As a full-time writer and professor at Taylor University, Dennis Hensley, PhD82, has been given what he describes as the best of both worlds. Teaching the professional writing program he designed by day and sharpening his prose through various books and articles by night, Hensley partially credits his success to meeting  the right people early in his career and developing his skills in writing and business.

"Even to this day, after all the books and articles, I still get a kick out of seeing my name in print or having somebody write me a letter and say, ‘I really enjoyed your book' or ‘Your article changed my life,'" Hensley says. "It's the career I've always wanted and I still enjoy it."

Hensley, who has written six novels, 154 short stories, 39 nonfi ction books, and more than 3,000 newspaper and magazine articles, says that his doctorate has given him the academic authority to work at the university level while his real-world experience has given him the credibility needed for the classroom.

"Now I'm able to develop a new generation of writers I can pour my own experience into," he says.

After working as a professional writer for more than 30 years, Hensley says he can't live without literature. "To me, writing is a lot like breathing. I can hold my breath for
awhile and I can go without writing for awhile, but I can't go without either one for very long."

-by Kate Rooney