Staff Writer- Nhi Lee

Photo Credits: Sebastian Ellis Altoro

“My favorite thing about Professor Lang is that his door is genuinely always open,” Senior Clark Decaire said. “He has indulged me in talking about other classes, filmmaking, professional advice and more. He is an embodiment of all the things college should be for students.”

This accessibility defines the teaching philosophy of Professor of Communication Studies Martin Lang. Now in his 21st year as an educator at Gustavus Adolphus College, he strives to be the mentor he once needed.

Navigating higher education was not always an obvious path. As a first-generation college student, Lang stepped onto campus without a familial roadmap.

“I didn’t think I would go to college until I was almost finished at high school,” Lang said. “So I had no idea that I would end up teaching at a college one day.”

His trajectory shifted during his own undergraduate years at the college. While working alongside an English professor, Lang discovered a passion for guiding his peers through their academic journeys.

“It was a really powerful experience to see people learn things with my help and discover new ideas and explore things they were really interested in,” Lang said. “That is kind of what hooked me into teaching and made me think that teaching would be a profession I liked.”

Today, he channels that same energy into his students by emphasizing the value of a liberal arts education. Decaire noted that a single conversation with Lang shaped his entire college experience.

“Professor Lang was the first professor I spoke to when considering Gustavus as a high school student,” Decaire said. “He got me on board with the liberal arts degree and it led me to take classes I would never have imagined myself taking, like the Peer MALT class or studying overseas.”

Inside the classroom, Lang maintains rigorous expectations while treating students as genuine collaborators. Junior Evangelyn Hill experienced this firsthand while conducting media research alongside him. “His feedback and high standards push students to achieve their best work,” Hill said. “I also appreciate how he takes student ideas and creativity and thinking very seriously. During our research project, I loved feeling that my ideas were heard and appreciated.”

Beyond academics, Lang builds connections through a campus tradition known as Noontime Boon Time, a biweekly soccer game open to the entire community. “It has been going for like 15 years,” Martin said. “I do something that I love with people who are very friendly and like spending time together. We laugh a lot. We play soccer, of course, but we also chat and goof around.”

Drawing from his own background, Lang continues to advocate for first-generation students. He hopes all students recognize the support systems available to them on campus.

“If we find out that you’re struggling, we have so many great resources here that can help make your life so much easier, but you have to take the first step and ask for help,” Lang said.