From pastry chef to prof: Sandra Smith opens up about how she ended up at Liberty University

Christians hear the term “called” a lot. It may seem like everyone feels “called” to a job field, school, internship or life-long career, even as they are asking the question “What does it mean to be ‘called’ by God to something?” Liberty University English professor Sandra Smith had to learn what her calling was through a long but creatively interesting process that started in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Smith had always liked editing. Whether it be for others’ written works or her own, Smith loved using her knowledge of the English language to mend and mold literature into publishable works of art. In fact, she has been editing for more than three decades now. However, she believes her profession in editing wasn’t her exact calling from God. 

“My professional background is in editing, mainly genre fiction, specifically YA (Young Adult) fiction and culinary non-fiction, so cook-books,” Smith said.

Smith was also always into cooking.    Coming from an exotic household, Smith’s Argentinian and Ukrainian ancestry have not only raised her on all sorts of delicious cuisines, but she also developed a love for baking while watching her father work as a professional chef. 

“My parents are both immigrants who met and fell in love in America,” Smith said. “Growing up, our family gatherings always had the best meals, and watching my dad be a cook definitely inspired me to explore culinary arts. I ended up becoming a pastry chef.”

Smith worked as a pastry chef for five years in New York, while editing as a freelancer and writing when she could. However, it wasn’t until she was promoted to executive pastry chef that she realized baking wasn’t her calling either. 

“I didn’t want to make a career out of culinary arts. It was more of an advocation, not a vocation,” Smith explained. “So I went back to editing and writing full time.”

It wasn’t until her own kids started college that Smith noticed some unpleasant trends in the education system and felt an urge to work in an atmosphere that let students actively live out their faith.

“I thought, ‘If I can’t be trying to help solve some of the problems that are happening, then I shouldn’t be complaining about it,’” Smith said. “I really prayed hard about direction, and the Lord kind of guided me to really have a heart for getting into education at a university level.”

After earning her MFA degree, Smith taught online at a couple of different universities, but it still didn’t feel right. When a position opened to be a residential professor at Liberty University, Smith knew she needed to apply. 

“I’ve always been a fan of Liberty since my husband graduated from (here),” Smith said. “I love everything about Liberty because it’s genuine. It’s very authentic, and some of my other experiences in education have not been. There’s a lot of suppression, a lot of censoring yourself or even avoiding conversations that could lead to discussion about Christianity (at other schools).”

Once Smith began teaching as an English professor at Liberty, she noticed how much of an impact she was having as well as receiving from the students she taught. Smith said that as she encouraged students to pursue their creative writing, it also motivated her to refocus on her own writing practice.

 “I pushed my students to take time daily to focus on their creative writing, but I realized I had been slacking on my own daily writing,” Smith said. “I thought, ‘What kind of teacher am I if I don’t take my own advice?’ So, I educate the students, but they also educate me.” 

Smith explained that all her past jobs are the pieces that clicked together to make the one big puzzle that turned out to be her teaching career. 

“It’s about showing up for the Lord where he directs you,” Smith said. “If you’re open to that leading and you’re willing to let the Lord guide your path, I really do think that is the most satisfying thing you can do for your career. I’ve had a lot of different, excellent jobs that I really loved, but teaching is where I feel led … and I now understand what it means to be called to something.” 

Wallace is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion