jwhc – Alumni Blog

February 2, 2019

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the John Wesley Honors College

By: Kendra Housel

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In the fall of 1998, Indiana Wesleyan University gained a new academic department, which this year celebrates 20 years of scholarship, growth and community: The John Wesley Honors College (JWHC).

Over the past 20 years, the JWHC has undergone many changes. What began as a program without an official building is now housed on the second floor of Goodman Hall, as well as in Epworth House near the University Court apartments.

The curriculum started as honors college sections of the general education courses, where all honor students could take these courses in any order.

Today, using the curriculum that was finalized in 2012, honors graduates participate in an ordered, supplemental curriculum which replaces almost all general education requirements with specialized classes that seek to form students into more aware, God-centered, people-loving individuals.

One of the founding students in the JWHC is Karen Eilers, who graduated in 2001 with a double major in political science and history.

Eilers, along with having two majors and being a member of the honors college during its genesis, also graduated in just three years instead of the traditional four.

Eilers said that she first heard about the JWHC through a mailing that invited her to apply for the JWHC after she had been accepted into IWU.

She valued the idea of smaller classes, and after taking multiple AP and honors classes as a high school student, she was eager to take on the challenge of collegiate honors. The honors college was largely why Eilers decided to attend IWU.

“Everyone was excited to be a part of beginning a new program,” Eilers said of the atmosphere in the budding JWHC.

“We weren’t sure what exactly we were getting into, but we were up for rolling with it,” she explained.

The collaborative effort between students and professors (like founding professors, Dr. Brown and Dr. Bartley, and current head, Dr. Riggs) to learn what would work and what could be accomplished brought a wonderful sense of community.

Eilers ended up serving as one of the honors college’s first student workers with a job helping to tend the office.

During each of her three years, the office of the JWHC moved locations, but according to Eilers, “Each office got a little better than the last.”

During her final year at the university, the third year of the Honors College, the program secured their own building, just north of campus, and Dr. Riggs took over for the two founding leaders.

The course also began expanding, and the actual degree plan became more solidified.

Eilers was one of the first two students to do the Honors Scholarship Project (then called the Honors Thesis), which was made manageable by communicating consistently with the honors professors and with her mentor in the history department.

Eilers looks back on her time in the JWHC as one offond memories, goofy fun and a worthy challenge. The community was invaluable to her and even helped her discover her passion for working with college students.

She went on to get her master’s degree in college student development, and she now works as a Career & College Counselor in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

Eilers also owns her own company, Motivated Careers LLC, and also works with University Funding Professionals LLC to counsel high school and college students about possible career and education paths.

She also has a book which came out in December called Find Your Fit, which Eilers said is meant to help students understand how God made them so they can make wise decisions for their lives! Here is a link to view her book on Amazon: http://a.co/d/2PAhTce.

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Written by Kendra Housel, writer for the IWU Alumni Center. Kendra is a junior Education and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. She is also a member of the University Chorale. Kendra is passionate about serving Christ through writing, singing, and caring for others.

December 5, 2018

Giving Back: Psychology in Adoption

By: Noelle Beans

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Jana Hunsley at her IWU graduation in 2013

The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University strives to help children who suffer from the effects of early trauma, abuse or neglect. The institute accomplishes this by researching these children’s needs to help them overcome challenges – social, behavioral and emotional.

As a sibling to seven adopted children, Jana Hunsley, a 2013 graduate from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), has found her place pursuing a PhD at this remarkable institute.

However, her journey began at Indiana Wesleyan. Due to her family’s composition, Hunsley had always known she wanted to study psychology at a Christian university in order to become a post-adoption therapist.

IWU also offered an honors program, The John Wesley Honors College, which challenged Hunsley academically. That, in combination with the Holy Spirit’s confirmation, led her to call IWU home.

“I fell in love with IWU right away,” Hunsley said. “I tangibly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit on campus, and it was like nothing I had experienced in a place previously. During that campus visit, I felt like the Holy Spirit was telling me this was the place I was supposed to be.”

This proved to be true as Hunsley met friends who challenged and encouraged her during her time as a Wildcat.

She also met professors who recognized her potential.

