With a Ph.D. in history-theology, Instructor of Math & Computer Science Matt Bell brings a compelling perspective to his teaching. He teaches computer science courses like Ethical, Social & Legal Issues in Computer Science and Data Structures. He is also a member of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest functioning at large and preaches throughout the region.
Q. What drew you to your academic discipline?
A. Which one? I actually juggle two and try creatively to combine them. I’m a theologian and a computer scientist. I was drawn to computer science through my dad, who worked in IT and fostered in me a passion for tech and programming since I was literally a baby! The other side of my personality developed at church as I loved watching my pastor and I dreamed of doing the same. Much later my Ph.D. supervisor, on the day of my graduation as a theological academic, challenged me to combine the two.
Q. Tell us about a fun class you teach.
A. My favorite is CS 274: Ethical, Social & Legal Issues in Computer Science. It’s a semester-long invitation to conversation on ways tech is a Pandora’s box through which all sorts of madness and mayhem, both for good and for evil, has emerged and is emerging. In the process, we also spend a lot of time thinking about what the theologians call “theological anthropology” – so what does it mean to be human? Spoiler alert: Humans are uniquely innovative animals, and we saturate our environment with tech! Why? And to what ends? That’s what the course wrestles with.
Q. What advice would you give to a student who’s interested in studying your discipline at Whitworth?
A. I’d be super pumped if most students decided to combine majors or minors that ordinary wisdom think are too unlike to be combined! Were someone to tackle my path and become a theologian/pastor/computer scientist cross-class, I’d advise them boldly to risk hard classes with humor, particularly courses in logic (like Discrete Math or Algorithm Analysis) on the one hand and biblical languages (like Koine Greek or Hebrew) on the other. Doing so hones your ability to think outside the box because you’re actually using similar skills on what otherwise appear to be very different tasks. They also kind of stress-test your capacity for intellectual humility and courage, soft skills that some are arguing will be A++ in the economy of the future once AI is fully integrated!
Q. What’s something great about your Whitworth department?
A. My department emphasizes community. For example, on the computer science side we get together weekly for informal conversation on shared projects, hopes, anxieties and innovation, and we share almost everything when developing classes or encouraging each other’s students. Parties happen too! There’s a high likelihood any given semester that math & CS faculty will bring a smorgasbord of barbecue, Indian food (and other international fare), homemade cookies, and authentic Southwest-style queso dip for folks to feast on. We’ve even started mass-advising for registration, with snacks and crazy atmosphere, blocking off a section of our building for everyone to hang out and think through what courses to take (and teach!) together.
JUST FOR FUN
Q. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?
A. 1) I want to be Origen of Alexandria when I grow up. 2) I want to write a rule of life for relating to God and humanity with advanced tech.
Q. What’s the most interesting or unusual item in your office?
A. My two precocious daughters tried to make the world’s longest paperclip chain. It’s hanging outside my office door in Johnston. Come check it out!
Q. What’s your favorite spot on campus?
A. I really like the Back 40, both for prayer walks and for playing with my kids.
Q. Tell us about your pet.
A. My family golden retriever, Abby, is a sweetheart. She also got used to roughhousing with me when she was a puppy, so she still turns to me for that. Every night she sneak attacks me!
Q. What artists or musical genre do you play when you need a pick-me-up?
A. Peyton Parrish, Danheim, Sabaton and Sail North are my current faves! On the other end of the spectrum, I like John Michael Talbot and a few other old school CCM artists such as Eden’s Bridge, Rich Mullins and Keith Green.
Q. If you could spend a day as any fictional character, who would it be and why?
A. Probably I’d like to be the character I’m currently playing in a D&D campaign. I’m really invested in his character development already, and it would be interesting to experience it from the inside. But, if I had to pick a more established and canonical character, I think I’d pick Ransom from C.S. Lewis’ “Space Trilogy.” He’s an unlikely hero who has to undergo a lot of inward transformation and growth to become the true Pendragon while adventuring through time and space, and the transformation is holistic – mind, body, spirit. There’s a lot I could learn from that.
Worth a Look 