*Republished from the November / December 2017 issue of The Kayseean
By Haley Hartzog
Professor John “Craig” McDonald’s passion for teaching has been evident, according to his peers at King University.
McDonald said that he loves being able to introduce students to books and people that mean a lot to him (such as Shakespeare, his favorite author). “As I look back, it’s been the time with students,” said McDonald as he explained his favorite part of being a professor at King University. Helping students learn has been special to him: “to see that light go on, it’s just magic.” To McDonald, one of the greatest joys of being a professor is being able to become colleagues with former students and to see them grow into maturity.
Some of McDonald’s favorite hobbies are playing the cello, camping, doing things around the house, and spending time with his dog, Annie.
He plans on retiring after December, and he said he wants to do a number of things.
He said he will be spending a lot of time reading, praying, and meditating. He also said that he hopes to further his knowledge of playing the cello and to become more involved with River’s Way, a local organization dedicated to ministering to those with special needs.
He said he will be spending a lot of time reading, praying, and meditating. He also said that he hopes to further his knowledge of playing the cello and to become more involved with River’s Way, a local organization dedicated to ministering to those with special needs.
McDonald’s words of wisdom to students are to “just be present–if we try to foreclose on our futures too quickly, we’ll miss alot.”
He advises the King community to live in the present. “We never know when God’s going to [call us home], and if we are too busy looking to the future, we can lose a lot in the present,” he said.
Life is a big adventure, according to McDonald, and he has surely left his mark on the King University Community.
McDonald was born in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, but grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree at Davidson College.
He continued his education at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, and then at the University of York in England. He began teaching career in West Virginia. He joined the faculty at King in 1982. From 1993-1995, He left King briefly to be the Headmaster at Sullins Academy from 1993-1995, then he returned to King.
