Our Community Stories
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
Get weird, make mistakes
Byron Mason
I came to DePauw knowing I wanted to write, but there were a lot of different avenues that I could take…
Meet Byron Mason
An Appetite for Adventure
Sheraya Smith
Growing up near Crawfordsville, Ind., Sheraya Smith ’20 had always been familiar with DePauw University…
Meet Sheraya Smith
Empowering Change
Erika Marchant
Because of my interest in Chinese language, culture, history and philosophy, I declared a major in Chinese…
Meet Erika Marchant
Confidence In Leadership
Christian Rivera
I came to DePauw as a Posse Scholar from an inner-city high school, already credited for my leadership…
Meet Christian Rivera
Global Impact
Sharon Crary
Professor Sharon Crary has studied the devastating effects of the Ebola virus for 15 years. Since the…
Meet Sharon Crary
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
Healing through Art
Chi Nguyen
When Chi Nguyen ’25 found out that she had won first place and the Museum Purchase Prize at the Putnam…
Meet Chi Nguyen
Freedom to Explore
Erik Wielenberg
Since 1999, Erik Wielenberg has been a fixture of the philosophy department at DePauw University. Not…
Meet Erik Wielenberg
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
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
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
Social Change Agent
Kyle Smitley
Kyle Smitley launched an organic children’s clothing line at age 23, just a year out of DePauw. Inspired…
Meet Kyle Smitley
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
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
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
Building Connections
Naima Shifa
The biggest part of my teaching is building connections with my students and creating a community in…
Meet Naima Shifa
Speak Now
Eliana Jolanda Alzate
“Why International Student Orientation is Essentially a Taylor Swift Concert.” Eliana Jolanda Alzate…
Meet Eliana Jolanda Alzate
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
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
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 Silver Lining
Suzanne Spencer
After beginning her television news career as a multimedia journalist in South Bend, Suzanne Spencer…
Meet Suzanne Spencer
Curiosity and Conservation
Tommy Manning
“My whole life I've been into environmentalism and sustainability,” says Tommy Manning ’26. Although…
Meet Tommy Manning
Empowering Students
Leslie James
Since I recognize that each student brings a unique dimension to the collective, it is problematic to…
Meet Leslie James
Wisdom and Probability
Elisha Amadasu
Growing up in Brooklyn, Elisha Amadasu ’26 identified his intellectual passion at a young age. “Math…
Meet Elisha Amadasu
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
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
Finding Their Voice
Kay Sikana
“A big part of my identity is my pan-African upbringing,” says Kandafula (Kay) Sikana ’25. Born in Zambia…
Meet Kay Sikana
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