Dr.Chamberlin Commits Herself To Education

By Ruth Gutierrez

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

Chamberlin was one of Liberty's pioneers and is now finishingher17thyearon the LU faculty.She has been achairperson of the EnglishDepartment and has served on nearlyeverymajorcommittee of the university.Presently, sheteachesfreshman composition and world literature.

Chamberlin isa positive thinker and believes that everyone has potential forbeing creative. "I thinkall peopleare touched byGod witha creativeelementthat came tothehuman racebefore thefall," shesaid

Her desireforthe LU English Department is thatit become one of the best in the country. This will not only enhance the students'total educational experience, itwill alsohelp them bebetterprepared for their futurecareers "Studentsare my main reasonfor being here,"shesaid.

She has served in such positions as a personnel manager, awriterof Englishletters for the PressCounseloroftheIranianEmbassy,theofficemanager ofan attorney firm in Washington, D.C., the director of a city-county Headstart summer program,theeditorof an English language magazine published inVietnam, theauthorof amonograph on missionsexhibits, and a consultant to an editorial board of a textbook. The major work of Chamberlin's life, however, hasbeenin thefield ofteaching.

Prior to coming to Liberty,Chamberlin taught in public schools in both Ohio and Michigan. She also taughtin a schoolfor missionaries'childrenin Vietnam as well as in' three universities. Besides "regular" Englishclasses,her assignmentsinvolvedsuchdiverse activitiesas teaching English asa second language to themilitaryand civilians in Vietnam, coaching speech and drama teamsengaged in contestwork, and supervising studentteachers.

Long beforesheeverbecame ateacher, Chamberlin had developed an avid interestinlearning.

"My motherreadto us," she said "In the ninthgrade, I had access to a public library where Ioften read a noveladay, and in highschool, I had aEnglishteacher who made literatureand languagelive."

Enrolling in college was an exciting adventure for Chamberlin. "I was fascinated with learning every- thingIcould,in and out of the classroom,"shesaid. "It never occurred to me that four years ofcourse work could be equated with an undergraduate education."

Chamberlin received a three-year diploma inBible and missions atNyack College. She went on toearn both a B.A. and a B.S. atAshland College, where she majored in English with concentrations in education speech, drama and radio.

Since then Chamberlin has received her master's degreeat the Universityof Michiganand her doctorate atKent State Her education reflected her interestin reading.

Chamberlin's faith in Christ became established when she was doing her undergraduate work "My going tocollege was the resultofa spiritualcommitment," shesaid.

Chamberlin certainly has had a life full of educationalexperiences.Herknowledge and charisma have impacted her students' livesand have given them an example of commitment that theycanfollow for years to come.