King College > Academics > Faculty > Craig McDonald

Craig McDonald

Music often has a way of expressing emotions that can’t be said with words. As a professor of English, it might seem that verbal communication would come easy for Dr. Craig McDonald. However, he relies on the music of his bagpipes to say “goodbye and best wishes” to the graduating seniors at commencement exercises.

“It is a way of highlighting all their accomplishments,” he said. “It is my gift to them.”

Dressed in a kilt and playing the bagpipes, he leads the graduates into the commencement ceremony for their march around The Oval, giving them a “chance to strut their stuff.”

The tradition is also a reminder of how far the graduates have come since starting at King College. During the opening convocation, Dr. McDonald leads the faculty into the service playing bagpipes.

“In a sense, the pipes punctuate the students' experience at King, proclaiming a beginning and celebrating the end.”

This tradition began in the mid-80s, when graduation ceremonies were moved to the Oval.

The playing of the bagpipes also expresses King College’s sense of tradition.

“As a college with its roots firmly in the Presbyterian tradition, the pipes call to mind the legacy of faith that we have inherited, the sacrifices others have made so that we might do the work we have been called to do, the dreams they have had that we have a part in fulfilling,” Dr. McDonald said.

Dr. McDonald has been a part of fulfilling King College student’s academic dreams since 1982 when he began teaching English.

“It is very hard for me to view teaching as a job,” Dr. McDonald said. “For me it is a way of life. It’s inspiring to teach students to unlock the power of their words by giving the freedom to explore. The study of English, faith and literature raises the big questions of ‘Who am I?’ I enjoy offering opportunities in which students can explore such questions through class discussions and even beyond class. Students learn the most through exploration of themselves and what they belief, and at King College we strongly encourage just that.”

His most recent endeavor is serving as the director of The Jack E. Snider Honors Center where he and other faculty members challenge students to learn to live as well as learn to think while interacting with other students of diverse interests. Participants will take selected courses that stimulate thinking and allow for creative response while engaging in special opportunities such as meeting with faculty members and outside guests who demonstrate a passionate commitment to the students. Other courses may allow honors students, for extra credit, to develop more extensive research projects.

“Students participating in the honors program will develop a disciplined, independent mind, able to raise provocative questions, make connections and examine critically unexamined assumptions,” he said.

Another important aspect of Dr. McDonald’s life is volunteering with Habitat for Humanity where he helps build homes for others.

“We tend to get caught up in the things around us,” he said. “Sometimes we tend to focus on ourselves and what we need to get done. By volunteering for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, we have the opportunity to give back.”