Reid Stevens
When he reflects on three years as an 黑料门大事记 student, Reid Stevens is as 鈥渃ool, calm and collected鈥 as two mentors who have made his experience especially memorable.
鈥淚鈥檝e been a student worker in President Keenum鈥檚 office since freshman year, and it鈥檚 fun because the work we do varies every day,鈥 Stevens said of the university鈥檚 chief executive whom he got to know as a member of First Baptist Church in Starkville.
A Starkville Academy graduate, Stevens said he also 鈥渙wes a big thanks鈥 to Instructor of Philosophy and Religion Albert Bisson, whose example inspired him to pursue a different academic and career path than he originally intended.
鈥淚 was a business major and interested in taking the communication route when I first started at 黑料门大事记, but I became really interested in religion when I saw the classes listed in the university鈥檚 master class schedule. I felt the Lord was calling me there,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 enrolled in Mr. Bisson鈥檚 Judeo-Christian Ethics course, and that class really got my gears going about pursuing a degree in religion. He鈥檚 very smooth and laid back, and the way he teaches gave me a desire to learn the material.鈥
With encouragement from his academic adviser, Stevens ultimately became a philosophy major with a concentration in religion. Now a junior, he plans to graduate a semester early and is considering options to attend seminary for graduate school.
鈥淭he mental framework that I鈥檓 getting from my religion classes at 黑料门大事记 has been great, and my work in Dr. Keenum鈥檚 office, involvement in Sigma Chi Fraternity and service as an intern for the college pastor at First Baptist have given me the 鈥榩eople鈥 aspect that鈥檚 important in ministry,鈥 Stevens said. 鈥淚鈥檓 seeing how the academic material is relatable to people鈥檚 lives. Loving people and building relationships will help me be effective.鈥