PROFILE OF DR. RAEBURN WALLEN

Dr. Wallen, Professor Emeritus of World Religions for The University of Findlay, is a world traveler and considered by many as being an expert in his field. He retired from full time teaching on the main campus, but has been persuaded to design and teach a computer course on world religions. Besides being an emeritus professor of world religions on the Findlay campus of The University of Findlay. He is also an adjunct world religion professor for Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio.

Dr. Wallen has conducted over 25 travel seminars for university students. In 1999 students received credit for studying in Hawaii and the Yucatan. Prior seminars have gone to various countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Dr. Wallen is listed in the past and recent editions of Marquis Who's Who in American. He is also listed in Who's Who in Religion, a biographical volume of men and women who have distinguished themselves as religious leaders and instruments of change in an era of complexity and challenge. He was also selected for Ohio Lives, a reference edition in Ohio; and Biographies of International Leaders, published in London, England.

On the campus, he chaired the International Education Council for many years and was a member of the advisory council for undergraduate programs in the International Center for Language and Resource Development. He chaired and planned the successful International Night on the Findlay campus where over 1000 elementary students and many community, high school and university students viewed the cultures, foods and customs of foreign countries.

 He was given an award by the International students at the30th anniversary for International Night which read: "As a token of our esteem for nearly thirty years of service, The International Club of The University of Findlay recognizes Dr. Raeburn G. Wallen as an outstanding faculty advisor who performed his duties with consistent dedication and devotion."

Dr. Wallen was elected and served as a humanities representative to the Faculty Senate since its inception, and once served as secretary of the senate. As chairman of the Committee on Committees, he was responsible for restructuring the faculty committees twice during his career, the most recent being in 1999 just before he retired. During his tenure at the University of Findlay his talents were given to numerous committees and programs throughout the years; to mention a few ---he has served on the Faculty Services Committee, the Travel Committee, Sabbatical Committee, Selection committee for faculty studying abroad, the presidents task force subcommittee to study international affairs, and the committee to select and examine students for Fulbright Scholarship grants. Wallen headed the religion area, and served as a mentor for new faculty.

Dr. Wallen did his under-graduate studies at The University of Findlay. He holds a Master of Religious Education degree from Oberlin College; a Master of Divinity from Winebrenner Seminary; a Master of World Religions from Case Western Reserve University; and an honorary Doctor of World Religions from The University of Findlay. He was honored as an outstanding professor by the university's College of Liberal Arts in 1999.

In the past few years, Dr. Wallen has been to Japan four times researching religious shrines; in Thailand for an arranged visit with the King's personal Buddhist advisor; in Singapore for the Taoist "Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods;" in communist China, Hong Kong, France, Mexico, Italy, Russia, England, and Israel.

 Dr. Wallen edited The Medallion, a newsletter of the Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars; was Mid-West vice President of Phi Beta Delta over a twelve state district, and was president of the charter chapter on the Findlay campus of Phi Beta Delta.

A noted news writer referred to him, in Education Credited with the Awakening of Midwest Youth, as "an alert professor of religion who is raising questions and demanding answers, breaking the stereotype molds of curriculum with spirited controversy which gives his classes relevance to the world beyond Findlay."

Student evaluations of his courses indicate an expanded knowledge and appreciation of the world and world religions. The following are examples of a few comments:

"I have become more aware of the various world religions through taking this class. I was one of those who would be characterized as narrow-minded, not able to communicate with others about their religion, due to the fact that I did not understand what and why they believe as they do. I have gained insight into various religious practices, and feel confident that I can speak to people of other religions without being judgmental or expressing prejudice.
     There needs to be a global awareness of other religions to grasp a clear understanding of what other nations believe in, and the values that others place on their lives. Many people would rather cast doubt and confusion on other religions, instead of studying them to have a more clear understanding of why and what they believe. If this class was offered to more people, I believe that many controversies over various religions would be resolved."
Cincinnati student



"Dr. Wallen was extremely knowledgeable on the topic of Religion. I appreciated the fact that a lot of this knowledge came first hand because of travel and experience with different countries and foreign students. He was very open and not opinionated concerning world religions, and this allowed me not to be persuaded one way or another, but at the same time to receive the information that was given. All in all I enjoyed the class and would recommend it to anyone, and I would hope that they would have a professor that has half the knowledge that Mr. Wallen has."
Lima student


"I have enjoyed this class (much to my surprise) and have learned quite a lot. We should change our global consciousness. Perhaps one of the best ways would be to adopt some of the Eastern cultures so that instead of seeing our way as the only way, we could perhaps see a little bit of the right way in other people's concepts."
Cincinnati student

^{Dr. Wallen at the  Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.}