David J. Pavlat,
Exercise Science,
Central College (Iowa)



[Dec. 5, 2010] —





The most important thing I do as a department chair is to listen.

I listen to my faculty members when they are struggling with something. I listen to my coaches: who also teach as part of their job, to their frustrations when they don’t have enough time to teach well, coach, and recruit.

I listen to my students: seniors who are scared about graduation and moving into the real world, juniors who are still trying to find themselves, sophomores who think college will never end, and freshman who think they are dumb because they received their first “C.”

I heard from my mentors and my fellow faculty members that what is most important for me to do is to listen. So I made it my aim to become a good listener. Additionally, these last few years I have been bolder for Jesus Christ and have added an offer to pray with those who come to me. It is now a natural part of most of my listening sessions.

I don’t have enough gray hair to qualify to give advice on everything, but I have learned that praying with my friends in my office is perhaps more welcome than advice. Praying leaves each of us with hope, especially the hope that Jesus Christ will help us with the needs that we have. Nothing is too trivial to bring to God in prayer.

In my graduate preparation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, my wife and I were looking for a couple to mentor us. I also was looking for a godly man to mentor me as well. We met a couple in our church , 10 years older than us — a wise and mature couple almost 40!

We spent two years together meeting weekly throughout the year. They gave great advice, but what I remember most of all is that they cared for us. I remember that they listened!

I have been an associate professor at Central College for 12 years now. When I came to Central I was placed in a tenure track position in a new exercise science major. At that time we had three majors and 50 or so students.

A few years later, I was appointed department chair for our exercise science department. We moved from a small program to the largest program at our college with more than 200 students in 5 separate majors. Such growth in my responsibility allowed plenty of awareness of the need to listen and to seek God’s wisdom through prayer.

Jesus is always there to take our burdens and help us with our problems. While it takes time to sit and listen, I find that it goes a long way toward building trust in our relationships. And it is an effective means of helping others build a relationship with Christ.

I firmly believe that building relationships is not only a worthy goal at a small college but it is also an important quality of a committed Christian. Have you stopped to listen lately?

(c) 2010 David J. Pavlat