Finding Meaning in Every Story: Dr. Raschke Joins Bethel’s English Department
From TikToks to timeless novels, Bethel’s newest English professor believes anything that tells a story is worth studying.
Whether it is a TikTok video or a 500-page novel from the past, Dr. Daniel Raschke believes both can hold equal value and serve as interesting teaching material. The new visiting assistant professor of English shared his thoughts on literature, teaching, and his first impressions of Bethel.
Before coming to Bethel, Raschke studied in Germany, where he completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He received a scholarship for an exchange year at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he met his wife. After finishing his studies in Germany, he applied to Florida State University to complete his doctorate in English.
“I had multiple students question the existence of my doctorate,” Raschke said with a laugh, “which is why it now has its well-deserved spot on my office wall.”
When asked how he ended up at Bethel, Raschke said he was won over by the kind and welcoming nature of the staff and students he met during his campus interview. “Everyone seemed excited for me to join the community,” he shared, noting that he was pleasantly surprised not only by the staff’s enthusiasm but also by how eager the students were to engage with him.
“The mindset of Bethel felt so good, I decided on the fly to take the job, even if it meant moving halfway across the country,” Raschke said.
In middle school, Raschke was convinced he would become an English teacher, until he found out he would have to teach the same material for the rest of his life. “That sounded horribly depressing,” Raschke said. “That was the moment when I realized higher education was the better way forward for me.”
When teaching, Raschke likes to challenge his students by exposing them to readings they might not engage with outside of class. He hopes not only to showcase the many potentials of literature but also to present different perspectives on the world.
“I think there is not really any barrier to what I can teach at Bethel,” Raschke said with excitement.
His favorite book to teach is Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. “It always makes students interested and come up with new interpretations every time,” he said. Raschke values his students’ involvement in class discussions, preferring to create a space for dialogue rather than lecture.
“Dialogue is key,” he emphasized. “Even though I might be the expert in the room, that does not mean I know everything.” For Raschke, it is important to stay humble and curious — to keep learning from anyone who can broaden one’s horizons.
One of his goals for the English department is to encourage more students to consider majoring or minoring in English. “It’s not as important to read a lot anymore,” Raschke explained. “What makes English as a major so fascinating is that you can choose anything to focus on in your studies and make it interesting.”
“Anything can be valuable and thought-provoking in cultural studies,” he added.
As long as it is relevant to today’s time and problems, Raschke believes it is worth teaching. He encourages students to constantly be on the lookout for things that could be better or are unjust, and to start talking about them.
“The key is to stay curious about the world, pay attention, and ask questions,” Raschke said.
“The key is to stay curious about the world, pay attention, and ask questions,”
Daniel Raschke
He believes that when students are engaged and the class material feels relevant to the present day, anyone can enjoy an English class. Being connected to the world, he says, helps with understanding literature in a unique way.
“Literature is one of the only ways to get detailed perspectives from people of all kinds all around the world,” Raschke said. “That’s what makes engaging with it so important.”