She said, “The professors are truly one of the biggest reasons I’m doing what I am doing with my life today.”

The constant support of the faculty at IWU was unexpected. The professors assisted Hunsley in seeing all of the plans God had for her if she would be faithful in her walk with Him.

Professors Dr. Runyan and Dr. Steenbergh were two of the professors who had a lasting impact on Hunsley’s life.

Drs. Runyan and Steenergh invited Hunsley to be a part of their research team. They encouraged her to pursue a career in psychological research.

Although Hunsley became a clinician first, she attributes her courage to step into a research PhD program to their guidance during her undergraduate studies.

According to Hunsley, for the children of God there is power in psychology. Runyan has echoed this belief by stating that research is integral to a Christian university as it will shape tomorrow, influencing textbooks, popular media and the way our culture thinks and lives. Due to her conviction and Runyan’s influence, Hunsley integrates this dynamic into her work daily.

“All that I am doing with my life is because it is exactly where God has told me to go and what He has told me to do,” said Hunsley. “Through my experience of being a sibling to seven adopted children, God gave me skills and experiences to help other adoptive families. He made it very clear that He created me to bring hope and healing to families that have had experiences like my own. My career is just a manifestation of the work God puts in front of me to help adoptive families.”

Hunsley continues to work in ground-breaking research, learning how to care for foster and adopted children.

This research has spread all over the world to enable these vulnerable children to heal. Hunsley has the opportunity to further this work by researching the effectiveness of their intervention, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).

Hunsley also researches the effects of TBRI in different cultures and settings around the world and finds ways to specifically help adoptive siblings adjust well to their families’ adoptions.

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Written by Noelle Beans, a writer for the IWU Alumni Center. Noelle is a sophomore Nursing and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College from Greenville, Illinois.

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018

From Student to Professor in the Very Same Classroom: Brian Clark

By: Kendra Housel

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Everything could have been different for Brian Clark, a 2009 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and the John Wesley Honors College (JWHC).

Clark, who is currently a PhD student studying Religious Ethics at Southern Methodist University, did not begin his journey towards higher education with his sights set on IWU.

At what Clark thought was the end of his college search, he had his plan worked out to attend another university. It was in that time, as it has been for many of us, where God changed Clark’s direction entirely.

This is when Clark first heard about the community that would become his home during (and long after) his time pursing his bachelor’s degree: The John Wesley Honors College.

Clark said that he was initially attracted by the JWHC’s interdisciplinary community and the challenge of honors coursework. What he received from the honors college was more than he could have asked for.

As a student, Clark became a Religion and Philosophy major, also minoring in Theology. While he rejoiced in his growing knowledge, Clark found the community at IWU to be invaluable.

He experienced a depth of friendship and the unique fellowship of mentoring that he had never received in such a way before. His education became less about knowing and more about becoming in-step with Christ.

Clark describes the experience as “learning to drink deeply the font of Christian traditions.” He said, “I learned to live my faith in via as a pilgrim member of Christ’s church, toward my heavenly home.”

While at IWU, Clark also had the opportunity to travel across the globe, which he had never experienced before. He wound up traveling to six different countries and studying abroad in England as an IWU student.

Graduation came and went, and Clark found himself back at IWU once again, this time serving as Honors Instructor in Humanities for the JWHC.

He led classes that he once took himself as a student, and he became a beloved presence for the students and faculty alike.

As if his time in the JWHC had not poured enough into him, Clark met his now wife, Allison, who also studied in the JWHC. They met through a mutual friend and IWU alum after they had both graduated.

One can imagine that they bonded on their earliest dates talking about Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (a typical read for JWHC students). Clark remarked about meeting his wife through his IWU community, “the community kept on giving, even after graduation!”

During his pursuits at IWU and in the JWHC, Clark discovered he had a calling to the church as a pastor-teacher and to the university as a Christian-intellect, which helped him discern his current doctoral focus, Virtue Ethics, specifically the tradition of Christian virtue.

In true ‘Professor Clark’ fashion, he wishes to pass on this quick word of advice to current students: “Life is grace all the way down. Give thanks! Life is good, even though it sometimes threatens to break us. Every valley and every journey has an end. Keep walking!”

