Some instructors spend more time than just meetings together
By Maureen Inouye
Sometimes the world of academia seems dry and banal, but apparently there still remains some spark of romance.
As many female instructors keep their maiden names, it is sometimes difficult to establish relationships between professors by surname. But there are several faculty couples on campus - the true indication that behind their often bookish exteriors, these professors are truly devoted to each other and their families.
English professor Lars Larson has been married to Molly Hiro, also an English professor, for seven years. The two, both interested in modern American literature, met in graduate school at UCLA. Larson and Hiro have two daughters, and Hiro is on maternity leave this semester taking care of their youngest child who was born last semester.
Larson enjoys working in the same field and at the same institution as his wife.
"I do like it - extremely," he said. "It was such a chance bit of luck that UP had two open Americanist positions."
Three years ago, Hiro was hired as a tenure-track professor and Larson was hired as a visiting professor. The following year, however, another full- time tenure-track position opened and Larson jumped at the chance to work alongside his wife.
"When the position opened, no one else in America wanted it as much as I did," Larson said.
Larson cites several advantages to working with his spouse, whose office is right down the hall from his own.
"We share resources, exchange ideas, and we both have the same set of ambitions. Teaching is most important to us," he said. "And we don't run into each other all that often - we use e-mail most of the time like everyone else."
Larson and Hiro share several hobbies, including hiking, travel, spending time with their kids and, as would be expected from English professors, reading.
Steven Mayer, a chemistry professor, also enjoys the outdoors and hiking with his wife, physics professor Shannon Mayer. The two have been married for 18 years and have two daughters.
"There's something magical about being part of this community together," Steven Mayer said.
The Mayers met at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. Eventually, both attended OSU and received their doctorate degrees.
After attending and teaching at several different institutions, they were excited about an opening in UP's physics department. In a complicated process, the two applied jointly for the one position and were hired in 2002.
Later, both were hired in separate, full-time positions.
"We wanted to be in the Pacific Northwest, in a liberal arts, faith-based institution," Steven Mayer said. He cites the feeling of community as his favorite part of UP. He and his family attend campus activities and live in the neighborhood near school.
"I like to joke about 'my colleague in the physics department ... with whom I have two kids ...,'" Steven Mayer said. His obvious affection for his wife and children shines through his words.
The same is true for English Professor John Orr about his wife Lisa Reed, a business professor. The couple has two sons.
Orr and Reed met in an 18th century British literature class at the University of Oklahoma. He was a graduate student and she was a senior in the fall of 1983 when they fell in love. Then they applied to Duke University for graduate school.
"Lisa's always been adamant that if we're going to be a couple, we're going to be together," Orr said. This attitude persisted when it came to working at UP.
Orr was hired in 1993. At the time, the couple's son was two years old, so Reed stayed home until, after having a part-time job, she was hired full time.
"Lisa comes from a family of teachers, so it seemed the natural step," Orr said.
The professors juggle academic schedules by staggering the days they teach.
"I would teach Monday, Wednesday, Friday and she would teach Tuesday and Thursday, for example," said Orr. "That way, we could deal with childcare, sick kids, etcetera."
Unlike Larson and Hiro and the Mayers, Orr and Reed are in completely different fields. Orr says this is actually a good thing.
"You need your own sphere. Having Lisa here exposes me to other elements I wouldn't be exposed to otherwise. Now I have friends from the business school," Orr said.
Orr agrees with Mayers' evaluation of the sense of community at UP.
"There is a strong sense of collegiality here. We all try to get along," he said.
All three professors agreed that UP is a great place to work, and that UP is supportive of couples and families.
Apparently romance isn't dead in academia.
