Each person has their own path to Hillsdale. For Professor of Economics Roger Butters, the journey involved the Portuguese language, a career change, and building computers.
Butters began programming computers when he was 11 years old and bought his first retail computer 10 years later as an undergraduate student. It is much less expensive to build a computer than to buy a new one, Butters said, which is what motivated him to start. It’s also a good source of income.
During college, Butters worked with older couples who were interested in technology but didn’t know where to begin. He would help them find the right fit, build it, and then teach them how to use their new computer.
Butters said he is grateful for the opportunities his hobby has opened for him but doesn’t think it’s for everyone.
“Building a computer is a terrifying thing because some static electricity can fry a $400 CPU (central processing unit), without you even knowing it’s been fried,” Butters said. “So you can spend a thousand dollars on parts, get it all put together, turn on the switch, and nothing happens. And that can be really hard to do, so for your average person, go buy a computer off the shelf.”
As an undergraduate, his ability to program computers made him valuable to his professor, which opened up the opportunity to complete economics research with him. His hobby also allowed him to pay for graduate school by designing web pages for professors and constructing programs to analyze data. Despite his technological expertise, Butters said computers were never his end goal.
“I enjoy computers, but they’re just a tool. I wouldn’t want to go to work everyday and do nothing but hardware,” Butters said. “And I really wouldn’t want to go to work everyday and do nothing but software.”
However, Butters’ work is still heavily entwined with his computer expertise. Combining his knowledge of computers and economics, he pitched a product to McGraw Hill. Together they developed the first ever all-online product for the principles of micro and macroeconomics. The resource includes 250 videos plus quizzes for students to test their knowledge.Freshman Abigail Elwell is in Butters’ principles of macroeconomics class and said she appreciates the three to five minute videos because they expose her to the information before class, so during the lesson her understanding can be solidified. Elwell also enjoys Butters’ teaching style.
“I like how he asks really good questions that direct the conversation,” Elwell said. “He kind of focuses our learning that way.”
Professor of Economics Gary Wolfram agrees that Butters has a special gift for teaching. Prior to coming to Hillsdale, Butters taught at the University of Nebraska. He visited Hillsdale during the summer to teach economics programs, and Wolfram noticed he always received high reviews from the students. Wolfram said he thinks Butters is a valuable member of the economics department, and his technological aptitude has been useful in determining what specific programs would benefit the economics students.
“As a whole, economics is a great group of people to work with,” Wolfram said. “There’s a camaraderie that he’s become a part of.”
Finding his place at Hillsdale took some time. Butters majored in economics and Portuguese at Brigham Young University in Utah.
“I love my Portuguese major, I don’t regret it,” Butters said. “I cherish it with all my heart, [but I] never made a dime with it.”
The skill has occasionally helped in Butters’ professional life. While teaching a seminar in Brazil, he clarified important points in Portuguese.
After college, Butters got a job as a stockbroker, but he found it wasn’t for him.
“Sometimes finding out what you hate is just as important as finding out what you love,” Butters said.
After teaching at the University of Nebraska, Butters found his way to Hillsdale. He recognizes that Hillsdale is a special place and wishes that students could truly understand how blessed they are to be here. Through his travels with McGraw Hill, Butters has come to realize there are many students and professors from other colleges and universities who want to experience what Hillsdale offers.
“I don’t tell faculty from other colleges what it’s like to teach at Hillsdale anymore because I would tell them and they just resented me,” Butters said.
Butters said he is happy to be here to contribute all his different talents to such a willing community. Computers and economics have combined to open doors not only for Butters, but also for his students.
“There’s a great deal of intellectual stirring going on, but you still get a feeling there’s a peaceful feeling,” Butters said. “Instead of the intellectual life being just commotion, it has meaning, and it’s just a great place to be.”