The 2016-2017 John Wesley Honors College faculty, including Brian Clark.

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August 7, 2018

Kristie Anders

By: Dezaray Barr

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Kristie Anders (Oke) graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in 2013 with a degree in elementary education through the John Wesley Honors College (JWHC). There were many reasons for Anders to attend IWU. “My dad works at Indiana Wesleyan, and my sister was attending IWU as well. It was close to home, and I loved the Christ-centered atmosphere,” she said.

Anders really enjoyed her time at IWU. “I had a lot of engaging projects in my education and honors college classes, and I was excited to pour myself into them,” she said. “I had a great group of friends who both challenged me and did ridiculous things with me. It was a season of growing, changing and learning, and IWU was an amazing place to do all of those things.”

When she arrived at IWU, Anders said that she had a pretty extensive background in regards to spirituality. “I come from a family of teachers and pastors and was blessed to grow up in the church. While I was at IWU though, I had the opportunity to pursue my faith in a different context and was challenged by the professors and other students. In the JWHC, I was asked to research and then articulate many aspects of my faith. I had to wrestle with some ideas I had never encountered before, but thankfully I had a great support structure to help me,” she said.

After graduating from IWU, Anders taught second grade in Gas City (near IWU’s Marion campus) for one year. She then moved to Hawaii where she taught second grade at a Nazarene school for three years. She said, “I’m not currently working, but I’m enjoying raising our 4-month-old son and pursing a master’s degree in Leadership Design and Technology online at San Diego State University.”

While in Hawaii, Anders met her husband, who is in the Air Force. “We are now stationed in Little Rock, Arkansas,” she said. “I’m also (very slowly) working on a children’s book, but we’ll see if anything ever comes of that!”

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a senior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018

Nursing & JWHC Alum: Mary-Madison Weaver

By: Dezaray Barr

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Mary-Madison Weaver graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and the John Wesley Honors College (JWHC) in 2016 with a nursing degree. She said, “My motivation for choosing IWU was a blend of things: the strong academic programs, the scholarship opportunities and the Honors College classes.”

Weaver’s time at IWU was busy, but fulfilling. “Pursuing a nursing degree coupled with the JWHC demanded the majority of my time,” she said, “but I built meaningful friendships along the way. Some of my favorite times were when conversations continued outside of class.”

While at IWU, she dove into the Marion community through college ministries at her local church, volunteering at the St. Martin Community Center, committee work with the Honors College Student Association and, of course, late-night runs to Meijer.

Through Weaver’s time with the JWHC at IWU, she experienced true spiritual growth. “Much of my spiritual growth yielded from exploring theological foundations and liturgical practices of the Christian Church in my Honors classes. The history – where we came from and why we do what we do – enlivened how I saw and continue to see the Church. Overall, IWU and the JWHC reminded me how exciting the Christian story is,” Weave explained.

Weaver is currently finishing a three-year critical care and trauma nurse internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. “After working in intensive care for approximately two years, I am now training to work in the emergency department,” she shared.

It wasn’t just the JWHC that prepared Weaver for her future – the nursing division at IWU had a tremendous impact on her future. She said, “My nursing education prepared me to pass my nursing boards on the first try. The Honors College faculty taught me how to think. The curriculum provided me with language that helped explain my world, who I am and how I fit into the greater Christian narrative. Brokenness is experienced daily in my profession. I hope that even amidst suffering I can offer comfort to my patients.”

Some fun facts about Weaver include that she loves plants. “I am involved in a community garden and harvested my first cucumbers this week! I have also dabbled in roller blading since moving to Texas. In my own corner of community in Dallas, I have been dubbed the event planner. I love finding events and activities, exploring the city and hosting people. Hosting people for dinner is simple, but it provides a formative means of building community,” she shared.

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July 14, 2018

Maggie Bowman: All Thanks to a Card in the Mail

By: Dezaray Barr

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Maggie (Moul) Bowman graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and the John Wesley Honors College in December of 2017 with a degree in Intercultural Studies.

