ERIN HUMPHREY
Staff Writer
When Chris Heard marches into a Pepperdine University classroom, the religion professor at first may look a bit intimidating in his button-down shirt and tie. But the real Chris Heard soon appears – especially when he softly speaks about his friends, family and secret obsession with Star Trek.
“Oh, now, that’s a hard one,” he said, when asked what his favorite television show is. Then after a moment, the obvious answer: “I am a big Star Trek fan.”
No wonder Heard has a reputation for having a goofy kid-like side. The truth is, he does a lot more than just read and teach the Bible. He loves soaking up the latest action flick or TV show.
“My favorite current television shows are Heroes, Lost and Battlestar Galactica,” said Heard. “There is a theme here. I like action movies, especially with science fiction or superhero themes.” So, while his students are busy jotting down notes from his lecture, perhaps they may be interested in breaking the tension with a question about his Star Trek of superhero fetish.
“He is funny for a religion teacher, most of them are pretty dry,” said Crystal Taylor, a sophomore at Pepperdine and a former student of Heard.
Thanks to his reputation, students often switch into his class when they find out they have a different religion teacher. “My friend had another religion teacher and after the first day, she switched into Heard and she was really glad she switched in,” said Alyssa Wilson, also a former student of Heard.
While in his class, students take part in interactive lectures. Unlike some professors, Heard engages his students in the material and encourages them to talk and ask questions. “Even though I am lecturing quite a bit in that course, I try to stop frequently, to invite student questions, and to invite students to share their opinions about the material we are studying,” said Heard.
The question is, though, how did this professor wind up gracing the Pepperdine campus with his presence?
“I got into teaching because I wanted to use my academic talents to help people, especially members of the Churches of Christ, read the Bible more sensitively and skillfully,” said Heard.
The accomplished professor graduated from Abilene Christian University and then went on to teach at Milligan College outside of Johnson City, Tennessee. Milligan College has a relationship with the Christian Churches, a brand of the same Restoration Movement that launched the Churches of Christ. But what really got Heard teaching at Pepperdine was when an Old Testament teaching division opened up, and he jumped at the chance to come here. He, his wife Rene and two sons Nathan, 9 and Nicholas, 4 moved to California a few years ago when the opportunity sprung to teach at Pepperdine.
Heard is a man of his word when he says that he loves his job and the Bible. “I get paid to study the Bible and share the results of that study with my students and colleagues. What’s not to love?” said Heard.
Heard feels blessed to be a part of the Pepperdine community. Thanks to his passion for the Old Testament, Heard is planning on signing a contract to write a two-volume commentary on the book of Genesis, which he believes will take seven years to complete.
His colleagues are confident in this new endeavor. “I think he has great creativity, I really do. He is so smart,” said Dr. Timothy Willis, a religion professor at Pepperdine.
While this man may have dreams that reach to the stars, he is honestly just a laid back guy who says his ultimate dream is “to just be a good husband, a good dad, a good scholar and teacher, and an all-around good person.”
Heard is full of aspirations, dreams, and curiosity. “All sorts of things, but especially curiosity,” said Heard when asked the question “What inspires you the most?” Heard would say his greatest accomplishment is, his two beautiful sons Nathan and Nicholas and his wife Rene.
But if you were to nag him a little bit, he just might add his secret stash of superhero trading cards hidden away in a box at home.
03-25-2008