Selah Yearbook 1991-92

Snyder Motivates Toward Success

By Melody Walker To have a professor honestly concerned about you is an encouragement for you to succeed and continue even w h e n times get rough. Dr. Al Snyder, L U journalism department chairman, is one of them.

"Motivating students is a tremendous job," Snyder said. "Seeing the junior and senior students work hard to prepare for their future is exciting. I really enjoy what I do and h o w it contributes to the lives of the students."

"The Lord has raised u p the journalism program," Snyder said. " W e have a serious need for Christians in journalism today. They are the 'key gatekeepers' in society. Journalism is too tightly controlled by antiChristian forces. W e need Christians in journalism to influence our nation for Christ and for truth."

"Liberty's journalism program rates favorably with the best in the country in quality," Snyder added. "LU has a top-notch faculty, excellent practicum opportunities and state of the art equipment."

Snyder has a B. A. in journalism, a M . A. in broadcast journalism and a doctorate in public relations. H e came to Liberty from the mission field, after serving 21 years in missionary radio ministry in Liberia and the East Caribbean.

A s a young person Snyder sang duets with his sister on the K Y B Club children's program over Christian radio station W M B I in Chicago. They also played the Photo by Carolyn Vanderveen parts of Billy and Patty Bangle in live dramatic stories.

That is where Snyder got his interest in radio and was a missionary. H e said he fell in love with her journalism. because of her "beautiful feet," in reference to R o m a n s Snyder did sports reporting for his city newspaper 10:15: " H o w beautiful are the feet of them w h o bring while in high school. In college he served as sports editor and news editor for the school newspaper and glad tidings."

The Snyders have two children. Steve, w h o is n o w a was editor of the yearbook. lawyer, was a telecommunications major at Liberty and H e went to Wheaton College which had a strong went on to the University of Virginia's law school. H e missions influence. Students from Wheaton started a worked two years as news director at W R V L and as the missionary radio station in Liberia in 1954, and Snyder producer of the Old-Time Gospel Hour radio program. joined them there in 1955.

Snyder worked for 17 years with radio station E L W A, D a n was a business major at Liberty, worked in personserving as news director, public relations manager, nel for O T G H , and n o w serves on the business departand station manager. H e also did morning music and ment faculty for LUSLLL. The Snyders left the mission field in 1976 so their devotional programs in the English service. E L W A was a shortwave operation, broadcasting over five sons could go to school in the states during their last two years of high school. transmitters in 40 languages.

Both Al and Evelyn Snyder are still active in misSnyder also started and directed a Youth For Christ ministry for 15 years in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, sions work. Mrs. Snyder teaches missions and educawhich realized over 350 professions of faith each year. tion courses part-time at L U , and Dr. Snyder works Snyder met his wife Evelyn in Africa, where she also with SIM International as a public relations consultant.