Our Community Stories
The Perfect Place for Filmmaking
Jordan Sjol
Jordan Sjol may be relatively new to the DePauw University faculty, but as assistant professor of film…
Meet Jordan Sjol
Building Connections
Naima Shifa
The biggest part of my teaching is building connections with my students and creating a community in…
Meet Naima Shifa
The Freedom of Learning
Priscilla Smith
Since she was four years old, Priscilla Smith ’29 has spent much of her time in the pool. Like any athlete…
Meet Priscilla Smith
Hope Is the Solution
Bella Zollner
Bella Zollner ’27 isn’t the type to sit on the sidelines. She prefers to be in the heart of the action…
Meet Bella Zollner
Making Time for Both
Molly Madden
Where others see a choice, Molly Madden ’18 sees an opportunity. For most of her life, she’s approached…
Meet Molly Madden
Joy at the Intersection of Music and Service
Rafael Toro-Quiñones
“I’m kicking myself for dropping a leadership class with Dr. McKelligan,” laughs Rafael Toro-Quiñones…
Meet Rafael Toro-Quiñones
Formed by Faith
Tanaa Jones
Growing up in Nashville, Tenn., Tanaa Jones ’26 was taught from an early age how to see the world through…
Meet Tanaa Jones
Committed to Community Service
Erin Pasch
My time in the Bonner Scholar Program was the most meaningful experience I had at DePauw. I met a lot…
Meet Erin Pasch
Global Impact
Sharon Crary
Professor Sharon Crary has studied the devastating effects of the Ebola virus for 15 years. Since the…
Meet Sharon Crary
Getting Exposure
Ben Schroeder
Ben Schroeder came to DePauw on the recommendation of a family member who graduated in the 1980s. Having…
Meet Ben Schroeder
Learning how to cut the fat
Zach Taylor
Zach Taylor graduated as a poetry and studio art double-major. Initially he was on an English literature…
Meet Zach Taylor
Embracing Unpredictable Moments
Deepa Prakash
What excites me about teaching is the opportunity to discuss and learn about the pressing issues that…
Meet Deepa Prakash
Making Connections
Sydney Schloemer
No matter what activity Sydney Schloemer ’26 has found herself doing at DePauw, her ultimate goal has…
Meet Sydney Schloemer
Spiritual Self-Discovery
Zoe Green
Growing up in a military family, Zoe Green ’27 became accustomed to transition at a young age. Having…
Meet Zoe Green
Set Up For Success
Tom Kominsky
Tom Kominsky recalls the broad outlines of how he first became interested in DePauw. He says, “I saw…
Meet Tom Kominsky
The Unifying Power of Art
Gerard Pannekoek
“Art is a great place to start a conversation,” says Gerard Pannekoek ’11. “It’s a place to build trust…
Meet Gerard Pannekoek
Diving In
Meghan Shearer
Four months after graduating from DePauw, Meghan Shearer ’13 took a giant risk and moved across the country…
Meet Meghan Shearer
Endless Curiosity
Marielle Gearding
Theatre. Neuroscience. Creative writing. True crime. Dance. Marielle Gearding ’27 has no shortage of…
Meet Marielle Gearding
Initiative and Empathy
Moeez Islam Malik
“I never knew that I would be a leader,” admits Moeez Islam Malik ’27. Yet just a few years into his…
Meet Moeez Islam Malik
Embracing Community
Mahmoud Abouelkheir
I felt hesitant about coming to DePauw because of its location in a rural part of Indiana. Growing up…
Meet Mahmoud Abouelkheir
Empowering Students
Leslie James
Since I recognize that each student brings a unique dimension to the collective, it is problematic to…
Meet Leslie James
Business Executive
Elisa Villanueva Beard
Elisa has been an integral part of Teach for America for 25 years. It all started in 1998 as a TFA Phoenix…
Meet Elisa Villanueva Beard
Fostering Personal Connections
Sarah Rowley
What excites me about teaching? Everything! The magic that happens in the classroom is completely dependent…
Meet Sarah Rowley
The Difference is in the Details
Andrea Sununu
For over 30 years I’ve taught literature at DePauw and welcomed the chance to serve not only as teacher…
Meet Andrea Sununu
A Collaborative Approach
Craig Paré
I love that our students come to classes and rehearsals hungry to learn and, when challenged, respond…
Meet Craig Paré
Light up the City
Azzaya Gansukh
The liberal arts proved to be the right fit for Azzaya Gansukh. The computer science and communication…
Meet Azzaya Gansukh
Innovative Artistry
John Berry
Success and accomplishment flow from the challenging work done in the classroom and studio at DePauw…
Meet John Berry
Art for All
Maggie Perry
The Brooklyn Museum. The Art Institute of Chicago. The Sarah Gormley Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. Anyone…
Meet Maggie Perry
Where Opportunity Meets Hustle
Daniel Villa
Daniel Villa ’26 never envisioned himself spending a winter term in another country. It’s not that the…
Meet Daniel Villa
Freedom to Explore
Erik Wielenberg
Since 1999, Erik Wielenberg has been a fixture of the philosophy department at DePauw University. Not…
Meet Erik Wielenberg