The Man Behind The Legend, Carlisle Chambers
Reported By: Kate Mack
Photo From: georgefox.edu
Dr. Carlisle Chambers is easily one of the toughest chemistry professors in the Chemistry Department at George Fox University (GFU). However, there is much more behind Chambers than just a love of electronegativity and spontaneous reactions.
Chambers grew up in a small blue-collar town in Pennsylvania. Chambers explained that when he was in eighth grade he first realized he could go to college. With a father and brother who both went to Bible colleges to become pastors, it had not occurred to Chambers that he could attend college to study what he loved, science.
“I didn’t know anybody that went to college, but the idea of going to college and seeking some sort of career had never occurred to me,” Chambers said. Chambers then decided he would attend college and pursue a career as a medical doctor.
Once in college, Chambers studied biology, as he expected a pre-med student would. He later fell in love with chemistry and soon realized that he could major in chemistry and still continue to pursue a career in medicine. Eventually, Chambers reached the spring semester of his junior year and began to study for the MCAT: “That first Sunday in spring semester I remember sitting down and I could not make myself do it, and I just thought, I could put it off and do it next Sunday, and then next Sunday came around and I could not make myself do it.” Chambers soon realized he wanted to pursue a career in chemistry and go to graduate school.
Chambers attended a small graduate school of about 600 people. He continued to study chemistry, hoping to work as an industrial chemist. As Chambers reached the end of his program, he needed to look at all options for future employment. Chambers explained that his experience working for Eastman Kodak was wonderful and furthered his love for industrial chemistry. He said, “I had a fabulous experience working for Eastman Kodak and was planning to work for them after I’d graduated from graduate school.”
However, instead of going into industrial chemistry, he ended up accepting a teaching position at GFU. And even though teaching had not been his initial plan, Chambers soon fell in love with the opportunities at GFU, including the research labs and meaningful interactions with students.
Chambers is more than just a chemistry professor though. In his free time, he is an avid basketball player, and with his wife, he enjoys hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Chambers is a jazz lover and plays the accordion.
When Chambers reflects on his life he doesn’t necessarily see a specific calling: “I hope this reduces the pressure that students feel about the pressure that they feel about calling, I hope it gives them some room to breathe and lets them explore topics they enjoy and what interests them.”