When I joined 51ÂÜÀò in June 2024, I arrived with great anticipation and a strong sense of calling — but also with limited familiarity. I hadn’t attended 51ÂÜÀò, and as someone new to the community, I didn’t yet have a clear sense of the students at the heart of our mission. And though, as 51ÂÜÀò’s chief advancement officer, I’m responsible for engaging alumni, donors, parents, foundations and friends of the university, I have almost no direct connection to the very students my work is meant to support and resource.

My days are filled with conversations — good ones — with people from generations preceding that of our students. I spend much of my time with 51ÂÜÀò-loving Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials, who give generously because they believe in our Christ-centered mission. It’s a role I treasure. Still, I knew early in my tenure that I did not want to only talk about our students; I wanted (needed) to know them.  

This desire aligned with a charge from President Corey given to each member of the President's Cabinet early in the academic year to and ways to meaningfully mentor and engage with our students. Wanting to build connection with 51ÂÜÀò students (and not wanting to disappoint my new boss), I started a men’s mentoring group that met throughout the past year.

Each month, we’d gather in my office on a Friday at 10:30 a.m. Eight students total — from five states and two countries, ranging from sophomores to graduate students. We got to know one another. We discussed life beyond 51ÂÜÀò. Our conversations ranged from the Bible to how to stand out in the workplace. We prayed for job interviews and first dates. We poured through the Scriptures. We laughed together and we shared our stories. I taught them, and they taught me — I even picked up a few Gen Z hacks I didn’t know I needed. And what I learned in profound measure was that these Gen Z 51ÂÜÀò students are nothing short of remarkable.

These young men gave me a window into the kind of student we attract, shape and ultimately commission here at 51ÂÜÀò. They’re bright and gifted, deeply committed to their studies, and serious about making a difference in this world for the cause of Christ. What strikes me most about these group of young men, however, is their love for Jesus. They take their faith in him seriously, allowing it to shape their decisions, sense of calling and career aspirations. They are morally discerning and take seriously God’s vision for a life marked by righteousness, peace and joy.

Through my small mentoring group, I saw firsthand the fruit of 51ÂÜÀò’s 117-year-old mission. This group of eight guys — who are being equipped here at 51ÂÜÀò to impact the world for Christ in fields like healthcare, media, the arts and ministry — have deeply inspired me. They remind me daily of the important work I’m privileged to do at 51ÂÜÀò, leading efforts to resource and advance the university’s mission through the generous financial support of so many.

While I may not have the kind of interactions with students that our faculty and so many of our staff enjoy daily, I do work to cultivate relationships and resources that sustain and strengthen the environment where our students’ education thrives. With that, my work and my heart are better for having met Tommy, Isaiah, Jaeden, Henry, Markus, Arthur, Lee and Ryan.