Associate professor Andrew Pessin's research on the seventeenth-century French philosopher Nicolas Malebranche is the kind of scholarly inquiry that truly changes how a person thinks about things.

"Malebranche believed that nothing in this world has causal powers," says Pessin, who teaches in Kenyon's philosophy department. "When students look at his beliefs and realize he had very sophisticated reasons for them, it challenges their basic assumptions and how they think about the world."

While Pessin's research is highly respected, it may forever be overshadowed by his appearances several years ago on late-night television. As a member of David Letterman's team of superheroes, the "fat guy," the "strong guy," and the "genius," he walked the streets of Manhattan performing feats of intellect.

"The other day I overheard a student tell someone I was at one time the third smartest man in the country," says Pessin, of his now legendary "genius" status. "No matter how unfounded that kind of reputation may be, I guess there are worse to be had."

Pessin says he knew as an undergraduate at Yale University that he wanted to be a teacher. "My job consists of having interesting conversations with smart people," he says. "It's hard to imagine a career that could be any more challenging and fun."