Southern Nazarene University welcomes a new vice president of academic affairs for traditional programs this academic year. Shelley Groves, Ph.D., joins SNU from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, where she served on the English faculty teaching writing and literature. Groves previously held administrative and teaching positions at Southwestern Christian University and Mid-America Christian University.
Groves recently celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, Brandon. They have two adult daughters, Emily and Jill. Emily and her husband live in Mustang and serve on staff at Discovery Church. Groves is especially excited about their new baby boy, Jack and would be happy to show off photos of her new grandson if asked. Jill is a second-year, eighth-grade history teacher in Springfield.
Outside of the office, Groves is an avid reader, noting she is on track to finish 120 books this year. She is also currently writing a historical fiction novel. She and her husband frequently travel, recently visiting Turkey and Greece to celebrate their anniversary.
Transitioning from the classroom back into administration, Groves said she will miss working directly with students.
“I love the engagement of the classroom and the relationships that are built,” Groves said. “I’ve been doing this since I graduated with my bachelor’s in 1992 … I love the classroom whether I’m learning or teaching because even when I’m teaching I’m learning.”
Discussing academic growth at SNU, Groves expressed a desire to develop the university’s English programs. “I, of course, have an affinity for English, and I would love to be able to see that develop a little bit more; I think it helps foundationally for where we are as a liberal arts institution,” she said. Emphasizing the need for higher education to remain nimble, Groves praised SNU for proactively making adjustments to a rapidly changing landscape.
Groves strongly believes in the enduring value of a liberal arts education. “I believe in liberal arts with all of my being because liberal arts teaches people how to think,” she said. “So even if the jobs aren’t in existence today and we don’t even know what we’re training students for, we can train them to think critically, reason things out, and understand the dynamic of the world, people, and culture. I think those skills transfer to anything that’s going to be developed.”
Groves addressed the threat of AI with regard to students learning to think. She challenged faculty to help students understand that learning to think critically is a matter of good Christian stewardship. “If you can think critically, that’s part of loving the Lord with all your mind,” she said. “It’s not trying to spiritualize everything, but it’s just the reality of the fact that the Lord’s given us that ability, talent, and mind. What are we doing with that?”
Groves plans to spend her first year learning the university’s culture. She said, “You learn a little bit and then you realize, ‘Oh, there’s a whole lot of things I don’t know and a lot of rocks I need to turn over to see what’s underneath.’”
For students beginning or continuing their college careers, Groves offered Colossians 3:23 as encouragement to view their work as service to God. “But everything you do, do it unto the Lord.” She added, “He’s a great accountant. He’s keeping the records, and his kids have never gone without. He’s gonna take care of you. Be obedient to him and watch how he takes care of you.”
Photo by: Jim Smith