Doing a double-take: the normal lives of professors

Brown hosts class at his house. (Photo: Jaclyn De Vries)

Professors are essential in helping students prepare for their future career. However, there's a lot more to them than just lecturing at a podium. At Lee, we are lucky to have relational professors willing to share their lives, homes and sometimes food, with students.

Professor of English Kevin Brown, Associate Professor of Communications Margaret Moe and Assistant Professor of Public Relations Mark Vermilion opened up about their lives outside of the classroom.

Every day Brown starts at 5:30 a.m. with a run. On weekdays, he usually arrives at his office at 8 a.m. to work on his writing and prep for classes and meetings.

'School and pleasure is a hard line,' Brown said.

Brown said he and his wife love what they do and don't work to separate it because for him, teaching is enjoyable.

Brown's academic experience'from his days as a student to becoming a professor'has been an enjoyable one, though he said he's never been too wild. From bottle bombs to water fights with his suitemates, that's as adventurous as Brown, or 'Bandana Man' as his peers called him, got during college.

'I'm boring in my mannerisms but I try to be adventurous with my thoughts,' Brown said.

He said his goal during college was to change the world. He wasn't sure how, but knew he wanted to do it.

'I liked helping people learn,' Brown said.

As he continued his education and began teaching, Brown said he realized his goal changed.

'I want students to walk out changed in some way' I'm not the typical professor who was good in school,' Brown said.

Brown can relate to students more than it would appear; he had previously been an average, and occasionally below average, student in school. He said it's really helped him in his perspective when working with students and tries to use it to his advantage.

But what keeps him here at Lee?

'Well first, the students. I absolutely love them,' Brown said.

Brown was quick to brag on how amazing his students are to him. He had a plethora of stories about students who have cared for him during difficult times in his life, such as when his father passed away. Students not only offered their kind words but also gifts and genuine support.

'I've got it really good,' Brown said.

Brown not only opens his office to students, but also his home. He holds study sessions and meets there providing snacks and intelligent conversation. He challenges his students to think critically and provides a safe space to explore difficult subjects. Brown hopes that not only does his heart for students and Lee show in his words, but also his actions.

'I pledge my allegiance to the students,' Brown said.

Moe's mornings start around 3 a.m. courtesy of her internal alarm clock.

Moe said she is more of a home-body, so after a full day of work, classes and meetings, she looks forward to going home and hanging out with her children.

During the weekend, she said she tries her best to spend time with her family; whether it's visiting her family or antique shopping with her youngest daughter.

Originally Moe said she planned to be an English and speech high school teacher, but after a few classes and hours in a high school, she switched her degree to Communication.

As a graduate school teaching assistant she spent time in the classroom, falling more and more in love with teaching Communication each semester.

'I couldn't imagine another life ' I like to keep learning and hearing all the different perspectives. It's different' I like that,' Moe said.

Moe loves to challenge students to think through why they believe what they do and how to handle situations where others may disagree.

'I believe I was called to Lee by God,' Moe said.

Moe's passion, love and care for students and Lee is evident in any conversation you have with her. She gives a lot of the credit of who she is today to her mother.

'I have learned more watching her than anyone else in my life ' she encouraged me to see that I am enough and I am worthy,' Moe said.

Vermillion enjoying dinner with his family.

Vermilion's days are far from normal, but that's how he likes it.

On weekdays, he preps and teaches classes, and meets with students.

But once he leaves the office, he is far from done.

By 5 p.m., Vermilion is working on client projects; although he is a professor, he is also a full-time public relations professional with his own company.

'My schedule would be different if my family was here,' Vermilion said.

With his family currently living in Lexington, Kentucky, he tries to visit on weekends whenever he can.

On Saturdays at home, he works on the house and yard until the late afternoon when it transitions into family time. Vermillion said he loves being with his family, hearing about their lives and sharing a meal with them whenever possible.

On weekends when he doesn't go home, Vermillion can also be found travelling to and speaking at events, at his home nearby working on client work or relaxing after grading papers.

While attending college, Vermilion said he wanted to travel the world as a journalist writing news and feature stories.

'It was all about me ' But late in college God got a hold of my life and said, 'I want your life to be for me and not for your dreams and everything changed,' Vermillion said.

Although Vermilion holds a well-respected position in the PR world, and has many clients seeking his services, he came to Lee for two reasons: calling and love.

'The calling will keep me here when nothing else will,' Vermillion said.

Each professor has a fun, casual side that loves things like ice cream and binge watching shows, just like stressed college students. And they too experience the real struggle of homesickness sometimes. So although our professors are older, wiser and have their lives way more put together than most of us, they're human and are here for the students.