Professor John Stockstill has been teaching at Jones for four years, but he has another life outside of the college, serving as a Naval Officer and sometimes a pastor.
At Jones, Stockstill is a professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute.
To this day, Stockstill is active within the Navy. He now serves as a Navy Commander, currently assigned to Marine Forces Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Stockstill has served with Marine infantry battalions and as a Marine Corps Recruit Depot Chaplain in San Diego. He has spent five years working with special forces and two years in the Coast Guard.
“My path in the military has afforded me many experiences,” said Stockstill. “These 15 years have been as rewarding as they’ve been challenging. The intensity of this path, the demands on both mind and spirit, have taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, sacrifice and the interconnectedness of life.”
Although his family has a long history of service, Stockstill was not always certain that he would eventually serve. In fact, Stockstill was unable to join during his youth due to a heart issue. It was during a “midlife crisis” that Stockstill eventually decided to reconnect with this part of his lineage.
“I was in my thirties and trying to figure out what I was going to do, and my paths crossed with a Navy recruiter,” said Stockstill. “My granddad and dad were both military, so it made sense. I didn’t ever think that it would actually come to pass, but it did.”
His grandfather, a WWII veteran, and his father, a Navy man, set a powerful example of service and sacrifice. His father also impacted his respect for attitude and mindset.
“He had a plaque that read: attitude, attitude, attitude; underscoring that perspective shapes reality,” Stockstill said.
Stockstill’s family has also influenced his love for philosophy.
“My dad taught me my first lesson in philosophy [with the plaque]- although I didn’t realize it at the time. And my uncle, a French philosopher living in Paris, has continued to be a source of inspiration with his wisdom and insights on the history of ideas,” Stockstill said.
In his teaching, Stockstill emphasizes the need for critical thinking and moral integrity.
Stockstill shared that his military experiences deeply impact his teaching today.
“Service has taught me the importance of building character, confronting difficult truths, and finding a way forward with integrity and purpose,” he said.
Stockstill’s favorite part of teaching is the “aha” moment he often instills in his students, which he exemplifies in his classroom and with his work in the Honors College.
“There’s no greater privilege than witnessing someone find meaning and direction. For me, education isn’t just transferring information; it’s about transformation, developing the mind, character and outlook,” said Stockstill.
Between his service and his time as the Director of the Honors College, Stockstill has traveled to 32 countries. Of these, his favorite location has been his trip to the Italian Dolomites, though they all hold a special place in his heart. In the future, Stockstill hopes to see Iceland and Chile.
Stockstill believes that travel is one of the greatest forms of education. Along with several Jones students, he recently had the opportunity to travel to France, Germany and Austria, as well as Boston and Rhode Island.
“Traveling reminds us that the world is vast and that every culture holds beauty and truth,” said Stockstill. “I encourage students to travel, to immerse themselves in different worlds, and to recognize the beauty and diversity of life. Each place, each experience, shapes you, broadens you.”
Throughout all of his experiences in life, he has been unified by his love for mentoring. He sees his role as a mentor– guiding students not only to knowledge but to wisdom and self-understanding, to think deeply and live purposefully. Stockstill has advice for the students of Jones.
“Never stop learning, never stop asking questions, and never underestimate the power of character and integrity,” he said. “Seek wisdom, pursue truth and live with purpose. There is, as Socrates said, an examined life worth living.”
by Gabriella Dominguez
