KRISTIN SCHULTZ
Staff Writer
Sure students fill a classroom and recognize teaching habits, grading procedures and lecture outlines, but what does a teacher do when class is over?
Ronald Cox, religion professor at Pepperdine University, shared what his life is like when the bell rings. He is engrossed in his teaching, but still makes time for his family, friends and favorite pastimes.
Cox knows what it is like being a student at Pepperdine – he was once one himself and knows the university well. Dr. Timothy Willis, a colleague of Cox’s, remembers Cox as a student and when he “manned the phones in the office […] he caught a computer before it fell over one time.” Even before Cox was teaching, he was involved in Pepperdine.
Currently he resides on the Drescher Campus. “It’s a huge blessing,” Cox says of being so close to home.
Cox is a devoted father. He chose to live with his family on campus so he could be near them. Many of the stories that he shares involve his family. They are an enormous part of his life.
He dotes on his four sons, Paul, Samuel, Joel and Elliot. Cox adores spending time with them and together they have become sort of a Lord of the Rings club. When the first film came out, twins Paul and Samuel wanted to see it. They begged their father to see the movie, but they were quite young at the time. “When it came out we made a deal that once they read the book, they could see the movie,” Cox said.
Thinking that it would take them a couple of years to finish the novel, Cox and his wife Shelly were relieved that their sons weren’t going to be exposed to some of the more violent images.
“Sam finished at 8 years old and Paul was right behind him,” Cox says laughing at his predicament. “We were thinking 10 or 11 years old, but we had to honor our word.”
Cox finds he has numerous fortunes in his family. Cox’s most passionate subject is his wife.
“She’s pretty amazing,” he said. “I wouldn’t have any kind of a life if it weren’t for her.”
Ron and Shelly have been married for almost 15 years and have known each other since their college days. Their love runs deep. Shelley admires Ron as much as he does her. When Ron was defending his dissertation for his PhD at the University of Notre Dame, she was in awe of his dedication. “It was very intense – and affirming – and I saw a part of him I had never seen before, a part he had worked really hard to downplay to me,” she said. “Even though I never spoke, it was a deeply bonding experience.”
Perhaps one of the characteristics that Cox has to maintain this healthy relationship is his sense of humor. Many of his students note his comedic teaching style. “He tries to be funny, which makes the class fun,” student Alissa Hayden describes. Another student, Kyle Bailey, says Cox “incorporates his humor into the lesson plan.” Cox has been able to combine his love of religion and teaching.
Currently Cox teaches History and Religion of Early Christianity, Christianity and Culture, and Introduction to Biblical Interpretation; among others. His teaching has had an impact on many students’ lives. One student he taught in Michigan who had taken a lot of his classes even asked Cox to be involved in his wedding.
“[Cox] gets really worked up and excited,” Pepperdine student Crystal Taylor said. “He’s nice and helpful outside of class.”
Although these are great attributes any teacher would want, Cox has an essential message to his teaching that goes beyond a sense of humor in the classroom. He wants to be mindful of what students need to get a beneficial education while playing up his teaching strengths. “I want to encourage them to understand the scriptures,” Cox says. “And at the same time have a spiritual perspective.”
The Scriptures have played an important role in Cox’s life he even changed his major from business and law to religion, because of the effect the Bible had on him.
Cox emphasizes the Bible’s theme of repentance. He relates this back to one of his favorite television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “I’m beginning to think more about Christianity and society,” Cox said. “It’s shifting.”
While Christianity’s role may be changing in society, Cox’s dedication to his family, job and faith is unwavering. His life has indeed been blessed.
03-25-2008
