The Professor/Anthropologist with a Sense of Humor

John Branner

Chair – Division of Intercultural Studies, Western Seminary, Portland, OR

One regret during my studies at Fuller was that I had finished up all my course work by the time Paul Hiebert had joined the School of World Mission faculty.  I only heard him once as he lectured in our dissertation research methods class.  I'm sure I took several nuggets of truth away from that lecture.  But the one thing that has stuck with me after all these years was the story he told to open the class, noting that academics are often accused of getting too technical in their doctoral research.  

Dr. Hiebert told of a doctoral student in entomology who's research focus had been the hind legs of the gnat.  Upon receiving his degree an interviewer asked him if he had any regrets about his studies.  Paul delivered the punch line with a twinkle in his eye:  "If I had to do it over again I would just study the right leg!"  The great anthropologist had a delightful sense of humor.

Published in the special issue “A Memoriam of Paul G. Hiebert”

www.globalmissiology.org April 1, 2007