Professional Endorsements

(Scroll down for Student Endorsements)

“Dr Jason Lepojärvi’s teaching and lecturing style is engaging and effective. He has just the right balance in his manner: dispassionately assessing the material on the one hand while sensitively remembering the complex humanity (of Lewis, of himself, of his students) on the other hand. Too few scholars achieve this balance, but Jason is one of its most admirable exemplars that I have ever encountered in this respect—either in the field of Lewis studies or, for that matter, in the field of literary-theological study generally. I have lectured on C. S. Lewis and related matters all round the world, and I am in constant contact with scholars of his work from every corner of the globe. In my opinion, Jason is without doubt one of the most able and promising figures currently operating in this area of research. I heartily commend his tutorials to you.”

—Dr. Michael Ward, Fellow of Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and Professor of Apologetics, Houston Baptist University (www.michaelward.net), editor of The Cambridge Companion to C. S. Lewis (2010)

“Dr. Jason Lepojärvi has a rare and valuable combination of skills: keen intelligence, deep knowledge of his field, the ability to communicate effectively, and the gift of drawing insights from others in discussion. His students will benefit greatly from sessions with him, where all these gifts come into play. Having myself designed and taught many online courses, I know firsthand that online instruction, done well and with a dedicated and skillful teacher such as Jason, is a valuable and enriching experience. As a scholar of Tolkien and Lewis, I know and admire Jason’s scholarship; I am delighted that he will be helping students to delve more deeply into the work of these important authors. I highly recommend his tutorials.”

—Dr. Holly Ordway, Professor of English, faculty in the M.A. in Apologetics, Houston Baptist University (hollyordway.com), author of Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith (2017)

“I have known Jason Lepojärvi as a friend, as an eloquent and deeply insightful fellow Inklings scholar, and as a superb President of the Oxford University C. S. Lewis Society, which throve under his tenure. His knowledge of his subject is deep, his understanding deeper still; and he elucidates complex ideas with clarity, immediacy, and a kind of calm passion. It doesn’t take long in his company to realise he is going to go a long way. Students will benefit richly from his tutorials.”

—John Garth, Author of Tolkien and the Great War (johngarth.co.uk), Winner of the Mythopoeic Award and the Tolkien Society Awards (2017)

“Dr. Lepojärvi has worked as an Adjunct Instructor of Theology at Abilene Christian University’s study abroad program in Oxford, UK, teaching C. S. Lewis and the nature of love. In this capacity, he has taught over 100 of our students. He is an engaging instructor; extremely knowledgeable yet always open to learning from his students. His lectures are lively and informative with room for in-depth exploration. Dr. Lepojärvi had our students do ‘mini-tutorials’ in the middle of their semester and every student reported that the experience was the highlight of the course. The tutorials deepened the knowledge gained in his lectures, gave them the confidence to debate with an instructor, and encouraged the students to take ownership of their studies.”

—Jacqueline Morrison, Director of Study Abroad Oxford, Abilene Christian University

“Dr. Lepojärvi’s work on the theology of love broke new ground in studies related to C. S. Lewis, setting a high standard for others to follow. He possesses that rare talent among theologians of communicating in ways which non-specialists will not find boring. Surely he is one of the rising stars of his generation.”

—Dr. Bruce R. Johnson, General Editor, Sehnsucht: The C. S. Lewis Journal, and pastor, Scottsdale Presbyterian Church, Arizona, USA

“Given his extensive knowledge of Lewis and his thought, Jason Lepojärvi is one of the leading interpreters of Lewis in his generation.”

—Dr. Eric Gregory, Professor of Religion, Chair of the Council of the Humanities, Princeton University

Student Endorsements

“Jason Lepojärvi’s scholarly verve augments his enthusiastic teaching style and his rare capacity to make comprehensible complex, philosophical concepts. Throughout our tutorial discussions, his passion for C. S. Lewis facilitated my progression from a rudimentary knowledge to a more developed understanding of Lewis’s works and intellectual thought. Jason’s criticisms were candid and charitable, encouraging me to dig deeper and pursue unanswered questions. He patiently probed my vague analyses with perceptive queries. An engaging tutor, Jason’s authoritative knowledge of Lewis, theology, and love induces lively conversions during tutorials, bolstering an eagerness to move beyond theoretical abstractions. Indeed, studying under Jason stands out as one of the most intellectually and spiritually formative periods of my life.”

—Chelsia Van Hierden, D.Phil. Candidate in Theology and Religion, Oxford University

“Professor Jason Lepojärvi’s course on Lewis and Christianity should not be taken lightly. The content is enlightening and thought provoking but requires a great deal of discipline and hard work. Each week focuses on a particular theme with an open-ended prompt that can be answered using the appropriate reading. All the hard work will pay off in the end for a personally rewarding course. You will learn to question your own convictions, play the Devil’s Advocate to your own arguments, and discussions with Jason will strengthen your critical thinking skills.”

