period to get to know him and dig deeper on class discussions.
While the end of the year brings the excitement and celebration of graduation, many students, staff and faculty will be tipping their caps to the permanent legacy of academic excellence and kindness that Hartley will leave at APU.