My time at Roanoke College has undoubtedly been the most formative and influential period of my life. Over the past three years, I have grown and learned in ways I never could have anticipated when I first committed to this school as a high school senior. However, I have also witnessed significant changes within the college itself during my time here. The atmosphere in classrooms, the dynamics within my majors, and the general feel of campus have all shifted, and while many of my peers share this sentiment, there is a lingering uncertainty about whether these changes are ultimately positive or not.
Halfway through my freshman year, I seriously considered transferring. I felt disconnected from my classes, as though they were not challenging me, and I struggled to find a solid group of friends. I questioned whether Roanoke was truly the place I wanted to spend the next few years, but decided to stick it out through the spring semester.
In the spring, I enrolled in a HNRS-260 taught by Dr. Peppers on Supreme Court justices and jurisprudence. That class, and Dr. Peppers himself, reignited my passion for law, the Constitution, and the importance of upholding moral integrity. Midway through the semester, Dr. Peppers pulled me aside and strongly encouraged me to consider law school. His belief in me made me believe in myself. He has since been my advisor for my honors distinction, my summer scholars research, my honors in the major, and both my political science major and legal studies concentration. Dr. Peppers has pushed me in ways I had never experienced before, challenging me to think deeply, discover my true passions, and stretch my intellectual limits.
That class, combined with an ethics course I took with Dr. Garrison (who has since left the college), convinced me that Roanoke could offer the academic challenges and personal growth I was looking for. It was these professors who made me realize that Roanoke was a place where I could thrive, both as a student and as an individual.
Dr. Peppers, however, is now leaving Roanoke after 22 years to return to his former law firm. For me, and many others, this is a devastating loss. The pre-law program, the Washington Semester, and students in political science and legal studies all owe so much to Dr. Peppers. He has earned the respect and admiration of countless students and faculty, and I am certain he will be deeply missed.
This article is not just about Dr. Peppers though; it’s about the broader issue of how the loss of exceptional faculty diminishes the student experience. Sadly, my experience at Roanoke is far from unique. Nearly every student I know has encountered a similar situation. Many of the most valuable classes I’ve taken have been taught by professors who have since left the college. The appeal of Roanoke College lies in the opportunity to take intellectually stimulating courses, but for those courses to exist, we need equally stimulating professors to teach them.
What’s even more disheartening is that the remaining incredible faculty are increasingly overwhelmed by rising course loads and staffing shortages. This exhaustion is affecting their ability to bring passion and energy to the classroom. It’s incredibly difficult for professors to invest deeply in their students when they themselves are stretched so thin.
Roanoke College’s website states that its top priority is to “foster student success and well-being.” Unfortunately, I question whether that mission can be fully realized when the college continues to lose critical faculty. Professors are so much more than instructors—they are mentors, guides, and a crucial part of the social fabric of the college experience. The impact of losing such a significant number of faculty members is far-reaching. It’s not just an academic loss; it’s a personal and social one as well. Losing eight professors I had a connection with has taken a toll on me, and I haven’t met a single senior this year who hasn’t experienced a similar loss. For this reason, and unfortunately many others, I worry about the future of an institution which I love. Roanoke College has the ability to be successful, but to be successful it must value what brings it success.
With hope,
Mikaela Gantz
Editor-in-Chief
