FOR DR. MATTHEW Zantingh, starting in the role of associate dean of arts at www.亚洲色 has been like a homecoming.
His family moved from Ontario to Alberta in his last year of high school and while his siblings found affinity with the trades, he opted to get his degree from The King鈥檚 University in Edmonton. While pursuing his master鈥檚 and PhD focusing on Canadian literature and environmental humanities at McMaster University, he realized he wanted to work at a Christian institution. He spent 11 years at Briercrest College in Saskatchewan before coming to his new role at Redeemer. Having grown up in the Christian Reformed Church (his father is a CRC pastor and alumnus of Redeemer, attending during its early days) he knows Redeemer is a great fit for him because of its roots in the Reformed tradition.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to be in a place where I can speak openly about my faith and bring that into what I teach and research,鈥 says Zantingh, adding that integrating his faith into all aspects of life is part of the worldview under which he has always operated. 鈥淭he Reformed worldview says very clearly that Christ has sovereignty over all careers and callings, whatever that looks like, whatever role you鈥檙e put in, he says, ‘Do this [and do this] in my name.’鈥
In Redeemer鈥檚 arts programs, that means studying music, visual art, media and communications and writing, and preparing to use the skills and talents acquired to bring hope to a world in need. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to see students say, 鈥楬ow do I speak to a broken-hearted world through this art, through this media project? … How do I reach out and offer Christ鈥檚 hope in a way that鈥檚 not going to turn the viewer off?鈥 They鈥檙e not standing on the corner preaching the Gospel, they鈥檙e trying to make connections, to be Christ鈥檚 hands and feet in really tangible ways.鈥
“The Reformed worldview says very clearly that Christ has sovereignty over all careers and callings, whatever that looks like, whatever role you’re put in, he says, ‘Do this [and do this] in my name.'”
The changing landscape of higher education has Zantingh getting back to basics in the classroom. He recognizes that students arriving at Redeemer have now been using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for several years. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a pessimist; I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 the end of the world,鈥 he says. But he feels something is missing when all learning happens on a screen. 鈥淚 tell my students, 鈥榊ou should have books and paper and pens. This is the best way to learn.鈥欌 He places high value on the classes where students are reading physical books, engaging in learning together, having rich discussion and pushing each other. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what students are paying for, even if they don鈥檛 necessarily know that.鈥
While students may use GenAI tools in their work, Redeemer鈥檚 arts programs will teach them important hands-on skills to hone their crafts. Painting, drawing, recording and editing video, building video sets, using boom mics and writing for various media, paired with the core classes that underpin a Christian liberal arts and sciences education at Redeemer, will set students up for meaningful careers.
Zantingh sees much opportunity for the arts at Redeemer. 鈥淭his is a really unique moment in Redeemer鈥檚 history; we are on a growth trajectory. We鈥檙e the largest we鈥檝e ever been and we are aiming to continue that growth,鈥 he says. This atmosphere has Zantingh thinking about how to expand and strengthen Redeemer arts. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a case of more of the same. [We鈥檙e asking] 鈥楬ow do we prepare our students for life and work in a variety of industries and organizations? How do we make the art gallery a more engaging space? How do we prepare music and worship students for leadership and service in the church? How do we get our students showing off their excellent work to a broad audience so that when they graduate, they can become voices in those fields and continue to do the good work that they鈥檙e already doing?鈥欌
鈥 鈥 at Redeemer we want to see every career held up as worthy of Christ-like work 鈥 These are moments to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. That was really appealing to me coming here.”
The university鈥檚 support for the arts has Zantingh energized as well. He鈥檚 pleased that there is investment in the visual art program, an area he feels Christians can sometimes be suspicious of. He sees the engaging uses of the art gallery, music performances and other exhibitions of student work as something exciting to build on. New developments in the recently updated music and worship program have students getting more practical experience with participation in chapel worship leadership and music ministry internships. And in the English programs where Zantingh teaches, he hopes to expand practical connections for students as well. 鈥淲e want to plug our students into the Hamilton writing community, internships, and with people and places where they will thrive and become Jesus鈥 ambassadors out there in the world.鈥
Ultimately, that is Zantingh鈥檚 hope for all students as he leads the arts. 鈥 … at Redeemer we want to see every career held up as worthy of Christ-like work … These are moments to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs it. That was really appealing to me coming here.鈥