Tom Goodwin, an Andrews University biology professor, will retire from teaching at the conclusion of the 2025 spring semester. For him, this school year marks 31 years of teaching and researching at Andrews. In addition to teaching, Goodwin does research at the university in the field of paleontology, which is his specialty. Goodwin served as the chair of the Andrews University Department of Biology for six years while simultaneously teaching.
Goodwin shared that his path to biology was an atypical one, as he started off as a theology major while attending Southern Adventist University as an undergraduate.
“I ended up taking a class, almost accidentally, that looked at science and faith, and I just found that I loved the biology,” he said. “So, I decided to get a minor in biology, and then that led to a double major in biology, and by the time I was a senior … I decided to pursue a career in biology, and my own specialty being fossils.”
Throughout his time as a professor, Goodwin put his love for biology and paleontology on display. He describes paleontology as “detective work,” mentioning how he often enjoys working with fragmentary clues and reconstructing a story of life in the past based on what evidence he has. He also has found special meaning and enjoyment in nature, loving God’s creation, seeking to understand it and being a steward of the environment for future generations.
One of the classes Goodwin has enjoyed teaching is Historical and Philosophical Biology, where he and his students discuss the interactions of science and faith. Another highlight of his career has been interactions and work with “very, very good colleagues” by whom he’s been blessed. Although there are many colleagues who have been a joy to Goodwin, biology professor Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske and professor of biblical studies Rahel Wells are particularly noteworthy since Goodwin had taught them both during their undergraduate studies at Andrews.
“As I look back at my career, one of the most rewarding components is to have colleagues now who were my students,” said Goodwin. “I just find that very meaningful, you know, to have been a part of their journey.”
Goodwin said he will not be disappearing from the Andrews community as he will continue to be associated with the biology department as a researcher. His current research focuses on mammals of the Ice Age, namely rodents, and investigates what conclusions can be made about life thousands of years ago. Goodwin also plans to travel more with his wife and do more outdoor activities such as camping and canoeing.
Goodwin emphasized that he truly had a special time teaching students and has been blessed by many. He is also very grateful for the work environment at Andrews and has found it beneficial to his tenure as a faculty member.
“I think something Andrews has provided that I find very meaningful is a balance where I believe I can bring my faith to bear in my teaching. I can engage questions of creation and evolution from a faith perspective,” said Goodwin. “But I’ve also had sufficient academic freedom that I don’t feel like I’m treading on eggshells if I’m dealing with difficult topics.”
When asked if there was anything he’d like the university to improve, Goodwin mentioned that he hopes to see a reversal of what he describes as “cultural scarcity,” referring to the culture of the Andrews community. He ultimately hopes to see enrollment at Andrews grow and for the university to further invest in the infrastructure of the science departments. Goodwin added that he looks forward to seeing what John Wesley Taylor V, university president, does regarding creation care.
“I’d like to see the university be a bit more intentional about modeling responsible stewardship of the environment. I think there is room for growth,” he said. “My sense is that the current president is interested in that, and it would be meaningful to see that continue to grow.”
Goodwin ultimately enjoyed his time working at Andrews deeply and shared that he was truly grateful for his career here.
“It’s been a really good place to spend my career,” he said. “From my colleagues and my students, it’s been deeply rewarding. I’m grateful that the good Lord opened up this chance for me to really invest most of my career here.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.