SLU Mission Matters

Stephen Lamkin, the Director of the Billiken Success Program, tells us about the transformative power of presence and relationship in journeying with a special segment of our SLU Billiken population.

Lindsay Gonterman, Director of the SOAR program (Students' Opportunity for Achievement and Resources), tells us about the program, its history and the future of the SLU Billikens who are participants. Learn more at www.slu.edu/soar

Kyle Clinkingbeard, student counselor, therapist, and social worker at the University Counseling Center, speaks about the Center and all it offers to students--especially this year as we focus on "accompanying youth in the creation of a hope-filled future."

Julie O'Heir, the director of SLU's prison education program, introduces Steven and Fletcher two SLU students finishing their sentences at the Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. They speak about how they experience their SLU education as freedom, empowerment, and reorientation toward a life of greater meaning.

Victoria Martin, "Dr. V," the Interim Director of Retention & Student Success, speaks about the initiative of Billikens First Chapter and the support system it creates for some of our newest Billikens.

Lauren Davis, Interim Associate Director of Housing, Operations, and Facilities, talks about the ins and outs (no pun intended) of Move-In days here at SLU, as well as the transition from Summer Welcome to Fall Welcome for all our SLU Billikens.

Susan Fanale, Director of Orientation and all that is involved with First Year Experience for new Billikens, speaks about SLU 101, Oriflamme, and the ongoing support provided for new students at SLU.

Dr. John Martin III, the director of the Gift Body Program at SLU Medical School, describes what the program is, how it benefits medical students, future medical students, and even already-practicing surgeons. Learn more at https://www.slu.edu/medicine/medical-education/case/gift-body-program.php

Fr. Suwalsky and Dr. Johnson speak about the nature of hope, the effects of hope, and the absolute need for hope to be our commitment, our support, and a lived aspect of our SLU mission.

Judi Buncher, incoming president of SAC and Felicia Powell, current president of SAC at Doisy speak about what the committee is all about and how to become a member. Fore more information visit https://www.slu.edu/sac/

Vice President Danielle Uy and Former Vice President Bill Kauffman speak about the experience of the Office of the General Counsel specifically as it relates to SLU's Jesuit mission and identity.

Christy Hicks-Aydt and Ben deFoy talk about their experience on the working group that has committed SLU to being a "Laudato Si" University. More at https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/

Jay Hammond explains the newly formed the Ignatian Service Minor, launching in Fall 2022. As architect and director of the minor, Dr. Hammond describes how the minor intersects with different academic disciplines as well as the CORE, the Universal Apostolic Preferences, and the Mission Priority Examen.

In this episode, Dr. Johnson & Fr. Suwalsky speak about their experiences on the Student Wellbeing Task Force, discussing not just the initiatives and work of the group but also the ever-changing mission of tending to the needs of the entire SLU community.

Emily Komos, the program coordinator of the Micah Program, shares with us what the program is all about, how long its been in existence, and how it is a living embodiment of the SLU mission.

Dr. Petruta Lipan, Executive Director of St. Louis University's Museums and Galleries, speaks about the role of art in the overall education of SLU students and the variety of galleries and museums on campus.

Fr. Suwalsky & Dr. Johnson engage the painful reality of the university's earliest beginnings when the Jesuits arrived with three enslaved couples, and continues the narrative to understand that unless and until we confront that difficult past, we cannot shape a future faithful to the mission.

SLU Juniors Liam John & Audra Youmans speak about their outreach to those in our neighborhood who suffering from inadequate shelter, and what some from the SLU community are doing to help. Read more at https://unewsonline.com/2021/12/slu-and-the-fight-against-homelessness-and-food-insecurity/

Diego Abente, President and CEO of Casa de Salud, speaks about the mission of this collaborative partner of SLU's. Casa de Salud delivers high quality health services to uninsured and underinsured patients, with a focus on immigrants and refugees in St. Louis and its metro area. It is located on the South campus grounds, at the corner of Choteau and Compton.

Dean Danny Willis & Professor Joanne Schneider from the School of Nursing describe what it means to be called to be a nurse and how nursing at SLU personifies the Jesuit mission and ideals.

Fr. David Suwalsky, SJ, Vice President for Mission and Dr. Amber Johnson, Interim Vice President in the Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement, engage in dialogue about current campus events from the perspective of their respective offices.

Dr. Terri Rebmann, Director of the Institute for Biosecurity and Special Assistant to President Fred Pestello, speaks about SLU's response to COVID-19 over these past 22 months and how it has been an expression of our mission and identity.

Dr. Ghazala Hayat, Director of Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology at SLUCare, as well as Director of Continuous Quality Improvement at SLU Medical School, joins us to talk about the experience of students, administrators, doctors, lab technicians, clinicians, and researchers during this time of the COVID variant, Omicron.

Fr. Carlos Esparza, SJ, from the department of Economics speaks about how his research intersects with the mission of the Church as well as SLU's mission, and how his identity as a Jesuit priest has been impacted by his formation in the Society as well as his ministry within it.

Gina Merys, Director of the Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning, speaks with us about what the Reinert Center has to offer, how it expresses SLU's mission, and what programs are available to faculty.