Bowman first heard about IWU from a card in the mail. She said, “I don’t know who designs those things, but they do a superb job. I decided to check out their website and after a visit, I was sold.”

Two words that come to Bowman’s mind when she thinks about her time at IWU are healing and challenging. “When I arrived at IWU, I was struggling with a lot of emotional trauma and often felt like a failure,” she explained. “I believe that God knew IWU was exactly the place I needed to be. Through the friends I made, classes I took and one-on-one mentoring, my life grew into something beautiful I never could have imagined for myself when I started. Nevertheless, IWU challenged me in ways I did not expect. My leadership roles on campus often lead me to see some of the ‘ugly parts’ of the world of higher education, but this only pushed me to pursue God more and to call others to do the same.”

After graduation, Bowman moved back to her hometown in Michigan, got married and spent three months as a substitute teacher. She just got hired as a Clearinghouse Coordinator for a local Christian Nonprofit, Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ). “I’m excited to start a job that actually relates to my degree and will utilize all my training,” she said.

She’d known from a young age that she wanted to do ministerial work, but Bowman always figured it would be somewhere overseas. “It wasn’t until I came to IWU and I realized how much need there was in my own community that God began to turn my heart back towards my little hometown of Hart, Michigan,” she said. “When I met my husband, who is also from Hart, he sort of sealed the deal, and back I came to begin a life of ministry in rural Michigan!”

Some fun facts about Bowman include that she is the youngest of nine children, and her family has grown to include nineteen people of six different nationalities! “We literally have every hair color imaginable in my family, and it’s not hard to see why I chose my field of study!” she said. “My hometown is the Asparagus Capital of the nation, and we are also known for our cherries and apples. It’s truly one of the gems of Michigan’s west coast – rolling farmlands, beautiful beaches and little traffic.”

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May 9, 2018

United States Army Officer: McKinzie Horoho

By: Dezaray Barr

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McKinzie Horoho graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in 2017 with a degree in Political Science and Honors Humanities through the John Wesley Honors College. Horoho came to IWU unexpectedly. “I was not accepted to my top choice school,” she shared. “IWU was my backup plan. I grew up 30 minutes from campus and didn’t want to go to college so close to my hometown; however, my parents moved the summer before my freshman year which made attending IWU more appealing. God was very clearly working and the move was perfectly timed for my parents and myself.”

During her time at IWU, some of Horoho’s greatest joys and greatest sorrows occurred. “It was a time of immense personal growth for me. Friendships were forged in a time when, as young adults, we had fewer responsibilities, yet were also faced with new challenges, both personally and professionally,” she said.

It was at IWU that her faith became a real relationship. Horoho said, “While there were plenty of 20 minute power naps taken as a freshman, I also came to take even just 5 minutes to shut my eyes, pray and continue on with my daily schedule.”

Now, Horoho is an officer in the United States Army. After being commissioned one year ago, she is now working in Europe doing administrative support for personnel. IWU’s influence on her life impacts her work each day. “I can only imagine trying to do my job without the spiritual footing I developed at IWU. I am still growing, but I have such a respect for a Christian liberal arts education. Coming from a public school, I had never experienced classroom discussion on theology and philosophy like I enjoyed for four years in the John Wesley Honors College — what a gift that was!” she said.

If Horoho could speak to current IWU students, here is what she’d say: “Your degree will not give you your purpose in life — it may help you along that path, but often God gives us bits of purpose in bite-sized chunks, like puzzle pieces.”

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a junior Strategic Communication, Journalism and Honors Humanities triple major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

March 29, 2017

Katherine Loughead

By: Emily Lehner

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Katherine Loughead was an Indiana Wesleyan student from 2009 to 2013. She studied English and Business Administration, and also was a part of the John Wesley Honors College. She stated, “The most formative part of my college experience at Indiana Wesleyan was the friendships I developed. One of the other things I look back on most fondly of my time there was being in the honors college.”

Loughead’s years at IWU were formative for her spiritual life. IWU excels at creating a culture that encourages growth. “I would say having a strong Christian support community and having professors that care personally about you was the most important. The environment allows growth and exploration and development as a person,” Loughead said.

