David Janzen

I loved college. I loved exploring my independence and interests, figuring out what I believed, what I valued, who I was, and who I wanted to be. I wrestled with questions of career, marriage, faith, and my pacifist Mennonite roots during the Gulf War. Along the way, a mix of friends, family, and mentors were there to work through the questions with me. We explored the Bible like I had never done before. After a stint in "the real world" of software engineering, and answers to a few of those lingering questions like marriage and kids, I was drawn back to academia where I continue exploring, and I can come alongside students who are doing the same, often for the first time. As for the rest of the story, I grew up in rural Kansas. Some of my best memories include evenings at the local lake and college summers teaching water skiing in New Hampshire. I have a second "family" who adopted me for a semester when I studied in Budapest, Hungary. My wife and best friend, Karen, is a wonderful gift, as are my four children.

My Life

Favorite Quote

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt... James 1:5-6a

Best advice I ever received

Ask God for wisdom. He gives it out generously. James 1:5-6

My undergrad alma mater

Tabor College

My worst subject in school

History

In college I drove

Bicentennial edition Chevy Nova

If I weren't a professor, I would

be farming in Kansas

Favorite books

Three by Ted Dekker

Favorite city

San Francisco

My latest accomplishment

My startup's app Squid has over 5M downloads, is preinstalled on several Android/ChromeOS devices, and is being used widely in education. Also, in Fall 2020 I enjoyed teaching a software engineering course at Westmont College while my wife directed one of the choirs.