Meran Paul, Features Editor
If you’ve taken a campus shuttle recently, you might have met John van Antwerp, the University’s Shuttle Coordinator. Behind the friendly driver navigating Sewanee’s roads lies a lifetime of incredible experiences spanning continents, oceans and diverse careers.
Antwerp joined the University of the South team initially in the building and grounds department before transitioning to his current role as Shuttle Coordinator about eight months ago when the service launched. Semi-retired and looking to stay busy after moving to Tennessee, this job seemed appealing.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about the job, Antwerp replied without hesitation, “Interacting with the students.” “Just about every student I’ve talked to, they’ve all been really cool… awesome manners… great personalities.” He also values his colleagues, calling the University staff “really, really cool people,” and appreciates the beautiful, natural environment of the Domain. “Having a university situated pretty much in the middle of the forest… the air is always clean… it’s just a nice surrounding.”
Antwerp’s journey to Sewanee is anything but conventional. An American citizen born in Virginia, he spent his early years as a “Navy Brat” in Japan until he was 1313 years old while his father served during the Vietnam War. This early exposure to different cultures set the stage for a life of travel. After a four-year stint in the Marine Corps (stationed in Okinawa, the Philippines, and California), Antwerp pursued higher education, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science in Marine Technologies from the College of Oceaneering in California, launching a remarkable career in underwater construction. As a saturation diver, Antwerp worked on building offshore oil and gas rigs globally, living and working in places like the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the South China Sea, Singapore, Glasgow, Scotland, and New Orleans. “I did all the underwater stuff,” he said, eventually supervising dive teams when age and insurance considerations made deep diving less feasible.
His adventures didn’t stop there. Antwerp ventured into commercial fishing, first in Hawaii and then helping start a live fishing company on the remote west coast of Australia. Later, he moved to Spain, starting a unique construction company restoring centuries-old fincas (traditional farms or ranch houses) to their original beauty while incorporating modern amenities. He even bought and managed his own finca, cultivating olives and almonds – a property he still owns and allows others to sharecrop.
Reflecting on a life lived across the globe, Antwerp identifies Northwest Australia and New Zealand’s North Island as places that felt most like home, citing their wild beauty and the freedom they represent. His extensive travels have instilled a core piece of advice he would like to offer students: “Don’t fear. Look at everything as an adventure… Take a chance. The only way you’re ever gonna get ahead is by taking a chance. And then by taking a chance, you will see the most beautiful places in the world and meet the most awesome people.”
Even his relatively short time at Sewanee has had its moments, including navigating the shuttle safely just moments before a tree fell during a recent tornado event, only to have another tree damage his truck on the way home that same night! Looking ahead, Antwerp sees potential for the still-new shuttle service to evolve, suggesting updates for the vehicles and buying more modern and new shuttles. He notes the service, which began as a pilot program, seems to be working well, handling anywhere from 35 students on a slow day to over 200 on busy weekend nights.
From the depths of the ocean to the forests of Sewanee, Antwerp brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to his role.