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When you need someone to teach English, doesn't it make sense to look for a math professor? Well, it did for Trinity in the early 1970s, and everything added up well for Dr. Daniel Diephouse, the chair of the College's English department. At one point while in college, he considered majoring in math, and his math prowess provided his first exposure to Trinity.

"They were looking for a math professor and a friend of mine referred me to them. The dean called to inquire about the math opening, and I told him I was preparing to finish my doctorate in English. He said, 'Oh, we need an English person, too.'

"They drove out to Ann Arbor (Michigan) to talk to me, and we had a good interview. They showed great interest in establishing a film curriculum. I sensed a high level of interaction within a Christian community. Then some friends went to teach at Trinity for a year before I arrived. So the assertiveness that the College showed to get me, coupled with the familiar faces that were already here, were big factors in my coming."

Diephouse has taught virtually every English course offered since his arrival in 1971. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he attended Calvin College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English. He then earned his master's and doctoral degrees in English language and literature from the University of Michigan.

As a professor, Diephouse stresses the importance of stretching the mind when reading various literary pieces. It is a discipline that reveals as much about the characters and authors as it does about the readers.

"I want my students to hear other people's voices. I want them to understand different contexts, such as gender, races, and nationalities, to build an appreciation for voices that are not our own. That helps everyone, myself included, to interact with each other in more ways than intellectually."

In his leisure time, Diephouse enjoys photography, biking, hiking, camping, and bird watching. He has an ardent passion for nature and creation.

"Most of my photography centers on God's creation. My dad appreciated nature; he had a bird feeder and loved to take walks. He helped me develop an awareness of the details and beauty of nature."

Diephouse and his wife, Dora, have two daughters and one granddaughter. They live in Palos Heights and attend Hope Christian Reformed Church in Oak Forest, Illinois.