Oxford is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the world. When ranked against other institutions across the globe, it is also considered one of the best, or as professor Matthew Albanese joked to me, “It’s number one.”
Albanese has a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford, where his studies focused primarily on biblical texts like the Septuagint, the oldest Greek translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew. Albanese is also one of the newest members of Union’s faculty in the department of theology and missions. So what brings a professor from one of the top universities in the world, Oxford (that’s Oxford, England, mind you), to Union University in Jackson, Tennessee?
Albanese grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. When he began his undergraduate education, he dreamed of being a musician and performing. He bounced around undergraduate institutions, majoring in music as a violinist and violist. However, that was only until injury struck. Albanese could no longer play at the level he had hoped to achieve, and his dreams of performing seemed to slip away.
“My whole conceptual and existential world fell apart,” Albanese said. “I didn’t know what to live for, I guess you could say.”
But tribulation can bring blessing.
“I actually read the New Testament, just alone in my apartment, and I became a Christian,” Albanese said. “Christ invaded my mind and totally transformed my life.”
Still unable to play music at a high level, Albanese was compelled to learn scripture at a high level, which landed him in seminary. From seminary, Albanese headed to “the testing fires of Oxford,” and it was there that his love for biblical texts and writing truly flourished.
“The strength of an Oxford education overall is that it’s a reading and writing education,” said Albanese. This sort of education taught him effective communication and the importance of one’s ability to back words with strong sources.
“To summarize my method of teaching, it’s to read closely and communicate persuasively, cogently and profoundly. My classes are aimed at doing that with students,” he explains.
Albanese’s expertise in research and writing stand to be a strong resource for students in his classes, as well as students seeking to delve deeper into academia.
“I hate tests and I hate textbooks,” said Albanese. “Students love to hear that, but what I love are primary sources and writing.” He then explained that the ability to write convincingly is a skill which takes an academic to the next level.
“The first year is crazy,” Albanese said. “I’m just a couple weeks ahead in my lecture prep, you know?” Still, it’s a challenge Albanese takes in stride, and students have a lot to look forward to with Albanese’s addition to the university.
“I am excited for students to get to know Professor Albanese,” said Ray Van Neste, dean of the school of theology and missions. “I think they will be drawn to his eagerness and excitement about the beauties of Scripture, his eye for connections across the whole Bible and his enthusiasm for knowing God and His word.”
“Where do I see it going? I see it going,” Albanese said.
He sees a lot in store for himself and his family here in Jackson. He told me about his interest in local politics and spreading, as he phrases it, “the importance of God’s righteousness in the world.” Most importantly, however, Albanese has hopes of “being involved in students’ lives.” He hopes to use his own life lessons to “find those academic students and help them find their path.”