Faculty couple demonstrates teamwork with style
By Kay Ben-Avraham `08
“She brought me here,” says Brian Smith,
pointing to his wife, Valerie. She laughs and
explains, “We both wanted to teach at a
Christian college, and there were some good
opportunities here for Brian and me.” And
so, after finishing dissertation and master’s
work in Boston, the Smiths moved to the
Grantham area in the summer of 2000 to
start teaching positions at Messiah College:
Valerie as an assistant professor in the theatre
department, her husband as an adjunct professor
for the biblical and religious studies
department.
Eight years later, their positions have
evolved somewhat. From 2001 to 2005,
Brian held a position as full-time lecturer.
Now he divides his time between teaching
Bible as a senior lecturer and working as a
teaching pastor for the College Ministries
office. Valerie now serves as co-chair of the
theatre department, frequently directing or
performing in plays both on and off campus.
Though typical days for this husband-and-wife duo look very different from each
other, they both agree that a couple things
make their work ideal: sharing in the troubles
and joys of their students; being on the
same campus together; and having the freedom
to bring their young son Jude to the
campus Early Learning Center. “Knowing
Jude is in the same building is spectacular,”
Brian grins. His wife nods and adds sadly,
“This will be the last year of that. Next year:
kindergarten!”
Working full-time at the College means
that their community involvement centers
primarily around church—Christ Church
Lutheran in Filey’s parish, to be exact,
although “most people just call it Filey’s
Lutheran,” Brian says. A self-identified
Episcopalian who grew up Plymouth
Brethren, married to a wife who loves Taizé
services, he confesses that they have “a long
history of denominational orphanage.” He
muses, “I think this is very helpful for me in
my job, since students come from many different
denominations at Messiah. It helps me
understand them better.”
Valerie finds her primary connection
to the Grantham area community through
her plays. “With my productions, I connect
with local organizations—particularly social
activist organizations,” she says. Her show,
“Between Two Chairs,” which she wrote,
has introduced her to the local Alzheimer’s
Association. The play deals with the nature
of memory through a woman’s encounter
with Alzheimer’s in her father, and the development
of memory in her young son.
Between scribbling sermons for chapel
services, calling out stage directions, grading
papers, counseling students, and teaching
classes, the Smiths think longingly of their
treks outdoors as a family. Picnics, tandem
bike rides, and hikes are a favorite pastime.
But when this isn’t possible, when Valerie’s
rushing to Open Stage in Harrisburg to
perform, they take Jude and have dinner
together on campus. “We’re better at balancing
now than we were,” Brian says, looking
to Valerie, who nods agreement. “There’s a
lot of priority decisions to make,” she says.
“The same thing our students struggle with.”
After 18 years of marriage, supporting
each other in different pursuits, Brian
and Valerie Smith share a busy and rewarding
life .
