TAELORE RHODEN
Staff Writer
With enough credentials to fill an encyclopedia, Professor Susan Giboney is arguably one of the most hard-working, passionate educators in her field. “I hope that I’ve modeled, as a woman, how to have a happy life, family and profession,” she says of herself. Very modest, she does not do herself justice.
“I have known Susan Giboney for many years as a part of the Pepperdine family and the University Church of Christ,” colleague, Professor Betty Glass said. “Actually, when my husband, Walter, and I moved to L.A. and he began teaching as a young professor at Pepperdine’s original campus in L.A., Susan was one of his students. I really came to know her best as a sister in Christ and now as a colleague in Teacher Education.”
Giboney currently holds three positions at Pepperdine: credential analyst, liberal arts advisor and assistant professor of teacher education. She teaches a premarital class on Sundays, offered to all Pepperdine students, and writes articles on family issues. She even makes time for a Club Convo series.
Upon graduation of Pepperdine, Professor Giboney received her M.A. in Education at California State University Long Beach and taught early-childhood education and child development at Hope International University in Fullerton. She and her late husband started and taught marriage and parenting seminars around the world.
“Young couples would come to us and say ‘how do you do this’,” she said. Thus the couple began their enterprise giving advice to other couples and as more people came to them, things progressed into a worldwide movement.
“We developed and wrote a book that I still use when I teach,” entitled: “Mentoring for Dating Couples: Twelve Conversations for Happy, Healthy Relationships.”
Following the death of her husband of cancer in 1996, Giboney made a decision. “We [she and her family] can’t be cynical or faithless because this has happened,” she said. She decided to continue the marriage and parenting seminars alone [and still uses the book she and her husband co-wrote.] “I do a lot of women’s seminars that deal with issues many women face: stages in their lives, marriage, in-laws, childcare and parenting.
“It’s a privilege to help them with their lives. I even have other couples come and do panels when I teach.”
The classes, seminars and book are a reminder of her late husband but she remains optimistic. “Only because of my faith I can go on,” she said. “I’m able to prevent poor decisions –I hope [in teaching these classes and seminars].”
Giboney illustrates with her life and speeches that being an educator is far from textbook. There are some things that cannot be taught: Things that separate the average from the exemplary, things that make Professor Giboney worthy of such high praise and admiration.
“I believe a teacher is a facilitator of learning,” she said. “I hope that I’m an inspiration of encouragement, a model to them [her students].
“My job is not to teach, it’s to model,” she reiterated. Her motivation is simple. she teaches because she must. Her way of life reflects the notion that teaching and teachers make the world go round. Through “modeling” she reinforces not only her subject matter and relates to her students in a way that most professors never do, but she also serves as an example of the type of teacher she wants her students to become.
Using her own life as a model, she hopes her students are encouraged. “ I always felt called to teach,” she said.
With more than 20 years of teaching experience under her belt, it’s no surprise that she’s a favorite of, and inspiration to, many. Beaming, she shared the highlight of her teaching career. She was the recipient of the Howard A. White award for Teaching Excellence. The prestigious award has but seven recipients per year. In addition, candidates are nominated and advocated by students alone. There is no application process for teachers nor are they informed of their nomination.
“When I received the Teaching Excellence Award, that was a humbling experience,” she said. “It’s nothing you apply for, nothing you seek. It was very surprising and just humbling.”
The award is a small thank you in commemoration of all the work and effort she’s put into her students and teaching career. “I hope I’m inspiring them to find their passion,” she said. “ I like to be involved in the lives of others: I’ve dealt with grief – I think it makes students feel that I’m approachable and safe.”
Daughter Carrie Giboney-Wells, also a Pepperdine professor in the education department, shares the same passion. “I love people,” she said. “I love learning and I love bringing people and learning together.”
“She has a deep faith and love in the Lord,” Carrie said of her mother.
Commonly described by family and colleagues as a “Christian woman” or “woman of God,” Giboney does not hesitate to confirm and rejoice in her love of the Lord. She credits her faith as her motivation to continue teaching both at Pepperdine and the seminars she and her husband started.
“My faith –my faith in the Lord (motivates me),” she said. “When I lost my husband, it was a tough time. We were a team. Any kind of grief is a spiritual journey and discipline. I realized I had a new journey, to do this alone.”
Professor Betty Glass agrees: “I’m sure that her motivation comes from her love of people of education and most importantly her love of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Humbly, Giboney added: “I thank the Lord for allowing me to do what I do.”
For Susan Giboney, family is an integral part of her life. “My family is my joy,” she said. “I enjoy my kids very much.” She shared that having a family has strengthened her professional career in addition changing her personal views and life. “I believe that healthy families make healthy worlds and communities,” she said, reinforcing to the extent that her vocation and family are intertwined.
Her passion seems to be a legacy. Describing her mother as “amazing” and “inspirational,” daughter Carrie credits her parents for her own professional teaching career. “I felt called to teaching. It’s in my blood to teach, I saw it modeled in both of my parents.” Both mother and daughter glow with a passion for teaching.
When asked where the fire comes from, Carrie paused and said, “I just love teaching. I get to be one piece of their [the students’] lives on their journey to becoming teachers –it’s an incredible feeling.”
Just like mom.
04-16-2007