Meet The Prof, with Shane & Spence

MTP 78: Robert Kaita, Princeton, Creatively Integrating Faith and Field, and a Response to a Hostile Student That Leads Another Student to Jesus

Dr. Robert Kaita is Senior Physicist Emeritus at the Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University, where he conducted nuclear fusion energy research for nearly four decades. In this episode, he discusses mentoring graduate students, integrating Christian faith naturally within academia, helping introverted professors engage spiritually with students, and approaching retirement as a new calling from God. Read more about Robert Kaita online: Meet The Prof Profile for Robert Kaita [https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/robert-kaita/] Main Takeaways • The university should teach students how to think critically, not simply memorize information. • Mentoring relationships often create the best opportunities for spiritual conversations. • Many professors are introverts and need relational encouragement to engage spiritually with students. • Faith integration works best when it flows naturally from the discipline itself. • Students are often impacted as much by humility and character as by arguments. • Christian faculty can partner with campus ministries to become more accessible to students. • Witnessing is more about faithfulness than winning debates. • Retirement can become a new season of calling rather than a loss of identity. • Great mentoring often means helping students eventually surpass you. CHAPTERS 00:13 — Introduction to Meet The Prof and Dr. Robert Kaita 01:06 — The true purpose of the university and critical thinking 02:23 — How mentoring relationships create opportunities for faith conversations 04:15 — Why many professors are introverts and struggle relationally 06:04 — How Christian professors can share faith naturally instead of forcing boldness 07:39 — Integrating faith into teaching without making it feel artificial 09:57 — Finding identity in Christ instead of feeling obligated to perform spiritually 11:29 — A colleague searching for meaning and a student praising God in his thesis 13:02 — Why traditional evangelism approaches feel unnatural for some introverted faculty 14:03 — Finding creative bridges between shared interests and faith conversations 15:16 — Why Bob says he “needs science to be a Christian” 17:12 — Practical ways professors can make themselves spiritually accessible to students 19:48 — The importance of professors speaking at campus ministry gatherings 20:12 — A hostile student interaction that eventually led another student to Christ 22:01 — Why witnessing matters more than winning debates 23:50 — Retirement as a calling and rediscovering your first love 25:12 — The joy of seeing former students surpass you 26:01 — Identity beyond titles awards and accomplishments 26:48 — Concerns about higher education producing “excellent sheep” instead of critical thinkers 27:40 — Final encouragements about mentoring students well Christian professors, share with students how Jesus rescued you by submitting a profile at this link: https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/ [https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/]  Students & parents, find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/ [https://meettheprof.com/] Resources: * Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/ [https://www.facultycommons.org/] * A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV [https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV] * EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/ [https://www.everystudent.com/] Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos]   Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD]   Listen on Apple Podcasts– https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320] Support Shane's ministry with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠ [https://give.cru.org/0424344]

MTP 77: Gbola Adesogan on How to Surrender Fully as a Christian Professor and Spark Revival on Campus

Dr. Gbola Adesogan is a professor of Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Florida and serves as Associate Vice President and Director of the Global Food Systems Institute. In this interview, he shares his powerful testimony of transformation, his journey of surrender to Christ, and how a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit has shaped his life, work, and relationships with students. He also describes practical ways he engages students in Christ-centered conversations and encourages faculty to see their role as a single calling—to be ambassadors for Christ. Read more about Gbola Adesogan online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/gbola-adesogan/ [https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/gbola-adesogan/] Main Takeaways * Surrender is not a one-time event but a daily and ongoing process of dying to self. * Professors do not have two callings; their academic role is a platform for their one calling as Christ’s ambassador. * Time with the Holy Spirit is essential and should be prioritized above all else each day. * Academic success can easily become an idol if not surrendered to God. * God often works through relationships more than achievements. * Inviting students into your home creates natural opportunities for meaningful faith conversations. * International students represent a significant opportunity for gospel engagement. * Prayer is foundational to revival and spiritual impact on campus. * Faculty should be both excellent in their work and deeply dependent on God. * Campus ministers should boldly and gently challenge professors to live missionally. Mentioned in interview: JAMES TOUR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tour Why Revival Tarries Book by Leonard Ravenhill Christian professors, share with students how Jesus rescued you by submitting a profile at this link: https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/ [https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/]  Students & parents, find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/ [https://meettheprof.com/] Resources: * Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/ [https://www.facultycommons.org/] * A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV [https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV] * EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/ [https://www.everystudent.com/] Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos]   Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD]   Listen on Apple Podcasts– https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320] Support Shane's ministry with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠ [https://give.cru.org/0424344]

