After 20 years of teaching at John Brown University, Dr. Brad Gambill announced he will be retiring after the 2025 spring semester. At the university’s end-of-year English Banquet, Dr. Jonathan Himes read the many achievements and contributions of his colleague and friend, Gambill.
“Dr. Brad Gambill grew up in Oklahoma,” Himes said. “And, in fact, much of his scholarly research and creative work is grounded in the culture of his home state.”
Some of the works Himes listed included Gambill’s full-length play “The 5 & Dime Girl.” and several of his one-act plays. He has also written two Oklahoma-based novels, “Baby’s Blues.” and “No Joy for Matisse.”
Himes went on to elaborate on Gambill’s passion for Cherokee culture, shown in the classes he taught in Cherokee literature and in 20th Century Native American literature. Every fall, freshmen students in Gambill’s gateway seminar in Christian scholarship attended the Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah, Okla., to hear the principal chief give the State of the Nation Address. Gambill has also given scholarly presentations on Cherokee writers John Milton Oskison and Diane Glancy.
Gambill served as the head of the English Department for over a decade and taught English Composition I and II, Introduction to Creative Writing, Playwriting and several other classes that studied, as well as practiced, different literary genres. He led Introduction to English studies and capstone classes, streamlining those courses to better prepare students for their four-year college experience, together with their next steps after graduation.
As Honors Director in his first years of teaching at JBU, Gambill helped coordinate English program curriculums and assessments. He also provided a comprehensive Blackboard site for the English program, adding forms and curricular materials like four-year plans and career paths for the degree. Gambill also personally mentored countless students, helping them find internships, apply for grad school and encouraging them to publish their works for others to see.
As the faculty sponsor of Sigma Tau Delta, Gambill organized poetry slams, creative writing workshops, literacy initiatives for at-risk students over the border in Oklahoma, and book drives for local nonprofit organizations.
He hosted events for English majors, ordered t-shirts for the staff and students, and helped the entire department bond as a community with traditions like Theatre outings and faculty dinners in Fayetteville.
“Gambill has been a constant encouragement to faculty in shared and adjacent departments as well,” Dr. Himes said.
Many students shared their thoughts on Gambill. Ryan Kees, a senior biology major with a creative writing minor, related how Gambill helped him find a passion for theatre.
“I now see playwriting as another area to practice my craft and expand my understanding,” Kees said.
Freshman English major Camden Mathis expressed deep gratitude for the mentorship of Dr. Gambill, enhancing his lasting influence and personal investment in his students.
“The instruction and encouragement that Dr. Gambill has given me will no doubt have a massive impact on the rest of my life, He saw something in me and took time out of his schedule to push me further and take me under his wing. He’s a true treasure of a human being” He said.
Junior English major Ella Fletcher added her own testimony of Gambill’s support.
“Dr. Gambill has been an extremely supportive professor, both inside and outside of the classroom. He is always willing to meet with students and discuss the writing process, theatre, and life at large. He is such a witty and encouraging person and wholeheartedly deserving of his retirement,” Fletcher said.
Senior English major Ali Jargo shared similar thoughts.
“Dr. Gambill has been the most impactful professor I had during my time at JBU,” Jargo said. “I can never thank him enough for how he's grown me as a writer, and for his consistent, sincere encouragement on every single paper for the past four years. I'm so grateful to have gotten the chance to learn from him.”
Each of these students seemed to concur that JBU, its faculty and any students who had the privilege of knowing Dr. Gambill in any capacity, will deeply miss him as he and his wife enjoy retirement.
Photo courtesy of Adeline Gruen
