Like Henry David Thoreau, the historical figure who lived for a year in the woods alone in a cabin, Dr. Radaker’s office in the English department is secluded from the rest of campus, creating a serenity that’s almost Walden-esque. Perhaps it’s the fact that Radaker professionally portrays Thoreau in character to audiences across the country that creates that serenity. Or perhaps it’s his own calm and personable demeanor. Either way, Radaker’s contribution to AU’s campus, although as unassuming as the small department of which he is the chair, is significant. His work has been toward improving the academic opportunities for all students and influencing them on the individual level through the challenging ideas he presents in his classrooms.

“I never dreamed to be back at my alma mater,” Radaker said. After graduating from Anderson in 1978, Radaker moved on to his Masters at Purdue and P.H.d. at Penn State, hoping to secure a professorship wherever he could. He received an offer in 1987 to teach full time at the University of Missouri and thought that this was going to be his next step. But less than a week away from signing his contract, the chair of the English department of AU called him to ask him if he was interested in a position. He hadn’t heard from the University in quite some time, so the call was serendipitous, to say the least. He accepted the position to teach at AU and in the year following was named the chair of the English department.

Radaker’s expertise is in the writings of Henry David Thoreau, a radical of the 1800s. During the summer before his junior year of high school, Radaker first read Walden, Thoreau’s masterpiece. “This work excited me for two reasons. First, I was encouraged by the idea of the sacrality of nature,” Radaker explained, “Second, I understood the nonconformist message very well. As a young person surrounded by peer pressure, I needed that.” Radaker’s interest grew into a more “informed, studied passion.” In 1977, he had the opportunity to portray Thoreau in Anderson University’s production of a play entitled The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. That was the spark that began his career as portraying Thoreau for audiences. Since 1991, he has portrayed the writer in over 300 forums. “It’s a very exciting part of my life,” Radaker said.

Radaker has worked with the rest of the English faculty to help develop curriculum relevant to the interests and professional needs of the students. During his time as chair, the writing major and minor were introduced into the catalogue, as were a number of new courses. Among the new classes are Professional Writing and Editing, Young Adult Literature, American Authors of Color, Creative Writing Fiction, Creative Writing Poetry, and American Art and Painting. “Our approach to curriculum is very pragmatic. We want to emphasize skills that English majors excel at, such as writing,” Radaker explained. In the coming years, Radaker and the English department also hope to add more courses exploring the Christian tradition in literature, and to offer a course on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, which will be taught by the new English professor Jennifer Randonis.

At 50, Radaker is still able to enjoy youth not only through the age-group he teaches, but also his two boys Paul, 13, and Luke, 10. He and his wife Linda often take their boys on vacations in the wilderness to hike and enjoy nature. The boys are starting to develop a fondness toward the natural world as well. “I’ve always been teaching 18-20 year olds. It’s a stage of forming. Now being a parent, I’m more sensitive to that. I’m teaching people still forming, asking important questions about self and the world,” Radaker said. And like Thoreau helped him form his own identity, Radaker is now helping his students form their own identities in the world they will find beyond the University.