Meet Bethel Dean Rob Myers, Ph.D.
Rob Myers, Ph.D., recently changed up his role at Bethel College. In addition to serving as a math professor, he has assumed the position of dean of the division of science. Though Myers’ responsibilities have expanded, he still finds time for family, friendship with students and his interest in music.
I had the opportunity to interview Myers and discover some of his many layers as a professor and dean here at Bethel.
OJ: Where are you from?
RM: I grew up in the St. Louis, Mo., area.
OJ: Tell me about your family.
RM: My wife, Michelle, and I have been married for 10 years. We have three boys: Jonathan Wesley (8), Mason (6) and Elliot (3).
OJ: Where did you go to school?
RM: I did my undergraduate work at the University of Missouri, Columbia, then traveled out to California to do my graduate work at UC Berkeley.
OJ: What are your main responsibilities at Bethel?
RM: I am now serving as the dean of the division of science, which houses kinesiology, psychology, life science, physical science and mathematics. I’m taking over this role after spending four years as the chair of the math department.
OJ: What is it about the students and/or Bethel that keeps you excited about your job?
RM: I am excited about the awesome potential in this up-and-coming generation to serve God’s kingdom with complete abandonment to his will. I feel like our role as faculty and administration is to give students opportunities to become leaders in their academic fields as well as passionate pursuers of the heart of Christ. This is the heart of so many others on this campus, which makes me so grateful to work here. It’s also our responsibility to model that, which keeps me accountable to stay close to Jesus.
OJ: What do you do when you’re not working at Bethel?
RM: Other things I’m involved with include weight lifting; running; participating in tae kwon do with my two older boys; helping to care for a rental house we own next to campus; practicing violin and cello; brushing up on other languages.
Myers playing violin with Bethel's Chamber Orchestra
OJ: What is one interesting fact about you?
RM: I didn’t know any American Sign Language, nor had I had any interactions with the Deaf community, before I came to Bethel’s campus.
One afternoon last fall we found Myers on campus with his son, teaching him “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on the cello and captured some of it on this video:
As a biology major, I have been excited to have Dr. Myers as dean of the division. He brings a passion and an interest in students that really add a lot to these departments.
As I have half-joked about with Dr. Myers before, he needs a tagline that reflects what he adds to Bethel. “Dr. Myers: So cool, he has to be measured in Kelvin.” Science people should get that.