by Chloe Dent
You might’ve seen a new face around town, on campus, or even in your class. Introducing Dr. Amadi Amaitsa, OBU’s newest history professor. Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, Amaitsa grew up with a love for history and a desire to teach.
“I had always liked history,” he said. “I think it’s fascinating. From middle school all the way to college I was pretty set on history and teaching it one day.”
Amaitsa earned his bachelor’s degree at Corban University, his master’s at the University of Utah, and later moved to Waco, Texas,where he received his Ph.D. in history.
“I married my wife, Delilah, after I finished my master’s,” he said. “We were long-distance dating for about two years, which was difficult, but we made it work. From there I spent the past six years in Waco getting my Ph.D. in history.”
Along the way, Amaitsa found professors who shaped the way he views both history and teaching.
“I appreciated how [Dr. Scot Bruce] approached history from a Christian perspective,” Amaitsa said. “He really helped me think through historical movements and figures with a Christian lens.”
At the University of Utah, Dr. Noël M. Voltz also impacted his approach.
“She was very passionate about teaching history,” he said. “She showed me that teaching history can be fun because there’s always something to be learned.”
Amaitsa shared that one of his favorite areas to study and teach is American religious history, particularly during the Cold War.
“During the 1940s to the 1980s, religion and identity in the United States were booming,” he said. “‘In God We Trust’ was printed on currency and ‘one nation under God’ was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. I also really enjoy teaching on Mormonism and hope to do that here at OBU.”
When asked which historical figures he’d most like to meet, Amaitsa pointed first to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.
“There are things we don’t fully know about his time, and I’d just like to see what was going on,” Amaitsa said. “He seemed more inclusive than his successors when it came to race, and I’d want to ask him about that, as well as about women in the priesthood.”
He also named Frederick Douglass, the 19th-century abolitionist and writer.
“His story is inspirational, going from slavery to fighting for his freedom,” Amaitsa said. “I’d love to talk with him about how his faith informed his views on slavery, how he dealt with backlash, and how he continued to love people who weren’t loving toward him.”
Looking to his own classroom, Amaitsa shared his hopes for his students.
“I would hope that through our learning of history together, we would come to a better understanding of other people groups around us, as well as ourselves,” he said. “History gives us an opportunity to step into other people’s shoes and eventually love other people around us.”
While Amaitsa doesn’t point to a specific verse that guides his teaching, Psalm 23 has long encouraged him personally.
“It emphasizes God’s provision and shows how He cares for us,” he said. “During grad school, when things got hectic and I felt a lot of anxiety, I would reflect on that chapter and remind myself that God is my shepherd, and everything is under control.”
When asked what advice he would give students nervous about taking Civ, Amaitsa offered reassurance.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors and be honest,” he said. “We’re believers, and we understand it can be overwhelming with all the readings and ideas. But you’re here for a reason. God opened the doors for you, and you have what it takes to succeed.”
Outside the classroom, Amaitsa enjoys running, dancing, and beatboxing, a talent he’s carried with him since high school.
“I love to dance! I used to do talent shows back in high school and college. None of the TikTok stuff, but hip-hop related dances,” he said. “I also like beatboxing. In high school and college, I was on an a cappella singing team. In addition to singing, I would provide the beat. My wife sang with me in the college a capella group.”
For Amaitsa, the message is simple: students belong at OBU, and they are more than capable of succeeding. With his encouragement and passion for history, OBU students can expect not just to learn the past, but to see it in new and meaningful ways.
