Back to Hillsdale: Samuel Musser Returns for the Master’s in Classical Education

Written by Lauren Smith

It’s bright and early on a Thursday morning, and AJ’s Cafe hasn’t quite woken up. A few sleepy-eyed students huddle over laptops and coffees, knocking out their last few assignments before classes start for the day. Among them, however, is one student who’s wide awake with just a cup of water: Samuel Musser. He’s a 2020 Hillsdale College graduate back for another two years, this time to complete his master’s degree in classical education.

Musser was initially attracted to Hillsdale because of its interdisciplinary curriculum. He’s a classically trained pianist, and when the time came to choose a college, he had to decide: Would he pursue only piano, or would he leave room to try something new? “Elsewhere, my education would have been heavily piano-focused,” he said. “Here at Hillsdale, the program was holistic with room to explore.” Following in the steps of his two older brothers, Musser enrolled at Hillsdale College and began a double major in religion and music.

Just a few months before Musser’s 2020 graduation, COVID-19 struck. “I remember eating in the dining hall on March 6, the day before spring break. Then, while I was hanging out with my friends on spring break, we started playing the board game Pandemic. And then there was a real pandemic!” His laughter had a wry edge. “Not saying it was our fault, but the next thing we know, campus is closed, and we realized that we’re not going back to school.” 

With no reason to stay in Hillsdale, Musser relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, shortly before his graduation and began teaching English, Latin, and rhetoric at Libertas Christian School. By then, he knew his future career would be in education—an interest sparked by his undergraduate mentors from Hillsdale—but he wasn’t sure about the specifics. “I was also interested in ministry. My direction was clear, but not my destination.”

Soon, Musser enrolled at Cornerstone University to obtain his Master of Divinity. It was a time of decisions and changes for Musser, and he found himself wishing he could return to Hillsdale. “I started to think, ‘Man, I really wish I could go back and take more religion classes and electives.’ But there wasn’t a way to do it at the time.” This regret spurred Musser to speed through his master’s program, planning to finish in three years rather than five, so he could study abroad after graduation and rediscover the subjects he missed. 

This ultra-high-speed education coupled with his teaching job worked—for a while. And then, Musser said, he started to burn out. “God got a hold of me and reminded me that I wasn’t taking care of myself,” he said. “When I realized that, I knew I couldn’t finish my degree in three years.” It was time for a redirect—but where would Musser go next?

He had already signed up to take the GRE, which was non-refundable. That, at least, was a clear Step 1. So he cracked his GRE-prep book. Its contents horrified him at first: “Oh, look at that—math! I haven’t done that in a while!” He persevered, however, and completed the GRE. That test turned out to be his ticket home to Hillsdale.

Since his graduation, Musser had been corresponding with Dr. Benjamin Beier of the Hillsdale College Education Department. It was Dr. Beier’s idea that Musser apply to Hillsdale’s brand-new graduate program in classical education, which, at the time, was open by invitation only.

“There was only a very short window to complete the master’s program application,” Musser explained, “and you need specific materials, including a GRE. That was the only test they’d accept. I don’t know if I really saw that as Providence, but I decided to go for it.” Musser applied and was accepted into the program’s first class, which began classes in fall 2022. 

One thing he loves about Hillsdale’s graduate program is the opportunity it provides to rediscover literature he encountered during his undergraduate years. Back then, Dr. David Whalen, Associate Vice President for Curriculum and Great Books instructor, shared a quotation with Musser that he never forgot: “The great books don’t tell us how we should live, they tell us how we do live.” Musser added, “When you read these books, you connect with something universal, something that’s deeply touching.” His reading time these days is split between the Aeneid, Canterbury Tales, Plato, and many more. Musser likened trying to choose a favorite to choosing which star burns the brightest.

When asked to recount one of his favorite memories from graduate studies at Hillsdale, Musser has an unusual answer. For him, midterm season is an unparalleled opportunity to savor the creative process. 

“You sit down in front of your blue book,” he said, “and something magical happens. You write, you get to the end, and you realize you’ve written something into existence. It has style, content, and a narrative. Only a human can speak words and use reason to craft something like that. It’s a mirror image of God’s creation.”

After graduation, Musser plans to obtain his Ph.D. in education and become an upper school teacher and administrator. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to study at Hillsdale and continue to grow in faith and character,” he said, “as it will serve me well for the rest of my life.”


Lauren Smith, ’25, is a prospective political economy major and French minor. Outside of starting arguments in philosophy class, she enjoys curling up on a bench outdoors (sun, rain, or snow) to write novels or articles for her blog, www.laurensmythbooks.com.


Published in December 2022