4 minute read
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Joel Frees
By Grace Eades (‘23)
AFTER HAVING SPENT his younger years in Colorado, Dr. Frees moved with his family to Ponca City, Oklahoma at the end of elementary school. His two older brothers attended SNU, one of them double majoring in Athletic Training and Pre-Physical Therapy. As Frees prepared to follow in his brothers’ footsteps in attending SNU, he was inspired by the complimentary way in which his older brother discussed both programs.
“Each weekend or holiday he would come home, he raved about the classes he was taking, the department, and the professions,” Dr. Frees explained. “In a step of faith, I declared the same major and fell in love with the fulfillment of helping others achieve their goals and walking with them through really dark, difficult times in their lives.”
To Joel, the program was the perfect marriage of two of his greatest passions–getting to be involved with athletics and getting to serve others. However, he wouldn’t know the exact direction he’d be taking with his degree until he encountered Dr. Mark Winslow’s Physics class in his senior year, a subject many students dreaded.
“A class that brought anxiety and despair to many became the class that sparked intrigue and fueled my love of learning.” Through this class, and the many hours spent outside of the classroom learning through trial and error, I started imagining myself trying to stoke these same flames for students in the future. The way the material was brought to life by an individual who simultaneously loved his discipline, and the material, and deeply cared for and loved his students was inspiring. By the end of my senior year at SNU, I was committed to entering the field of academia at some point in my career.”
After graduating with his bachelors in Pre-Physical Therapy, Dr. Frees attended the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, where he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. He spent time working in the field, primarily in the area of outpatient orthopedics, before God opened doors for him to return to SNU to teach.
In teaching at a private Christian institution, Dr. Frees knew that it would allow him to emphasize what had made physical therapy such an appealing career for him: as an avenue through which to exert Christ-like empathy to those who need it most.
“In some ways, I almost think it would be more difficult to separate out the practice of rehabilitative professions and Kingdom work,” said Dr. Frees. “Every aspect of developing relationships with patients, striving for excellence in clinical decision making and working towards the best possible outcome, showing compassion for others, and working to restore and improve one’s quality of life is a calling. Getting to teach at SNU not only allows me to infuse this into the curriculum but encourages me to do so.”
However, Dr. Frees had a second and more personal reason for returning to SNU, his meaningful connections and had roots within the university. “I come from a family with longstanding Nazarene roots and credit so much of who I am to countless individuals throughout my life who have poured into me and my family through this heritage,” Dr. Frees explained. “I am privileged to give back by trying to impact others in the same way I have been impacted. Serving in this role gives me an avenue to honor those who have loved me so well.”
Dr. Frees currently teaches multiple classes at SNU in the School of Kinesiology. Of all the things that excites Dr. Frees about his role as a professor, his passion for inspiring students in the same way his professors did for him cannot be overstated.
“I hope students see the deep care I have for them.” I want them to not only learn, but to love learning. I want them to know I also care about their spiritual lives, relationships, successes and failures, and futures. I hope they look back and know they were deeply loved and cared for. I hope to inspire them to love others in the same way.”
Outside of teaching, Dr. Frees continues his early work in orthopedic physical therapy on a weekly basis to positively impact patients and stay informed as an instructor. He also golfing and playing pickup basketball. He also attends and is involved in his church, the 8th Street Church of the Nazarene. And perhaps most importantly, he and his wife Corbyn are the proud parents of two children, Finley (6) and Phoenix (3).
