On Adam Serfass, igniter of curiosity and creator of the "milli-helen":
"Professor Serfass epitomizes the best of what Kenyon offers: a rare combination of subject mastery, high expectations from students, and an enthusiasm that ignites dormant curiosity. He opens the door to abstruse concepts and dusty texts without losing our interest. In fact, I can say I have developed a new interest in classical rhetoric as a result of his class. Making Augustine interesting can't be easy, but Serfass, amazingly, succeeded."
--Hillel Ofek '07
"Professor Serfass has taken a highly uncompromising approach toward education. I have been struck by the breadth and depth of the insights and suggestions lining my papers, and by the professor's willingness to carry conversations beyond the classroom. He has done much to sustain my passion for the classics by leading me to recognize the irreducible worth in the knowledge of ancient things."
--Loren Bondurant '07
"Professor Serfass was one of the most memorable lecturers we had in IPHS [the Integrated Program in Humane Studies]. He would walk up to the podium with his pink bowties, looking sharp but unassuming, and would proceed to give the most witty, insightful lectures. He began his talk about the Iliad by saying, 'I like to measure things in milli-helens. If one Helen can launch a thousand ships, then one milli-helen should be able to launch one ship.' He later called students up to re-enact Trojan battle techniques."
--Willow Belden '07
"He was always energetic and genuinely excited about the material. He asked us to read the same passages of the Aeneid aloud twice in one class session, sincerely explaining, 'It's just so beautiful!' Professor Serfass was a challenging, encouraging, and dynamic instructor."
--Lauren Ostberg '07
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