Gracie Fairfax | Echo
Ask Hadley Mitchell about anything and he's sure to give you a thoughtful answer. Need help figuring out why your plants won't grow? Wondering what spices to add to your soup? This professor of economics is sure to have a thought.
Sophomore Katherine Fritzeen got to know Mitchell well when she went to Honduras with him for a spring break mission trip.
"Some would say that he is essentially a walking encyclopedia," Fritzeen said. "Literally ask him anything from what type of bird is chirping outside your window to the Shang Dynasty to the most prevalent type of mineral in Indiana and he will know."
Walk into his office and you'll see an entire wall filled with books, evidence of a major source of his extensive knowledge.
One of the best books he's read, outside of Scripture, is Augustine's "Confessions," which he has read several times and still continues to draw new insights from.
"Other than the writers of Scripture itself, Augustine probably has had more influence on Christian thinkers than any other church father," Mitchell said.
While he is well-read outside of the classroom, he has had his fair share of time as a student.
Mitchell holds six degrees, including a bachelor's degree in mathematics; master's degrees in economics, philosophy, finance and systematic theology; as well as a doctorate in economics. His curious mind has led him to pursue a variety of fields.
Mitchell sees the purpose of every degree he has had. His degrees in theology and philosophy provide him with a platform to look at cases in his business ethics classes from a biblical and philosophical perspective.
Three of his master's degrees were paid for by the military for his service. He finished his undergraduate degree in 1969, during which he was free to finish his degree without being drafted. Once he entered graduate school, the exception no longer applied. This was during the Vietnam War.
"I thought rather than letting them choose, I will sign up for Officer Candidate School (OCS)," Mitchell said. "I went in basic training, advanced infantry training, and then went into OCS down in Fort Benning."
When he had been at Fort Benning for five or six weeks, the Pentagon decided to scale back in Vietnam and realized they had more officers in training than they would realistically need.
Mitchell's original three-year commitment was then reduced to two years, along with a guarantee of stateside service, which he spent at Fort Hood in Texas.
"I don't have to go to that jungle over there. That sounds like a winner," Mitchell said in response to the news.
He ended his military career three months early, through an early-out provision for seasonal employment.
His father raised mushrooms and Mitchell asked if his father could sign off for him to join the family business.
"That too was providential, because as I was back home Dad needed some surgery," Mitchell said. "So, I took over and gave him one of the best crops he ever had."
On his daily drives to Taylor from his home in Fort Wayne, he takes the time to explore some of his hobbies-one of which is classical music.
"I was listening to a tape today on sacred music . . . it was on Mendelssohn's 'Elijah,' just talking about how the 'Elijah' fit in a whole series of religious or sacred music going back to the Middle Ages," Mitchell said.
Beyond Mitchell's wealth of knowledge and accomplishments, he displays a genuine passion for teaching and a love for his students.
Senior Rosie Newman did an independent study with Mitchell, during which he set aside an hour a week to meet with her.
"A secretary told me once that he doesn't have Internet in his house. He reads almost all the time and really likes to bake," Newman said. "I would go into his office pretty regularly and he always tells me he has a special recipe for pumpkin bread."
During the summer, he loves to visit students who are doing their practicums.
One visit took him near his hometown in Pennsylvania. He loves botanical gardens and took the opportunity to visit nearby Longwood Gardens with his students. He went to those same gardens with his mom as a toddler in a stroller. His love for plants clearly started early. His mom would have to give him one of her own flowers to prevent him from picking everything in sight on their walks through the gardens.
Senior Will Hussey also joined Mitchell in Honduras.
"What most people don't realize is that he has incredible real-life experience, and it's worth having lunch with him to get to hear some of his stories," Hussey said. "He is a kind-hearted man that speaks wisdom and knowledge into every situation."
Students remember Mitchell long after they've graduated. Recently, a now-successful alumnus tracked down his phone number. After Mitchell brought up that a current student was struggling to pull together the tuition money for her practicum, the former student gladly agreed to fund her.
Mitchell believes God gave him a gift for teaching and hopes to postpone retirement for as long as possible.
As for what he's been learning about God?
"A continual learning to trust in his goodness," Mitchell said. "It's a lifelong lesson."
