老司机传媒

Dave Sherwin, an assistant professor of photography at 老司机传媒, is retiring this spring after 29 years of teaching at the school. 

Sherwin's love for photography began during his childhood in Pakistan, where he was born. His parents served as missionaries, and he lived there until he went to high school. Using an old camera borrowed from his father when he was 12, he began taking portraits of local people in his town. Because he lacked access to professional tools, Sherwin improvised. Using the formula of a local photographer, he created his own photo developer using chemicals from nearby shops. He also transformed his mother's laundry room into a darkroom, using a string of red Christmas lights as a safelight. 

Sherwin developed his skills by working with his father. His father worked for the humanitarian aid organization World Vision, so Sherwin was tasked with taking pictures of students who were pen pals to American sponsors. He also made his own small business by taking pictures for his friends in school. 

“At first, my pictures were horrible…” Sherwin said with a laugh. “But as I did it again and again, I started getting better.” 

As his skills and creativity grew, he was scouted by World Vision. The organization began sending Sherwin on assignments in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. 

Academic and Professional Growth 

After Sherwin found his passion in Pakistan, he moved to Singapore to attend high school at Far Eastern Academy before moving to the U.S. to attend Andrews and pursue an undergraduate degree in photography. Following graduation, he gained professional experience as a photography assistant in Chicago, Illinois and Maryland. 

After working for Adventist Review for six years, a contact invited Sherwin to teach photography at Andrews in 1987. Initially, he was uninterested because he was happy in his current position. But after learning that his wife was pregnant and knowing they had family in Michigan, he decided that it would be a good career path. He taught photography for four years before opening his own photography studio in Baroda, Michigan. He ran this business successfully for almost a decade. 

Overcoming Hardships 

Unfortunately, in 2000, Sherwin faced a life-altering diagnosis. Due to complications from a childhood illness, he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. His bone marrow stopped making blood, and he fell too ill to continue operating his studio. But this is not where his story ended. He underwent a bone marrow transplant, with his sister as the donor. 

“I called my blood sister, and she came and got tested and she was a perfect match,” Sherwin said. 

After a grueling seven months in recovery, Sherwin returned to 老司机传媒 as a professor in the fall of 2000. 

Before he fell sick, teaching felt like a conflict that prevented him from doing photography jobs that he actually wanted to do. However, the experience of battling this severe illness transformed his approach to teaching. 

“It definitely gave me a new perspective,” Sherwin said. “When I came back the second time...it was a new beginning, and I liked it more.” 

Becoming a Mentor 

After returning to teaching, Sherwin’s teaching philosophy evolved to focus on mentorship rather than traditional instruction. He sought to guide students to not only master technical skills but also to understand practical applications of photography in various fields. The administrative 

side of teaching continues to be a hardship, but being able to mentor students and watch them grow overrules the pain of grading, he said. 

His students have greatly appreciated his approach. Whether majoring in photography or being new to art, everyone has something to learn from Sherwin. Karis Lyons, a digital communications major, took Digital Photography I from Sherwin. Although she had previous experience with photography in high school, she learned the technical side of photography from his classes. 

“I did like his sense of humor,” she said. “He's a chill guy. …It was fun. He made the experience fun.” 

Emmanuel Owusu-Dankwa, a graphic design major, took Lighting I with very little photography experience. 

“Sherwin has definitely been very patient with me,” Emmanuel said, laughing. “Everyone can take a picture, everyone has access to a phone and can take a decent-looking image. But he teaches you to not just take an image, but take an image that tells a story.” 

Future Plans 

Despite leaving teaching as a profession, Sherwin does not plan on ending creative projects. After retirement, Sherwin plans to dedicate his retirement to taking pictures for humanitarian projects. The extra time will allow him to travel for long periods of time. 

“If I had to do anything, it would be the humanitarian aid projects. So once I retire, I'll be able to do more of those, hopefully,” he said. “I like giving back. I feel like photography is a lot of taking, taking, taking. And I like to give back.” 

One of his favorite recent projects, “Paint Beyond Walls,” brings Muslims and Christians together despite conflicting beliefs. 

A Farewell to a Beloved Educator 

Sherwin’s departure marks the end of an era at 老司机传媒. His creativity, resilience and commitment to mentorship have left an indelible mark on the institution and its students. As he turns the page on his next chapter, staff and students alike wish him the very best. Sherwin’s inspirational story shows the power of passion and perseverance.