Cassidy Diaz
Staff Writer
Jonathan Reed, professor of philosophy and religion, presented “My Last Lecture: Lessons Learned, Some the Hard Way” Tuesday, in the La Fetra Auditorium before an audience of roughly 45.
Reed, who is retiring after 34 years at the University, discussed the many lessons and influences throughout his career as a professor, dean and University provost.
Reed became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2009 and held the position until 2014 when he was promoted to provost. In 2021 he stepped back to the teaching faculty, where he has spent the past five years.
Reed began by expressing gratitude for being able to teach at the University, for his mother who was in the auditorium, for the privilege to travel and experience different places around the world, for his father for introducing him to the world of teaching, and for the special teachers who impacted his education and life.
Reed shared that he attended elementary school in Switzerland, where he had a difficult adjustment to the different educational environment. But he remembered how his teachers there supported him by using music and other activities to make him feel included.
This is one of the early experiences that helped shape the way he taught and looked at life. It made him want to create a safe environment for students to feel comfortable, confident and accepted in his classes.
When he talked about his roles as an administrator at the University, he said these allowed him to see the whole University from a unique perspective.
“One of the greatest opportunities I had as dean and provost (was) to get to see all of the people in non-faculty roles who help the students,” Reed said.
He talked about how important it is to be involved in a student’s life, not just as a professor but as a support system.
As a faculty member, Reed said: “You have to be a good teacher (and) you also need to be a scholar in your field. You have to keep learning and you have to keep producing.”
Throughout his career Reed has authored or co-authored six books including “Excavating Jesus,” “In Search of Paul” and “The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament.”
Reed has incorporated his own works into his curriculum. Some of Reed’s writings have been translated into Spanish. As a researcher Reed has also been a part of historical documentaries.
“I think that our students deserve to have faculty who are experts in their field, who are known locally, nationally and internationally,” Reed said. “It gives them a certain sense of pride when La Verne has these people.”
Reed also took some time during his talk to reflect on the importance of living a balanced life.
“Cultivate healthy relationships, treat people well when you come to work,” Reed said.
“Spending time with someone you love and carving that out is one of the most important things you can do,” he added.
Dane Sawyer, instructor of philosophy and religion, introduced Reed at the start of the talk. Sawyer shared his decades-long personal connection to Reed as his former student in the early 2000s.
“He’s never stopped being my mentor,” Sawyer said. “When I needed academic advice, professional advice, he’s always been there to help me.”
“The (early) classes that I took with him influenced me, and after another year of classes I was like, ‘I think I might want to keep doing this’,” Sawyer said. “He’s one of the biggest influences on my life, and I probably wouldn’t be here myself if it weren’t for him.”
Students and faculty who attended Reed’s lecture appreciated what he had to say.
“It opened up perspectives that I haven’t really thought much about,” Jumaa Alhameli, senior international studies major said. “Mostly optimism, but also that teaching at universities doesn’t necessarily mean that you only teach students, but it means that you also teach yourself.”
“I will always appreciate his optimism, his knowledge and his care about teaching the students,” said Yehia Mortagy, professor of information technology and decision sciences.
Among his plans for retirement, Reed said, he will tend to his garden and travel to Europe with his wife.
Cassidy Diaz can be reached at cassidy.diazgomez@laverne.edu.
Cassidy Diaz is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print and online journalism. She is also news editor for the Campus Times, and previously served as an assistant editor and a staff writer.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
