The Theory of Words
Whether he’s sitting at a Harkness table teaching an English class, practicing the banjo, raising his twin children or publishing a book of poetry, Todd Hearon is a blessing to the Exeter community.
Hearon first came to Exeter when his wife was selected as the 2002 Bennett Fellow. While on campus, he was introduced to some English teachers and visited classes. After getting to know the school, he found that Exeter offered him the small liberal arts college teaching experience he’d been seeking. He applied for a position and was appointed to Exeter in 2003. Since then, Hearon has made valuable contributions to the literary community at Exeter and has taught hundreds of lucky students.
Hearon fulfills his “extracurricular” duties to the school by working hard to enhance its literary culture. He chairs the Lamont Poet Committee, the George Bennett Fellowship Committee and coordinates the Academy Meditation Program. English instructor Erica Lazure commended his admirable dedication to these pursuits. “He has a deep appreciation and respect for the written word, and his efforts show his genuine desire to light that love of literature for others,” she said.
Despite these commitments, Hearon still finds time to focus on his true calling: writing. Hearon, who first and foremost considers himself a writer, is the author of poetry collections “Strange Land” and “No Other Gods.” He has won multiple awards, including the PEN New England Discovery Award and a Friends of Literature Prize from Poetry magazine for these works and hopes to finish a collection of short stories in the near future. His poems are rich with history, and he is known for his great lyrical work. Lazure described Hearon’s writing. “His love of language shines through in every word, and behind every word, each line, is a trap door that’s available to you, if you’re ready to go there,” she said.
“He challenges you to look deeper into the text, almost as if you’re trying to decode some hidden message.”
Hearon explained that teaching at Exeter has inspired and influenced his writing. “Working with the students around the table, reading books together and listening to their ideas and insights really fuels [my] writing. I’m just down here in this classroom six feet underground immersed in words all the time.” He continued, explaining that if it weren’t for the inspiration he gets on a daily basis working with his students, he wouldn’t be at Exeter. “Teaching really fills me up as a lover of words and a lover of ideas. To hear what the students are interested in and curious about and their insights [is inspiring],” he said.
Upper Lena Papadakis knew from her first day in class that Hearon would be unlike her previous English teachers. “Part of our first class was spent debating some philosophical question that most of us failed to even wrap our minds around, but we soon found that these kind of complex questions helped give our conversations more depth,” she said. She continued, stating that Exeter was lucky to have Hearon because “He challenges you to look deeper into the text, almost as if you’re trying to decode some hidden message, and he helps students develop a greater sense of meaning when they analyze texts or write their own papers.”
Hearon is not only an inspirational teacher and writer, but also a talented musician. He plays electric and acoustic guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin and even, on occasion, the washboard. Hearon played lead electric guitar with a traveling band when he was younger and in Exeter’s faculty band, Doublejack. Around faculty follies, he can be seen as a faux metal guitarist in the faux death metal band Doomgrinder and on stage as a member of the Barn Burners String Band, a bluegrass group based near Boston. Longtime friend and English instructor Duncan Holcomb expressed amazement at Hearon’s effortless musical abilities. “The other day he picked up a cigar box guitar I got for Christmas and started playing it beautifully,” said Holcomb. Lazure too applauded Hearon’s talent, describing his guitar skills as “versatile and edgy and fun to listen to.”
Despite the many hats he wears so well, Hearon remains incredibly humble. Holcomb expressed awe at Hearon’s diverse skill set and the many ways in which he makes art, marveling that with all his talents “he is still a very down to earth, honest, approachable man.” He concluded that “[Hearon is] loved as a teacher, for his insight and sensitivity.”