MTP 76: How Jesus reached a professor through a Christian student and rescued her from imposter syndrome, Dr. Kate Fogarty-Read, Associate Professor in Family Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida

In this interview, Dr. Kate Fogarty-Read shares her journey to faith in Christ during graduate school through the influence of one of her undergrad students, how Jesus sustained her through academic challenges, her involvement in mentoring graduate students, and her experience leading a faculty mission trip to Italy. She also discusses how faith and science can work together and offers practical advice for Christian faculty who want to make an impact on campus. Read more about Kate Fogarty-Read online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/kate-fogarty-read/ [https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/kate-fogarty-read/] Main Takeaways * God often uses simple relationships and integrity to draw people to Himself * Academic success without Christ can feel overwhelming and unsustainable * Pride and competition are real challenges for faculty, especially early in their careers * Mentorship is one of the most strategic ways professors can invest spiritually * Faculty can play a key role in global missions and ministry multiplication * Faith and science are not in conflict—discovery can deepen awe of God * Students are more open to faith conversations than professors often assume * Starting ministry can be simple: find one partner and take one step Christian professors, share with students how Jesus rescued you by submitting a profile at this link: https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/ [https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/]  Students & parents, find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/ [https://meettheprof.com/] Resources: * Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/ [https://www.facultycommons.org/] * A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV [https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV] * EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/ [https://www.everystudent.com/] Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos]   Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD]   Listen on Apple Podcasts– https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320] Support Shane's ministry with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠ [https://give.cru.org/0424344]

MTP 75: Anita Stephen, Why Do So Many Christian Professors Limit Their Faith to Sundays?

In this episode, we interview Anita Stephen, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Florida. Anita challenges professors not to compartmentalize their faith but to live it out boldly and naturally in everyday academic life. She shares how God reshaped her heart from striving and self-focus to listening and kindness, and how that transformation now shapes her relationships with students, colleagues, and the broader campus community. Read more about Anita Stephen online: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/anita-stephen/ Christian professors, share with students how Jesus rescued you by submitting a profile at this link: https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/ [https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/]  Students & parents, find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/ [https://meettheprof.com/] Resources: * Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/ [https://www.facultycommons.org/] * A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV [https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV] * EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/ [https://www.everystudent.com/] Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos]   Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD]   Listen on Apple Podcasts– https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320] Support Shane's ministry with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠ [https://give.cru.org/0424344]

MTP 74: "Why do many Christian professors feel alone on campus?" Dr. Lanny Griffin, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)

Lanny Griffin is a longtime professor of mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). Over the course of his career he has served as a department chair, Army Reserve officer, and faculty member at the United States Military Academy at West Point. If you’d like to learn more about Professor Griffin, you can find his profile at: https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/lanny-griffin/ [https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/lanny-griffin/] KEY TAKEAWAYS * God often pursues people before they begin seeking Him. * Many Christian professors feel isolated until they intentionally look for other believers. * Simple relational invitations—like coffee conversations—can open doors to spiritual discussions. * Mentoring students and discipling young believers creates lasting impact. * Introverted professors can still build meaningful relationships by taking small steps of initiative. * Interruptions in daily life can become opportunities for ministry. Christian professors, share with students how Jesus rescued you by submitting a profile at this link: https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/ [https://meettheprof.com/create-profile/]  Students & parents, find 500+ Christian professors at https://meettheprof.com/ [https://meettheprof.com/] Resources: * Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/ [https://www.facultycommons.org/] * A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV [https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV] * EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/ [https://www.everystudent.com/] Watch MTP on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@MeetTheProfOfficial/videos]   Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD [https://open.spotify.com/show/6kizp6klascdMj1nqaj6LD]   Listen on Apple Podcasts– https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-prof-with-shane-and-spence/id1733311320] Support Shane's ministry with Faculty Commons, a Cru ministry, at this link: ⁠⁠https://give.cru.org/0424344⁠⁠ [https://give.cru.org/0424344]