Scott Waalkes, Professor of International Politics

How long have you been at Malone University?

22 years.

What attracted you to work at Malone?

Since I had a great experience attending a Christian college when I was a student, I dreamed of teaching at a Christian college with a similar setting. 

What do you enjoy most about your job responsibilities?

I love helping students navigate questions about their calling and career. I also find joy in keeping in touch with students after graduation and watching how they are living out Malone’s mission. 

How do you answer when asked to describe Malone’s brand of education?

Relational, not transactional.

How would you describe Malone students?

They passionately apply what they are learning into their lives.

How has working at Malone shaped your individual faith journey?

The Friends/Quaker tradition, and the diversity of fellow Christians from different denominations, has humbled me. As I see how we are so different and yet unified, I get a bigger picture of God’s greatness.

Describe your colleagues and their commitment to Malone?

Deeply committed to our students and Malone’s mission. They willingly do whatever it takes to help students, even at the cost of their own well-being.

Where were you born and how is that reflected in your personality?

I was born into a tight-knit Dutch immigrant community in Michigan who inspired my interest in theology and encouraged me to be curious about people who were outside my community. Like the main character played by Jim Carrey in the film “The Truman Show,” I was curious about the world outside my bubble and ended up spending a year in the Middle East in pursuit of my curiosity. Escaping Michigan has been a great journey, though I’m still not a Buckeye fan.