Education a ‘dry well’ for Eke without ‘family, friends, fun’

Raymond Beadnell / Reporter

He definitely makes an intimidating first impression; standing six feet tall and 208 pounds, it’s hard for him not to.

In sharp contrast to his imposing physical appearance, Chinedu Eke, assistant professor of communications, is a soft-spoken, open-minded intellectual.

In his office decorated with memories, small pictures of Bob Marley line the walls, alongside the Nigerian flag that serves as the back drop for the room. The gentle tick of the clock on the wall emblazoned with the mascot of his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University, competes with the soft roots reggae that is usually playing.

Eke joined the School of Communications in 2003. Teaching courses covering communications in a global society, African film and digital media convergence, along with other projects, Eke often focuses on current events.

“International communications, minorities and women in the media, media and society, and public alternative media” are a list of interests that anyone could find on the Elon Web site’s faculty and staff directory; but Eke’s story goes much deeper than that.

Originally born in Owerri, Nigeria, Eke immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 after he and his father decided there would be better educational opportunities there. Eke’s father, a devout Baptist, had arranged for him to go to the biggest Baptist university in the world, Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Given the choice between studying in London or studying in the United States, Eke decided on the United States as it seemed more “fun and accepting.”

Like the story of most immigrants, Eke’s is lined with the struggles of dealing with culture shock and trying to educate himself at the university level while still learning English.

After graduating from Baylor, Eke went on to get his Ph.D. at Penn State and after graduating in 2000 stayed at the school as a teacher for the next three years.

Eke met Paul Parsons, dean of the Elon School of Communications, at a conference and after keeping in touch, accepted a position to come to Elon. Eke said that he felt that as a smaller school, Elon is more focused on teaching rather than research, which competes for priority with teaching at a large school like PSU.

During his professional career Eke also spent time in the music industry. In California he worked as a freelancer for several production companies and produced music videos for artists such as Tupac, Boyz II Men, MC Hammer, The Zappa brothers, Aaron Hall and others.

Looking back, Eke said, “It was hard work but fun, especially when the finished video aired on MTV, VH1 or BET.” Apparently not wanting to seem single-faceted, Eke also spent some time working as a DJ for a reggae radio station.

When asked what advice he had for Elon students, Eke’s reply was simply: “My advice to Elon students is the same advice that I’ve given to my former students from Baylor and PSU, and that is to always remember the triple F’s – Family, Friends, Fun – without them, education becomes like a dry well that one has worked hard to dig but can’t find water. So in the midst of all you have to do, find time to tell a family member or friend how much you appreciate them – and I’m not talking of the commercialized holidays or valentines – and of course have a little fun under the sun! And no matter what you do, don’t let it (education) be your master, find your own voice.”