Selah Yearbook 1991-92

Dr. Chamberlin Commits Herself To Education

By Ruth Gutierrez Dr. Ruth Chamberlin gives new meaning to the word "commitment."

Chamberlin w a s one of Liberty's pioneers and is n o w finishing her 17th year on the L U faculty. She has been a chairperson of the English Department and has served on nearly every major committee of the university. Presently, she teaches freshman composition and world literature.

Chamberlin is a positive thinker and believes that everyone has potential for being creative. "I think all people are touched by G o d with a creative element that came to the h u m a n race before the fall," she said.

Her desire for the L U English Department is that it become one of the best in the country. This will not only enhance the students' total educational experience, it will also help them be better prepared for their future careers. "Students are m y main reason for being here," she said.

She has served in such positions as a personnel manager, a writer of English letters for the Press Counselor of the Iranian Embassy, the office manager of an attorney firm in Washington, D.C., the director of a Photo by Vangie city-county Headstart s u m m e r program, the editor of an English language magazine published in Vietnam, the author of a monograph on missions exhibits, and a thing I could, in and out of the classroom," she said. "It consultant to an editorial board of a textbook. The never occurred to m e that four years of course work major work of Chamberlin's life, however, has been in could be equated with an undergraduate education."

Chamberlin received a three-year diploma in Bible the field of teaching.

Prior to coming to Liberty, Chamberlin taught in and missions at Nyack College. She went on to earn public schools in both Ohio and Michigan. She also both a B.A. and a B.S. at Ashland College, where she taught in a school for missionaries' children in Vietnam majored in English with concentrations in education as well as in' three universities. Besides "regular" speech, drama and radio.

Since then Chamberlin has received her master's English classes, her assignments involved such diverse degree at the University of Michigan and her doctorate activities as teaching English as a second language to the military and civilians in Vietnam, coaching speech at Kent State. Her education reflected her interest in and drama teams engaged in contest work, and super- reading.

Chamberlin's faith in Christ became established vising student teachers. w h e n she was doing her undergraduate work. " M y Long before she ever became a teacher, Chamberlin going to college was the result of a spiritual commithad developed an avid interest in learning. " M y mother read to us," she said. "In the ninth grade, ment," she said.

Chamberlin certainly has had a life full of educaI had access to a public library where I often read a novel a day, and in high school, I had a English teacher tional experiences. Her knowledge and charisma have impacted her students' lives and have given them an w h o m a d e literature and language live."

Enrolling in college w a s an exciting adventure for example of commitment that they can follow for years Chamberlin. "I was fascinated with learning every- to come.