—Daniel Duval, English and Communications, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, USA

“I highly recommend a course with Dr. Jason Lepojärvi for all interested in a well-directed and stimulating exploration of C. S. Lewis’s work. He has a deeply empathetic nature that makes conversation with him both accessible and gratifying. He presents his coursework with a keen sense of organization and clarity of student goals, eliminating wearisome ambiguities regarding assignments and expectations. Perhaps one of Jason’s most extraordinary quality, though, is his passion to study and learn alongside you, an attitude that empowers his students and inspires joy and respect in all who meet him.”

—Lucie Parfitt, English Literature, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, USA

“Jason is one of those intellectual giants I thought only existed in fairy takes and history books. He possesses expansive knowledge, an esteemed history of study, and most importantly, a unique method of tutelage that manages to engage and inspire. He didn’t teach at me like so many of my previous teachers. Instead, he invited me to join him on an intellectual journey, leaving me amazed at the depth of the comprehension I had gained. He will pull an intellect out of you which you didn’t know existed.”

—Garon Goodspeed, Accounting and Finance, Abilene Christian University, Texas, and Assurance Intern, PricewaterhouseCoopers

“Before taking Jason’s course on C. S. Lewis’s understanding of love, Lewis was just an idea to me. I only knew him in the context of Narnia and hadn’t been brave enough to tackle some of his more challenging writings. In the months I spent in Oxford studying Lewis with Jason, I got to experience just a drop of the richness of Lewis’s thought and writings. Jason came alongside our class and pushed us to think harder and challenge our views on what love really is. He immersed us in Lewis’s Oxford and brought the words off the pages and into our lives tangibly. With Jason’s mentoring and intent on students grasping the content, I walked away from the semester feeling like I had climbed Mount Everest. I found joy in the challenge Lewis presents a fellow intellectual and found a friend in the professor who helped me learn what it means to love God, love people and love the world around me.”

—Allison Brown, Publishing, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK

“When I began Jason’s class, ‘The Philosophy of Love,’ I was not well acquainted with the topic, nor was I particularly excited about it. However, my feelings could not have been more misguided. By the end of the first week, I found myself spending most of my free time reading for this class. By the end of the semester, it was my favorite class, by far. The authors and texts that Jason selected were an utter delight. Jason’s conversation and guidance was poignant and enriching. But my favorite part of all was the questions which arose throughout the course. ‘Does and should love seek happiness?’ ‘What is love’s connection with emotions?’ ‘What is the relationship between Agape and Eros?’ These questions and others haunted me in the best sense possible, and they continue to haunt me. This class will change the way that you think about love.”

—Alicia Beach, Philosophy and Theology, Templeton Honors College at Eastern University, PA, USA

“Growing up reading Narnia and having C. S. Lewis’s stories shape my young and adult life, never has his work and life become more alive to me than taking a class with Jason. The class content, ranging from friendship love and vulnerability to the problem of evil and love’s perversion, always led to discussion that was engaging, real, thoughtful and provoking. I can honestly say that both the class and professor will go down as among the best that I have had the privilege to take in my life. I left the class equipped to be a better writer, a more thoughtful student, and overall a more holistic human.”

—Stephen Straits, President of Regent College Student Council, Canada

“It would be fair to describe Dr. Lepojärvi as someone who thinks outside of the box every time he teaches. But as a true master of ‘Lewisology’, perhaps he actually thinks inside the wardrobe. He took me by the hand into the wonderful world of Lewis’s writings, soundly presenting his case, not unlike the ‘thunderstorm and kitten’ of Narnia. In Dr. Lepojärvi’s classes, it is hard to hide our misconceptions about God and ourselves; but there you will also find yourself profoundly transformed by the softness of Lewis’s words. His tutorial courses are for everyone—for friends, lovers, widows, parents, writers, philosophers, and theologians. Everyone. Get ready for a grand adventure!”

—Rebeca Pascoal, Theology and the Arts, Lisbon, Portugal

“You would be a fool to miss out on having Jason as a tutor. Jason was my tutor for a five-week summer program in Oxford. Since then, I have had many tutorials with various Oxford professors. Jason is, by far, the best tutor I have had. He is an engaging and dynamic teacher who balances critique and encouragement effortlessly. Do not miss a chance to learn from him. He gives the greatest gift of the tutorial system: he teaches you how to think.”

—Miranda Kunk, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Belhaven University, Mississippi

“Dr. Jason Lepojärvi is a first class lecturer with an unparalleled knowledge of the works of C.S. Lewis as well as other members of the Inklings. I have taken his course on love and can confirm that his lectures are always well informed and riveting. His undoubted intellectual powers certainly stretch the student’s intellect but the affections are also engaged in his classes. Beyond his lectures, Jason is a very fine human being, down to earth and approachable as a person. He cares for students as persons. I recommend him highly. He is certainly one of the best lecturers I have ever encountered.”

—Tammy Carrillo Rangel, B.Sc. Nursing (R.N.), Vancouver, Canada

Read more student endorsements on the next page.