B.A. English & History, Goshen College
M.A., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Th.D. candidate, Union Theological Seminary
When you were a child, what did you want to
be when you grew up?
Of course it varied from day to day, but generally
I wanted
to be either a librarian or a teacher. I think what appealed to me most
about those jobs was the idea of working around books and people.
Why or how did you
choose this field?
I chose theology as my area of academic expertise because I
appreciate the challenge of helping people—as individuals, small groups, and
even large communities—articulate and explore what they believe. It’s not just the “why” of belief that I
study and contemplate, but also the “what” and “how” of Christian faith,
ritual, and devotion.
What’s exciting about
your job or this field?
It’s exciting to me that people have so many ways of living
with the certainty and doubt that accompanies faith. I also love finding ways to connect the
cosmic questions of human existence on the planet with the small things: How is
recycling a piece of plastic instead of tossing it in the trash a sign of hope?
What’s the best
advice you’ve ever been given?
I guess the advice I’ve been given and finally understand
how to receive relates to nurturing wisdom and patience. Just because a thought pops into my head
doesn’t mean I have to say it in that same moment. To use a cooking analogy, there is real value
in letting things simmer. But on the
flip side, there are times when the worst thing I can do is remain silent; some
things are better uncooked. So an
important part of character development is discerning when wisdom requires us
to be patient and when wisdom requires us to act.
What are you really proud of? (in a Mennonite, humble sort
of way, of course)
I’m proud of the education I’ve received from the many
schools I’ve attended.
What would you do
differently?
Looking back over my academic experience so far, which has
been mostly as a student, I wish I had taken more time to learn at least one
other language well enough to read and write. I have conversational Spanish, know some simple phrases in French, have
an elementary understanding of German grammar, and know the Koine Greek
alphabet—all of which allows me to dabble with but not delve into non-English
texts.
What advice would you
give to a young person just starting out?
Pay attention to the world around you by asking yourself
this question: What experiences help me mark the passages of time in my life
from childhood to adolescence to adulthood? If you can answer those questions, then you can be sure you’re heading
in the right direction!
