The Story of a Storyteller

Reported By: Anika Perry

Newberg, ORE–How do you tell the story of a storyteller? Not the story of a fiction author or a creative writer, but a marketing professional turned unconventional professor who happens to be able to answer any question you have with a story. 

Laurie Koehler is an executive in residence at George Fox University (GFU). Koehler earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Oregon State University (OSU). During her time at OSU, Koehler immersed herself in school because she was curious and passionate about learning. Due to her desire for knowledge, she took 24-26 credits per quarter. “I just wanted to be the best I could be,” Koehler said. 

Koehler graduated in 1980 and went on to work for companies like Nike, Tektronix, and Intel, bringing a different perspective to her roles with her economics degree. 

While working at Intel, Koehler experienced something she could only describe as a “God thing.” Koehler met Deb Sepich, a professor at GFU at the time. Sepich happened to be an industry advisor for a program Koehler’s son was involved in. Koehler approached Sepich to introduce Sepich to her son, and they hit it off immediately. This led to Sepich inviting Koehler to come and be a guest speaker in one of her classes. Koehler accepted the proposition, assuming Sepich would forget about her offer.

Weeks later, instead of setting up a time for Koehler to be a guest speaker, Sepich reached out to Koehler asking her to teach a whole course at GFU. Koehler assumed Sepich emailed the wrong person and thought that the door would be shut in her face when she went to meet Sepich at her house. To Koehler’s surprise, Sepich welcomed her in and explained it was no mistake asking Koehler to teach a course at GFU. 

Koehler initially turned down the job offer because she was working 100 hours a week and traveled frequently for Intel. While she was interested in making it work, she was worried about her busy schedule and disappointing students if she committed and could not follow through.

Koehler turned down the job offer a total of three times.

Eventually, on the fourth job proposal, Koehler felt that God was pushing her toward this opportunity and she said yes. She worked with Ryan Halley, the dean of the College of Business at the time, to create a class schedule that would work for her while she continued to work at Intel and travel.

For almost seven years, Koehler worked 100 hours a week at Intel, traveled 50% of the time, and simultaneously taught two courses at GFU. “This is why I call it a God thing,” she said. “Because there is no way that should’ve worked, but it did.”

After 20 years at Intel and a long career in marketing, Koehler felt accomplished in the industry and decided to retire, but not in the way one might think. On the same day she retired from Intel, she reached out to GFU and committed to teaching full-time. “I didn’t want retirement to be sitting in a rocking chair on a porch somewhere,” Koehler said. 

The difference between the marketing world and being a professor at GFU is clear. Koehler explained that companies and brands she worked for may have been ethical, but were not Christian. To remain rooted in her values as a marketing professional, Koehler demonstrated Christianity in her own way. “My language was clean, I was very ethical, I was kind, I didn’t walk on others to get to the next job. That was my performance of Christianity,” she said. 

It was not hard for Koehler to fit in at the College of Business at GFU. “It feels wholesome, fun, and comforting. Being around these people is uplifting and happy,” she said. She feels it is nice to be surrounded by people who “could be sitting in the pew next to you.”

Koehler is inspired to continue to teach the next generation because she wants to share her knowledge and experience. “You learn more from making a mistake than from a bunch of successes. Those are the types of things I want to share, and I think it would be terrible to have had such a fun, amazing, blossoming career and just keep it to myself,” she said.

After 24 credit quarters as a college student, working for major companies, and teaching the next generation, Koehler still utilizes her passion to bring new ideas to the table and enhance the learning experience at GFU—despite her plans to retire from teaching this year. 

Koehler is known for bringing in real clients for marketing students to work with. In BUSN 110, Koehler uses her connections to bring guest speakers to teach her students, as opposed to strictly teaching from a textbook. 

She also recently launched a new program for the College of Business that will allow students to tour company facilities and get an inside look into business life. Throughout the process of developing the new program, Koehler received input from students and faculty to ensure the program was fulfilling the needs and wants of students.

Even though Koehler plans to retire, GFU will always be a part of her. While she is disappointed to be leaving, it will allow her to do more of what she loves to do in her spare time including hiking, golfing, and spending time with her three golden retrievers. Although she may not be physically present on campus next year, there is no doubt that the knowledge and passion she has poured into her students and projects will have a lasting effect on the success of the College of Business and its students.