OWU Professor Retires After Nearly 45 Years

It's hard to go unnoticed with the name Rollin, especially if you were named after an early 20th century professor at Ohio Wesleyan. One of Ohio Wesleyan's longest-serving professors decided to retire after the 2009 fall semester. Rollin Kearns, professor of religion, taught at OWU for nearly 45 years. Kearns plans to teach a couple of classes in Germany and research after leaving OWU.

Kearns joined OWU's faculty unexpectedly in 1966 after he had traveled the east coast looking for a religion job opening. He landed the job after meeting a local Delaware priest. Kearns was referred to Robert Montgomery, then the chair of the religion department at Ohio Wesleyan. Montgomery met Kearns at Buns Restaurant.

"We found that we shared a particular interest in one historical figure and just discussed him instead of the job position" Kearns said.

Despite having an interest in Kearns, Montgomery told him that there were no available positions in the religion department. Montgomery later called him back with a job opening. Montgomery gave up his position and moved to a void position to make room for Kearns.

Kearns was on the Faculty-Student Affairs Committee and helped form the Wesleyan Counsel on Student Affairs in the late 1960s.

"Alcohol was a bigger concern (in the 60s)," Kearns said. "The frats were completely dry at that time."

Kearns' pathway to a career in secondary education was not predictable as a child. Growing up in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, his father was a Methodist priest and Kearns quickly developed a love for religion and philosophy. Kearns aspired to follow in his father's footsteps as a bishop until he decided to attend college.

After considering Ohio Wesleyan and DePauw, Kearns chose Harvard with the help of his uncle who taught at Princeton University. At Harvard, he was a member and president for one year of the orchestra. Kearns also tried the sport of fencing, which he said he soon quit after witnessing a fellow student being fatally stabbed during practice.

Kearns graduated from Harvard with high marks in philosophy and chose to pursue further education in a location notable for philosophical works.

Kearns traveled to Germany to study religion and philosophy in an area rich with culture, philosophy, and religion. He received his doctorate of theology and soon returned to the United States to work.

Kearns has written several books on religion, including "Son of Man." He credits many past philosophers and religious figures for influencing his writings and beliefs.

"St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and Paul Tillich have probably influenced by beliefs and teachings more than any other philosophers or theologians," Kearns said. "Tillich taught me that religion should include music, architecture, and literature. Tillich influences how I teach my courses."

Katie Pappenhagen, a freshman student who took one of Kearns' last classes, said that Kearns incorporated many aspects of religion into his class.

"Professor Kearns helped teach the class through diagrams and sometimes through musical composition," Pappenhagen said. "It helped make the material visual and real to us."

Kearns is married to Heidi Kearns, who he met while studying in Germany. Other than research and teach in Germany, he plans to travel, mountain climb, and ski. It won't be Kearns' first time skiing.

"I learned how to ski years ago to impress Heidi when I first met her," Kearns said.