LV Life

Professor takes leave to Germany

As part of an unusual two-year leave of absence, Dr. Jonathan Reed, associate professor of religion, will lead several ULV students to work at an archeological dig in the Middle East. The field experience, called Archeology and Roman Palestine, will be conducted in Sepphoris, Israel. Later, Dr. Reed will move on to Marburg, Germany, with his family to serve as a Brethren Colleges Abroad director at the University of Marburg. / photo by Rhidian Maehl
As part of an unusual two-year leave of absence, Dr. Jonathan Reed, associate professor of religion, will lead several ULV students to work at an archeological dig in the Middle East. The field experience, called Archeology and Roman Palestine, will be conducted in Sepphoris, Israel. Later, Dr. Reed will move on to Marburg, Germany, with his family to serve as a Brethren Colleges Abroad director at the University of Marburg. / photo by Rhidian Maehl

by Erica Aguilar
Staff Writer

With spring semester coming to an end, many students and professors will not be returning next fall. One person who will leave the University of La Verne is Dr. Jonathan Reed, associate professor of religion.

On May 26, Reed and 10 students from his archaeological excavation class will depart from Los Angeles International Airport on a trip to Israel. The class, which focuses on archaeology in Roman Palestine, will excavate for six weeks before returning home.

Meanwhile, Dr. Reed will depart from Israel to Marburg, Germany, to assume his new position as the director of the Brethren Colleges Abroad at the University of Marburg. Dr. Reed will teach and will also be a part of the administration at the University. He will arrive in Germany on July 10.

There will be 15 students at the other schools founded by the Church of the Brethren who will arrive in Marburg in September. Though the academic year does not begin until October, Dr. Reed needs to be there as early as possible to help the students get organized and ready to start school.

“I need to arrange housing, visas and enroll them in the school,” he said.

Dr. Reed will take his wife, Annette, and his two children, 6 year-old Natania and 4 year-old Levi, with him when he leaves for Israel next week. The Reed family will be overseas for two years, the duration of Dr. Reed’s leave of absence. Then, Dr. Reed will return to La Verne and resume his teaching duties.

As for what he looks forward to on his new assignment, Dr. Reed said, “I think experiencing a new culture with my family.”

Two classes he will teach are Roman Germany, a history class that focuses on the archaeological period when the Romans occupied Germany roughly 2,000 years ago, and a second class that will teach American students about early Christianity in Palestine. He will teach both classes in German.

“The University of Marburg has a great program in New Testament studies, and so to be able to teach and to be able to know professors in the program is going to be a great opportunity,” he said.

Marburg is located 60 miles north of Frankfurt. It is a small city where most people travel by foot. The climate is moderate, much like the climate in California, but it frequently rains and spring comes late. There is also a river in the city, a train station and many churches to visit.

Even though Dr. Reed is looking forward to his trips to Israel and Germany, he said, “I’m excited about going, but sad about temporarily leaving ULV because I’ve made a lot of friends here whom I will miss.”

Erica Aguilar, Editorial Assistant
Erica Aguilar
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Rhidian Maehl
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