(Photo submitted by the Mayers)
By Luke Riela, Staff Writer -- riela14@up.edu
Steven Mayer, associate professor and chair of the department of chemistry and Shannon Mayer, associate professor of physics have not made any extravagant Valentine's Day plans.
"We may sneak out for a cup of coffee," Steven said, "but we would have to check the schedule."
However, they will certainly be honoring their relationship on the holiday of love.
"We're not into holidays. We're more into celebrating in small ways every day," Steven said.
Steven and Shannon met at Pacific Lutheran University as seniors in the fall of 1986.
"We didn't run into each other until senior year," Shannon said.
They married in August of 1989.
Steven and Shannon feel very lucky to have both been hired at the University of Portland.
"It's very hard to find two academic jobs at the same school," Shannon said. Steven added that it was "nothing short of a miracle."
When the couple isn't working, they cross country ski, hike and attend UP soccer games. Their 12-year-old daughter Jordyn and 10-year-old daughter Hayley come along to watch the games.
"Our daughters really like the girls' soccer games because they play soccer themselves," Shannon said.
In fact, Steven and Shannon coach their daughters' soccer team at St. Johns Community Club together. Steven and Shannon look after a one-year-old husky puppy named Cayenne who accompanies them on their cross country ski and hiking adventures.
Steven usually just commutes on his bike, but commented on how they share the one car they have.
"Sometimes it's like a relay race, where we're passing the car keys off like a baton," Steven said.
At school, Steven and Shannon appreciate teaching the same students.
"We have a lot of the same students," Steven said. "I think it's fun for the students to have both of us."
Shannon pointed out a potential downside to having the same students.
"We have to be careful not to tell the same jokes," Shannon said.
Steven said that a student in one of his classes broke out into laughter after he used the exact same example as his wife in an earlier class.
Shannon said that as long as you find the right person, you can have a great marriage.
"Good marriages can happen because people work with each other," Shannon said.
"That's not to say it's all work and no play," Steven said.
- Luke Riela
(Photo submitted by the Mayers)
