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Thick engineering books line the walls and shelves of Don Van's office in The Ethos Forum, where a large window floods the room with natural light. With a calm demeanor and a kind smile, Van carries the quiet confidence of a man who has spent a lifetime building things — departments, students, and now, something entirely new.

After 25 years of teaching at Union, Van retired from the classroom this year as professor of engineering. In retirement, he plans to do what the demands of grading and teaching never quite allowed: simply dive deep into the languages and the text he loves.

"I always love to read the Bible in its original language," he said. "I am not there yet, but I intend to spend my retirement learning more of the language."

Originally joining Union to help build the engineering program, he stepped down from the department chair position 15 years ago with two goals in mind: to home school his sons and to pursue a long-held dream of studying Scripture.

With both of his sons successfully through high school and college, Van was able to wrap up his degree. This spring, he walked across the stage as an undergraduate and received his bachelor's degree in biblical studies with a concentration in biblical languages — a degree 15 years in the making.

"I'm a slow learner," he said with a laugh.

What makes Van's story particularly remarkable is where it begins. He is, as he describes it, "the product of missionary work." American missionaries arrived in Vietnam in 1911, and through that legacy, his father came to faith and brought his family with him. That heritage of belief has shaped everything Van has done and everything he still plans to do.

Retirement for Van will not mean slowing down. He and his wife plan to stay in the Jackson area for at least two years and offer themselves to local churches, spending time simply being present, serving where they are called and waiting on the next direction. In the near term, that means continuing a home Bible study among the Vietnamese community in the Jackson area and serving at a Vietnamese church in Memphis on weekends.

Ever the lifelong learner, he is also pursuing an HVAC certification alongside his son with a creative and generous vision. When he fixes someone's air conditioning, he won't ask for payment. Instead, he'll ask for an hour. For believers, he wants to hear their story of faith. For those who don't yet believe, he wants to share his own.

As for what comes after the next two years, Van holds his plans loosely and joyfully.

"If [the Lord] calls," Van said, "we'll just pick up and go." Louisiana, California, Florida, Vietnam — wherever the call leads, he and his wife are ready.

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