A perfect day for Great Books Chair Don Marshall begins in the late morning when the sun is up and the day has begun. After reading his morning paper while the news is still fresh spontaneity will lead his schedule.
“Oh I think I’ll go to the museum today Marshall contemplated. There is a special exhibit of Monet. I can go quite spontaneously without feeling like I’m neglecting anything else.”
“It gets summed up in a phrase I heard from Dr. Laura Marshall said. She says ‘you have become a human doing and you have to become a human being.’ I’ve been a human doing for 40 years and once I’m retired I can work on being a human being.”
This year marks the end of Marshall’s time in the collegiate world. After dedicating eight years to Pepperdine University preceded by 42 years in the teaching profession he will retire from his work in the Humanities Division. Now that he will have more time on his hands Marshall plans to take his direction from the Greeks.
“It is an ancient ideal that everybody has to make a living and pay the bills Marshall explained. The ideal of Greek life was to have enough money and resources so that you have leisure. Leisure was the thing that really mattered. It was the time when you could live the life of the city.”
Marshall is a lover of urbanity by nature. He recalled attending many movies in his youth. More recently however his interest lies in performance.
“I like to see somebody alive in front of me who’s really good at something and is doing it right in front of me — whether it’s acting or music or intellectual Marshall said. Seeing somebody who is really smart and really good who’s talking sharing their ideas and doing it really well — it’s just fascinating to me.”
He also looks forward to having more time to attend plays operas lectures and musicals. Some of his favorites include Shakespeare plays that he has seen at the Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon performances at the Long Beach Opera and exhibits at the Hammer Museum which houses everything from 19th century art to films and poetry readings.
Hundreds of books line the walls of Dr. Marshall’s office. When asked about the nature of these books he explained that many were related to his personal interests and passions. One particular book that he just finished reading “The Hare with Amber Eyes” by Edmund de Waal describes a particular fascination Japanese netsukes intricate carvings attached to kimonos. These carvings connected a bag to the robes which enabled them to carry items.
Clearly Dr. Marshall has a diverse array of infatuations. When asked about the word “passion” and how that has culminated in his life Marshall turned to his personal fulfillment.
“I would talk about interests and things you have gotten interested in — not because they gain you something material but because they feel like something that fulfills your best potentials — your best intellectual potentials your best spiritual potentials and your best human potentials.”
“[For example] I love going to plays. I feel like I’m doing something important even when I just go and watch Marshall said. Because you can’t have a play if there’s no one to watch it. You can’t have a painting if there’s no one to see it and you can’t have a musical performance if there’s no one to listen to it.”
Throughout his career Marshall has been able to culminate many of his passions as a professor in the Humanities Division. This has allowed him the privilege of exploring those passions in his everyday life.
“I have a passion for cultural life and civic life and I want to be involved in it Marshall said. You’re very fortunate if you have a job that allows you to exercise your passions and I’ve had that good fortune. I’ve had an academic career that has allowed me to exercise my passion for books and reading intellectual ideas dialogue discussion and culture.”
The level of passion that Marshall brings to his art has allowed him to find enjoyment in his career and inspire many students.
Junior Paul Henderson values the level of dedication that Marshall shows to his students.
“What’s most striking about Dr. Marshall is his humility Henderson said. He graduated from two of the most premier prestigious academic institutions in the United States and he still has the humility to speak with students – freshmen sophomores juniors. He adds to class discussions in ways that are helpful rather than overpowering. The man could turn a class discussion into a lecture.”
Throughout his time at Pepperdine Marshall has become much loved. In his office Marshall has collected magnets given to him by students of authors read in his Great Books class. He even has a talking Dr. Laura doll and Nigerian masks.
So when inquiring about what he will miss the most after retiring Marshall does not hesitate.
“Unquestionably the students Marshall said. The best part of my life in working at Pepperdine is the discussions in my Great Books classes where I’m asking questions students are offering their ideas and I’m watching this exchange of thoughts and ideas. Most of the time these discussions are very engaging interesting and revealing and I really feel like I’m learning things. It’s very illuminating.”
The impact that Marshall has made on Pepperdine University will forever remain in the lives of his students like senior Eloisa Alvarez. Having taken all four semesters of the Great Books Colloquium she has been enriched by both his wisdom and his zeal.
“His laugh is contagious as is his joy for learning and academia Alvarez said. I am so thankful to have had the privilege of learning and working with Dr. Marshall. He has been the most influential professor I have had at Pepperdine University.”