Listening for Purpose

In the eighth and final episode of Season 3, we spoke with Hope Johnson, senior Theology and Spanish major at Valparaiso University. Hope discussed Professor Jones, a theology professor who she’s been inspired by. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In the seventh episode of Season 3, we spoke with Reverend Kate Museus, University Pastor. She shared about Pastor Morgan Gordy, who mentored her during her time in seminary. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In this special episode, we talk to students going on the Northwest Indiana and Chicago Spring Break Service Trip about the trip and what they’re looking forward to! We also spoke with Kat Peters, one of the staff leaders of the trip and Assistant Director of the Institute for Leadership and Service, about how the trip came about.

In the fifth episode of Season 3, we spoke with Ryan Cole, Mark and Kathleen Helge Director of Student Philanthropy. He discussed how his daughter has taught him about connection and wonder. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In the fourth episode of Season 3, we spoke with Erin Brown, VU alumni and deaconess with the Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA). She enlightened us about how the LDA has helped shape and form her during her journey of purpose. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In a very special episode, we spoke with nearly 30 students, staff, faculty, and friends of Valparaiso University to answer one question: who or what lights your path? Answers reflect campus involvement, faith, friends and family, and more! Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In the second episode of Season 3, we talked to Stacy Hoult, chair of the World Languages and Cultures department, about her life-long discernment process. An early contributor to this process was her high school Spanish teacher. She also discusses the many paths she explored, and continues to explore. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

In our first episode of Season 3, Ethan Palmisano, a sophomore Meteorology major, discusses the role his grandfather played in shaping the importance of family in his life. He also talks about how those around him have helped him discover his priorities. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

For the final episode of Season 2, Simeon Klepac takes a turn behind the microphone and discusses his personal journey discerning his purpose as a Park Raner for the National Park Service. He also discusses the book "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott and shares how it encouraged him to focus on excellence and beauty in small moments. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!

On this episode, Dr. Agnes Howard joins us to discuss the book “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson. Howard shares the way that the book informed her understanding of vocation as inherently shaped by relationships and highlights how Robinson’s story exemplifies the need to be inspired by the mundane moments of beauty in our lives. Join us, for more of Our Campus, Our Stories!  A video version of the pod...

On this episode, Aubrey Kranz shares her experiences with the hit video game Overwatch and her journey within Valpo’s Esports community. We discuss the ways that good friends can challenge us to grow toward the greatness they see in us, and the ways that taking risks helps to build confidence and open us to new possibilities. Join us, for more of Our Campus, Our Stories! A video version of the pod...

How can we find strength when everything seems turned against us? Is there a way to be hopeful without shallow optimism? On today’s episode, Molly O’Rear shares the poem “Carry On!” by Robert William Service, and we discuss the ways that determination, faith, and community can support us through life’s greatest challenges. Join us, for more of Our Campus, Our Stories! A video version of the podcas...

Dr. Severe has many passions here at Valpo, from student mentorship to horror fiction, but in this episode he discusses his lifelong passion for music. Dr. Severe shares how picking up the French Horn in 7th grade helped him to develop responsibility and excitement for his academic work, and the ways in which his mentors both challenged and supported him, inspiring him to serve Valpo’s students in...

To close out the first half of season 2, Simeon sits down with Cam Haggett to unpack the book "Pastrix" by Lutheran Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. Cam shares about the way God has called them in ways that may be surprising, and Bolz-Weber's story shaped their vision of ministry and how we can serve our communities. Join us for more of Our Campus, Our Stories! A video version of the podcast...

How do we respond to the legacies our families leave us? Can students actually make a difference? In this week's episode of Listening for Purpose, Mya Amelse shares her journey in the world of local philanthropy and inspiration left to her by her grandmother. Join us for Our Campus, Our Stories! A video version of the podcast is also available at https://www.youtube.com/@ILASatValpo Learn more abo...

What is the cost of being excellent? Does education empower or hinder our ability to serve those who suffer? Valpo's own Dr. Martin Buinicki joins host Simeon Klepac to discuss these questions and more, We draw from the texts "Cyrano De Bergerac" by Edmund Rostand, and "Twenty Years at Hull House" to shape our conversation. A video version of the podcast is also available at https://www.youtube.co...

On this week's episode, Raehlyn Bryce discusses three compelling songs that have shaped the way she thinks about change and growth in her life: "Vienna" by Billy Joel "I'm Here" by Cynthia Erivo and The Cast of the Color Purple Musical "Roots before Branches" by Room for Two Reflecting on this music, we delve more deeply into the tension of personal change--its necessary discomfort alongside its t...

On the first episode of our new season, we chat with Aidan Obermueller about the hit TV series Ted Lasso, and discuss the ways that curiosity and positive masculinity have impacted his journey through life from Dubuque Iowa, to our Valpo campus, all the way to Costa Rica. Join us every Tuesday for more of our stories from our campus! Our interviews are also available at www.youtube.com/@ILASatValp...

Faith, Representation, Community, Organic-ness, and Genuine-ness . These are the themes that arose during my conversation today with Fox Wilmot. Fox’s campus experiences have led him to the intersection of faith and teaching in ways that speak simultaneously to the intentionality and spontaneity of our journeys in purpose. Fox has been a leader of SweetWine, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Boxing Club,...

Today I had the absolute pleasure of talking with Dr. Carolyn Whittier, the assistant vice president for student life. Over the last 12 years, Carrie’s vision and direction have helped to reform what it means to be a student at Valpo. Our conversation was incredibly rich and touched on just about every element of calling and purpose you could think of. Though we talked about many things, there wer...

Today we talked with Essence Roberson about youth service week, the upcoming series of events hosted by Alpha Psi Omega, the mens and womens service fraternity. Essence has been the president of APO for the last two years, and has also been heavily involved on the E-Board of BSO, the Black Student Organization during that time, in fact, she was one of our guests during our episode with BSO from Fe...

Today we talked with Hailey Morse who is a freshman Meteorology major in the sustainability scholars program. This program is one branch of the Uplift Valpo initiative, and it aims to help students to think about the world through an environmental lens regardless of their field of study. In her short time at Valpo, Hailey has already become involved across varied areas of campus. She was the Co-Ch...

Today I talked to Adam Monnette who is the first person who comes to mind when I think about a campus leader. He is the president of the University Programming Council (UPC), Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and the Honor Council, but his leadership extends far beyond his formal roles. Adam has participated in a service trip each spring during his tenure here at Valpo, this past summer, he spent over...

Sarah Martin is a first year Christ College student at Valpo who is exploring what it means to pursue calling and purpose in a collegiate space. We talked primarily about getting involved and getting out of one’s comfort zone, but we also talked about the distinction between calling and purpose. Sarah struck on a key idea that I wish we would have explored more, namely that there is a difference b...

Today we are joined by Abbie Valicevic who is the president of Omicron Delta Kappa (the leadership honor society at Valpo), former president of Valpo's chapter of the Pi Beta Phi sorority, and an aspiring oncologist. Abbie shared some of the some of the things the she believes to be central to her experience here at Valpo and essential to her as a person. She emphasized elements of servant leaders...