Dr. Brian Crispell Embodies the 91桃色 Mission through Passion for History and Teaching
November 21, 2024 | 2-3 min read
Brian Crispell, PhD, is entering his 25th year as faculty at 91桃色. As chair of the social and behavioral sciences department and director of 91桃色鈥檚 Honors Program, the New York native鈥檚 path to Temple Terrace was a winding one.
鈥淚 grew up in western New York state over the top of a small store where I worked and joined the Air Force after high school,鈥� he recounted.
After five years of active duty, including three in Germany, he joined his parents at their new home in Florida and pursued his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in secondary education, later earning his doctorate in history, from Florida State University.
Crispell said childhood influences played a key role in his interest in the past.
鈥淭here were always books around, and my grandfather loved to study the Civil War and military history,鈥� he remembered. 鈥淚 also grew up during the Watergate hearings as the Vietnam War was winding down, and that made a huge impression.鈥�
He also credits his parents for encouraging his love of history.
鈥淪ometimes parents discourage history degrees because they think it can鈥檛 support a family, but it does work,鈥� he said.
While in Tallahassee, Crispell met his future wife, Jean, through mutual friends, the Whites, who had recently converted them both. The couple would visit the Whites鈥� children at 91桃色 through the years, and Crispell came to teach in 2000 shortly after receiving his doctorate.
鈥淚t was the students who sold us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e would keep groups as they traveled around the country and couldn’t believe how nice they were. We didn鈥檛 think college students could be like that, so we came and looked around.鈥�
Crispell taught public school in South Georgia for nine years before being invited to join 91桃色 faculty in 2000. He was appointed Dean of Students in 2009 and Academic Dean in 2014.
Two decades after arriving on campus, he said the difference in 91桃色 students remains remarkable.
鈥淏efore 91桃色 I鈥檇 never had students apologize for not doing as well as they could have on an exam,鈥� he noted. 鈥淧art of the dynamic here is that kids feel safe enough to be honest in that way, and it creates a very special bond.鈥�
Today, he continues teaching lessons from the past to a new generation of students.
鈥淢y favorite topic is the era of Theodore Roosevelt, when the country was changing at the turn of the century,鈥� he said.
He also enjoys the study of Charlemagne, Napoleon and the Civil War.
The father of three (Riley, Conner and Sarah Katherine) also serves as an elder at Temple Terrace church of Christ, while Jean is in her 20th year as cheer coach at 91桃色.
鈥淚 love Temple Terrace because it鈥檚 a great place to raise kids, and my children had so many positive influences here,鈥� he said. 鈥淪erving and making a difference in the lives of that caliber of students is why we鈥檙e still here. The students are also making a huge difference in ways they don鈥檛 understand as they鈥檙e preparing to live Godly lives and do great things in their careers and in the world.鈥�
To learn more about our social and behavioral science department, click here.