John Hagen

I was raised as a Christian and was enthusiastic about it in middle school and high school. I stopped going to church in college and by the time I got to graduate school I was filled with doubt. When I stopped to think about it, I wondered if any of it was true, and if not, if life had any real meaning: When we die, is it just like turning off a lamp? Is that the end? Are some things right, and some wrong, or are these just concepts we invented? Most of the time I didn't stop to think, though, since I was so busy, so actually I was pretty happy. It was during this time that I started going to church again and restarted studying the Bible. I eventually rediscovered my faith.

My Life

Favorite Quote

A dog is better than I am, for he has love and does not judge. Abba Xanthias

Friends describe me

Amicable, diplomatic, family man.

My hobbies

Hiking, learning languages, reading, gardening, and cooking

Fantasy dinner guests

My grandparents

Best advice I ever received

Don’t wait for God to give you a roadmap for your entire life; if you do His will each day you will end up on the right path.

My undergrad alma mater

University of Nevada Las Vegas

My worst subject in school

Heat transfer

In college I drove

1964 Corvair

If I weren't a professor, I would

Do computer programming or write

Favorite books

Man's Search for Meaning, Of Mice and Men, Lord of the RIngs

Favorite movies

Ikiru, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Children of Heaven

Favorite city

Pittsburgh

Favorite coffee

Latte

Nobody knows I

I am obsessed with cooking using sous vide.

My latest accomplishment

Learning to tie a Farrimond friction hitch.

Current Research

The surface chemistry of novel sugar-oxime ether surfactants.