When asked how she specifically grew spiritually during her time as a student, Loughead mentioned her RA, Megan Hindes, and the influence Hindes had on her as a freshman. “I think I was nervous to come to college at first, but she really took us all in under in her wing. She was always encouraging and making sure we were doing well spiritually,” said Loughead.

Spiritual growth was not the only growth that Loughead gained from her time at IWU. The honors college professors allow the freedom for students to explore their interests. Although Loughead did not major in Political Science, her interest for it led her to spend time researching the area.

“It was through the honors college that I found out about an internship program in D.C., and after that is when I knew that working and living here is what I want to do. One of the professors in the honors college allowed me to dive deeper into that. He gave me opportunities to do a thesis about political science,” said Loughead.

Day to day, Loughead works as an assistant to member of Congress, Ryan Costello. She works with a set of policies that deal with tax, budget, education, transportation, etc. The job is diverse, which is why Loughead said she enjoys it. “I love that everyday is different. I am always learning everyday. I could come from any background and just jump right in, learning as I go. IWU provided me with a well-rounded education that enabled me to feel comfortable jumping right into a field that wasn’t in my chosen field of study,” she stated.

With Washington D.C. being a secular environment, Loughead believes that her firm foundation from IWU was necessary to help her excel. “We are known for being a divided city, so having that firm spiritual foundation is so important. It has to be overflowing to influence those around you.”

Loughead resides in Washington D.C. and has continued to obtain academic success from Georgetown University, receiving her Paralegal license.

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Written by Emily Lehner, writer for the Alumni Center and a sophomore Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.

December 20, 2016

Spotlight on the John Wesley Honors College

By: Dezaray Barr

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As the year comes to an end, this semester’s spotlight on the John Wesley Honors College at IWU comes to a close. As the series wraps up, be sure to review the five alumni of the JWHC who have shared their stories.

Annastasia Bonczyk: Pouring into the Community She Has Loved From the Beginning

Annastasia Bonczyk graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011, after pursuing Biblical Studies in the school of Theology and Ministry. Following graduation, Annastasia attended Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan to further her education and earn a master’s degree. Five years after graduating, Annastasia returned to Indiana Wesleyan, as a coordinator of recruitment and student formation. “I’m recruiting students for the honors college, and I am helping with the external communications, with the broader community whether it’s with our alumni, or our prospective students.”

Chloe McLaughlin: Humbled by the John Wesley Honors College

Chloe McLaughlin, a 2016 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, said, “I applied for the honors college because I wasn’t very humble. I stayed in the honors college because it humbled me… The best way to learn something,” McLaughlin said, “is to be in a room with people who are smarter than you.” McLaughlin, upon graduation this April with a double major in Christian Worship and Honors Humanities and a minor in Church Music, took the position of Modern Worship Leader & Youth Director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Indiana.

Amy Wagner: A Master of All Mediums

Amy Wagner graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012 with a degree in Fine Arts. In addition to majoring in Fine Arts, Wagner was also a member of the John Wesley Honors College. Wagner said that growing up she had always excelled in school and had been placed in gifted programs at an early age. Joining the honors college on campus just seemed to make sense. She began working at God TV, and met her now husband, Derek Wagner. Before the two married last July, Wagner began working for a company he had started, called Peak Distribution LLC.

Ethan Linder: JWHC Graduate

Ethan Linder graduated from Indiana Wesleyan in 2015 as a Christian Ministries major with an Honors Humanities minor through the John Wesley Honors College. Linder also had a positive experience being involved with the John Wesley Honors College. He said that he enjoyed learning from people who were in other majors outside of Christian Ministries and loved that the honors college values shaping students not only in knowledge, but in virtue. “You’re not going to just be shepherding Christian Ministries majors in your church after graduation, you’re going to have people who think deeply about nursing and education and journalism and marketing and things like that,” Linder said. “So having the opportunity to engage with people who were outside my discipline and find out how the spirit would draw them to shepherd areas of their own influence was really helpful for me.”

