On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Jason Riley, an adjunct professor who has spent 30 years—and 60 consecutive semesters—teaching guitar at Benedictine College. What began as a young musician’s part-time teaching opportunity became a decades-long connection to Benedictine, its students, and a campus Jason has watched transform around him.
Jason reflects on a life built around music, from performing and recording with bands to mentoring generations of guitar students. Along the way, he shares how his own teachers shaped his approach to education, particularly the lesson that music should never become simply a chore. For Jason, teaching is about patience, encouragement, and helping students keep music in their lives—whether they pursue it professionally or simply play because they love it.
After three decades at Benedictine, Jason has seen buildings, technology, and generations of students change, but the heart of the college remains familiar. For him, being a Raven means belonging to a family built on loyalty, encouragement, and lifelong relationships—a community where people continue to show up for one another long after their time on campus ends.
