Dr. Allen Carden
As both a teacher of history at the college and university level for over four decades, and a researcher and writer of history, my love for studying the past and sharing my insights has only increased with time. A great history class in my junior year of high school grabbed my interest and helped establish a trajectory that has been so much more than a job; it has been an adventure, a passion, and I would even say a ministry in which the search for truth and exposure of historical error has fascinated me. I love taking complex historical events and persons and trying to make them understandable and relevant to my students. It is my privilege to be not only an instructor of continuing education courses for Fresno Pacific University, but also to be a full-time professor of history at this fine institution. One of the joys of my professional life life has been developing 17 courses for FPU's continuing education offerings, primarily in history but also in education and cross-cultural studies. Enriching the fund of knowledge for teachers through these courses has been very satisfying.
I love developing courses and working with students. “Learning” is such a great way to make a living!
Professional Experience: Over 50 years of teaching and administration in higher education; former president of FPU and now Emeritus Professor of History
Personal Experience: Significant international travel over the years; Many trips taken with student groups
Scholarly Interests: History of just about anything; Special interests in early American and European history; Lincoln
Publications: Seven books and numerous journal articles in the field of history
Recommended Reading: Anything by American historians David McCullough or Edmund S. Morgan
Favorite Bible Verse: Too many great ones to name a favorite
Favorite Music: Classical, especially Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky
Family Info: Married to Denice since 1970; two adult daughters and four grandchildren
What Matters: Understanding and doing God’s will
Pet Peeves: Arrogance coupled with stupidity
What I Like About FPU: Christian community coupled with academic rigor & location