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Professor Lenburg to Retire After 33 Years at Mars Hill College
by Nicole Robinson
Dr. Lenburg after his Critique class - click to enlarge
Dr. Lenburg in 1977 - Laurel Photo
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Jim Lenburg wanted a job located in the mountains, since he loved the outdoors, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. He wanted to work for a small, Liberal Arts college. He got his wish.
He came to Mars Hill College in 1973, right after earning his doctorate degree in history, and he has been here ever since. This spring he will retire after serving as a professor of history at Mars Hill College for 33 years.
He has taught many classes during those years, but his favorite, he said in a recent interview, was "U.S. Foreign Policy in the 20th Century." His favorite class to teach in the Liberal Arts in Action (LAA) program was "Civic Life" because he and the students got to study and learn "lots of different cultures."
He tells students that his goal is "to not change what you believe, but to help you explore other ways to believe; or to look at the big picture of life. I think I do that."
His two favorite historical figures are Martin Luther King and Gandhi, who both led non-violent movements for change. They stand out for him because "rarely do people in history change things without violence."
If he had been able to choose the historical period he lived in, he says he would have wanted to live in the United States before the American Revolution. "I would want to know what the frontier was like then and know the ideas of the revolutionary time."
Lenburg loves to cook - particularly Middle Eastern food. He also loves to read. His favorite book of all time is Catcher in the Rye. "It was a powerful book for me when I read it."
Lenburg enjoys walking and does it everyday. He also loves hiking. He and his wife go to a National Park every summer and hike there. One of his retirement plans is to go hiking in other countries. He would also like to learn Yoga.
Lenburg has been offered the presidency of the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina. This is a volunteer program that teaches world affairs through a series of lectures. It also sponsors a competitions among local high schools on international events. Lenburg has already been on the board for the Council, and he has given speeches and several programs for it also. Those are his plans for his first year of retirement.
For his second year of retirement, in the spring, Lenburg will visit China again. In the fall after his visit, he will again teach at the same university where he taught American studies and literature courses in the fall of 2004.
Lenburg would have never become a teacher if it were not for his American history professor, Mark Farbor at Butler University. Lenburg first went to college to become a lawyer, and then a politician. Farbor had a profound influence on Lenburg by inspiring him to become a teacher. They are still friends today.
Lenburg earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Butler University in 1965. He taught at Bowling Green University from 1967-1968 and at Alfred University from 1968-1969. In 1973, he earned his doctorate in history from Pennsylvania State University.
Lenburg lives in Weaverville with his wife, Patricia Freeman. They were married in 1990, when he was in his mid-forties, and Lenburg says that his greatest accomplishment was "finding the right woman to marry." Freeman, a former student of his, is a 1984 Mars Hill graduate. They met again years later and began dating. She currently works for the Asheville Police Department. Being career oriented, Lenburg and Freeman never had any children of their own. "But I've had thousands of children. All of you are my children."
Reader Comment:
Jonathan McCoy, Class of 1992, 3/16/2006, 9:10 a.m.
I've been thinking about this subject for months, after reading this article it's amazing how the life of the student mirrors the life of the teacher. Like Dr. Lenburg, I went to college to study history and political science with plans of being a lawyer and then moving into politics. My American History professor inspired me to study Asia, African-American History and Diplomatic History, and to share that knowledge by becoming a teacher. We're still friends today. - Thanks Doc, and good luck!
Richard Stubbs, alumni, 9/26/2006, 8:46 p.m.
Dr. Lenburg is one of the greatest storytellers I've ever had the privilege to listen to. His views on life, history, philosophy and politics stay with me still today, and I'm truly honored to have learned from such a wonderful man. Thanks Doc.
Lilian Ortega - Former Staff, 10/12/2006, 8:10:43 p.m.
In 1997 when I was at Mars hill College as a teaching assistant of Spanish with Dr. Clemons,I had the great honor to meet Dr. Lenburg. He was one of the nicest person I met there. Jim is such a great and interesting man , we went hiking once with his wife Patricia who is also very nice and we had an excellent time, (I´ve got some pictures). He´s also an excellent cook I can tell. It is nice to know he keeps doing what he likes. If he ever comes to Oaxaca Mexico, I promise to take him hiking.
Jonathan E. Diego, MHC '89, 11/17/2007, 12:23 p.m.
Dr. Lenburg was one of the most influential persons in my life. I was extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to take numerous classes under his instruction, and to count him as a mentor and friend. Jim made history come alive for me. His lectures were always interesting. As a student you always felt comfortable with expressing your views in his classes even if, in the end, you had to agree to disagree about how you viewed certain historical periods/events. Jim made all forms of history interesting, whether the class addressed American, European and/or Far East issues. Mars Hill College, and countless students, were so very fortunate to have Jim touch "The Hill" and their lives. MHC will not be the same without him.
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