Where did you grow up, and what first got you interested in studying theology and ministry?
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and even lived in the same house my entire life until I left for college. I first became interested in theology and ministry when I was preparing to enter high school. Right before my freshman year of high school, I attended the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. It was my first major experience being a part of a faith community that was outside of my usual Sunday morning worship—and while it was entirely new to me, I still felt right at home in that stadium with 30,000 other teenagers. After the gathering, I grew far more involved with my church through roles like assisting minister, Sunday School teacher, and serving as the youth rep on my church’s youth board. It was especially during this time that I felt God nudging me toward ministry, but I brushed it off, telling myself that I was not qualified to be a pastor. As I entered college, I had plans to be a youth minister, but as I got further into my college career, the nudges from God became much stronger tugs. Eventually, I could not deny the sense of call I was feeling toward pastoral ministry, and now here I am at Luther!

What did you study as an undergraduate and where did you go?
I spent my undergraduate years at Valparaiso University, which was definitely my home away from home. I studied both theology/ministry and general economics. With the flexibility given for some of my economics projects, some of my research for these projects explored the overlap and interconnectedness of economics and church life. I was super curious about how the topics related, and as I continue on in my ministry, I am excited to keep learning more.

What led you to pursuing theological education here at Luther Seminary?
As I mentioned earlier, there became a point during my college experience where I could no longer ignore the tugs from God toward pastoral ministry. As my pastor once said, “Pastoral ministry is one of the few careers where you walk alongside someone from birth to death.” I have always found it to be such a blessing that pastors can be that relational presence for so many people. As I began looking at seminaries to pursue my Master of Divinity, Luther immediately stood out. From youth, curiosity and learning have been an integral to who I am, so Luther’s academic rigor stood out to me—especially because I knew Luther would be a place that could push me in my thinking and a place where I could explore the big, central questions of my faith. Luther Seminary also has many resources and courses available that provide pastoral candidates with a holistic education beyond theological study. Right from the start, I knew Luther was where I was meant to be.

What degree program are you in at Luther Seminary, and what are you hoping to do with your seminary education?
I am in the M.Div. program at Luther and am seeking ordination in the ELCA to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. With my seminary education, I hope to serve as a pastor in a congregation. I am also hoping to someday become a published writer, using my education at Luther as a foundation for my writing.

What has it been like for you to be a distributed learner and what do you do—professionally and otherwise—when you’re not studying?
I have greatly appreciated the flexibility that comes with being a distributed-learning student. I have always been a busy person and before beginning at Luther was worried about balancing a job with school. While being a student at Luther, I am also serving as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at a local congregation, planning a wedding, and working for the ELCA’s Young Adult Ministries. Luther’s DL program gives me the opportunity to work on classes when it fits best for my schedule. I have also greatly enjoyed the community fostered through my online classes. For many, being online can feel isolating, like work is being submitted into an online void. I find that professors are intentional about offering Zoom hours for each class to gather, and many professors use forums so that classmates can connect with one another through dialogue. Distributed learning also helps me create healthy boundaries where I can close my laptop and spend time with my fiancé and friends, cooking a new recipe, or being out in nature.

What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
I would love to play pickleball professionally someday. I have played pickleball for a few years now and it has grown to be one of my favorite activities. When time allows, I hope to take lessons and get to the point where I could begin entering competitions.