Our Community Stories
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
Branching Out
Sydney West
I’ve always been fascinated by the ability to turn a string of seemingly meaningless words into a master-crafted…
Meet Sydney West
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
Endless Curiosity
Marielle Gearding
Theatre. Neuroscience. Creative writing. True crime. Dance. Marielle Gearding ’27 has no shortage of…
Meet Marielle Gearding
Take on the Challenge
Joshua Thompson
Joshua Thompson ’04 is passionate about unlocking the power of music. “I use music to give a sonic narrative…
Meet Joshua Thompson
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
Experiencing it All
Nushla Pradhan
I was interested in natural sciences and social sciences, and I wanted a good blend of different classes…
Meet Nushla Pradhan
The Silver Lining
Suzanne Spencer
After beginning her television news career as a multimedia journalist in South Bend, Suzanne Spencer…
Meet Suzanne Spencer
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
Making Sense of the Past
Tina Irvine
“I’ve been obsessed with history since I was a kid,” says Tina Irvine ’09. “I love a good story, and…
Meet Tina Irvine
Freedom to Explore
Erik Wielenberg
Since 1999, Erik Wielenberg has been a fixture of the philosophy department at DePauw University. Not…
Meet Erik Wielenberg
Never Say No
Brace Mullett
Brace Mullett ’26 didn’t have a master plan to come to DePauw, double major in biochemistry and religious…
Meet Brace Mullett
Pivotal Moments
Ha Chu
“It changed my life,” says Ha Chu ’26, recalling an interaction early in her time at DePauw with Larry…
Meet Ha Chu
In the Swim of Things
John Marshall
When I started my college search, I wasn’t 100 percent settled on a path. I had enjoyed economics in…
Meet John Marshall
A Life-Changing Invitation
Hanna Coffel
When DePauw’s softball coach invited Hanna Coffel ’26 to campus as a high school sophomore, it was the…
Meet Hanna Coffel
Taking a Stand
Maddie Perry
Something I discovered about myself at DePauw was learning to confidently voice my thoughts and opinions…
Meet Maddie Perry
Global Impact
Sharon Crary
Professor Sharon Crary has studied the devastating effects of the Ebola virus for 15 years. Since the…
Meet Sharon Crary
Orchestrating Connection
Paige Burgess
As a music education major, Paige Burgess ’25 understands how a collection of otherwise dissimilar notes…
Meet Paige Burgess
Fostering Personal Connections
Sarah Rowley
What excites me about teaching? Everything! The magic that happens in the classroom is completely dependent…
Meet Sarah Rowley
Appetite for Discovery
Ibilola Fasogbon
Ibilola Fasogbon ’28 has always been driven by curiosity and adventure. As a child, she found nearly…
Meet Ibilola Fasogbon
Still Learning
Tyson & Kady Becker
When an opportunity arose to advance in his career within General Motors, Tyson Becker ’04 knew it was…
Meet Tyson & Kady Becker
Curiosity and Conservation
Tommy Manning
“My whole life I've been into environmentalism and sustainability,” says Tommy Manning ’26. Although…
Meet Tommy Manning
Working Together
Greg Schwipps
I am a DePauw professor but also a 1995 DePauw alumnus. I started my first-year at DePauw a would-be…
Meet Greg Schwipps
A Good Fit
Jon Fortt
It was the Media Fellows Program that drew me to DePauw. I also wanted to experience an environment…
Meet Jon Fortt
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
Applied learning. Real solutions.
Scott Wilkerson
Out of graduate school, I worked for 3.5 years gaining invaluable experience with Exxon Production Research…
Meet Scott Wilkerson
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
Adaptable and Inspired
Nicole Lorch
Nicole Lorch grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana. As a teenager, she found herself a few hours south in Greencastle…
Meet Nicole Lorch
Building Connections
Naima Shifa
The biggest part of my teaching is building connections with my students and creating a community in…
Meet Naima Shifa
Empowering Students
Leslie James
Since I recognize that each student brings a unique dimension to the collective, it is problematic to…
Meet Leslie James