John Wesley Honors College: Anna Noveroske Freije

Anna Noveroske Freije graduated Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012 with a major in Biology. Freije was also a member of the John Wesley Honors College during her time at IWU. Frieje said her experience with the honors college was one of the more formative pieces of her college career. “I enjoyed a higher caliber of academic rigor and the honors college just seemed like a really cool way to incorporate that into my studies at Indiana Wesleyan,” Frieje said. “And I had known somebody from before college who had recommended the JWHC to me, and I’m so so glad I was a part of it.” Freije said the honor’s college was like a small family, and it was a very valuable part of her college years.

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Written by Dezaray Barr, PR Specialist for the Alumni Office. Dezaray is a sophomore Strategic Communication and Honors Humanities double major at Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College. At IWU Dezaray is involved in PRSSA leadership and runs both the JWHC Blog and her own blog. Visit Dez’s website at www.dezaraybarr.weebly.com.

December 19, 2016

John Wesley Honors College: Anna Noveroske Freije

By: Heather Cox

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Anna Noveroske Freije graduated Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012 with a major in Biology.

A Granger, Indiana native, Freije knew she wanted to attend a Christian school. Once she had decided she wanted to study Biology, she was able to narrow her search down to two schools, and the rest is history!

“I was really attracted to environment at Indiana Wesleyan. I remember showing up on campus near the time I think I had to make my final decision and the campus just seemed so lively, and I loved that,” Freije said.

When it came to choosing a major, Freije said she grew up very interested in Biology, and was happy to figure out how to make a career out of it.

“During the college search, I was looking at different majors and saw something about environmental sciences and thought ‘Oh! I could actually do that! That would be so cool,’” Freije said. “I didn’t think I could actually do what I love like that for my job or study that. Kind of prayed about it and got the ‘okay’ from God. So I went ahead and became a biology major with the intent to do something environmental science or agricultural related.”

Freije was also a member of the John Wesley Honors College during her time at IWU. Frieje said her experience with the honors college was one of the more formative pieces of her college career.

“I enjoyed a higher caliber of academic rigor and the honors college just seemed like a really cool way to incorporate that into my studies at Indiana Wesleyan,” Frieje said. “And I had known somebody from before college who had recommended the JWHC to me, and I’m so so glad I was a part of it.”

Freije said the honor’s college was like a small family, and it was a very valuable part of her college years.

“It felt like it was essentially a minor in church history. I liked the discussions and the different types of education,” Frieje said. “With Biology, a lot of the work is ‘memorize this and learn this for the exam or do this lab,’ and it’s very information based. The honors college was much more discussion and analytical thinking. I feel like it helped round out my education.”

Not only was Frieje involved with the honors college, but she even took an opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand during the Spring of her junior year in 2011 with Creation Care Study Program.

As for her favorite part about Indiana Wesleyan, it was the people she was able to meet.

“When it comes down to it, it was the people who really made my experience there so wonderful,” Frieje said. “The teachers and my friends, and there are so many people I’m still in contact with that, had I not gone to Indiana Wesleyan, I would not have met them– people who just poured into my life.”

Two of Frieje’s favorite classes she took as a student were a C.S. Lewis class taught by Dr. Charles Bressler, who has since retired, and Plant Biology taught by Dr. Grace Miller.

“So many people in Biology were pre-med, and I was not, so I was kind of the rarity there taking plant botany,” Frieje said. “It was one of those things where a lot of the pre-med students didn’t enjoy quite as much. It was not their field, where for me, botany was so much fun and so wonderful.”

Following graduation, Frieje went on to Purdue University and earned her Master’s Degree in Plant Pathology. After earning her Master’s, the professor she had worked under, Dr. Kiersten Wise, then hired her in December 2014, to become a part of Purdue Extension. Dr. Wise specializes in diseases on field crops, such as corn, soybean, and wheat.

Frieje is currently still at this job, as an Extension Crop Pathologist.

“I kind of went from the science and the biology, to in some ways agricultural communication,” Frieje said. “Since my boss is a professor though, I am considered part of her lab, so I also will help with research and/or data collection and analysis from time-to-time.”

Frieje and her husband will be moving in February to live in Kenya for a year and a half.

As for advice for current Indiana Wesleyan students, Frieje said to seek God and do what you want to do.

“God gives you passions for a reason,” Frieje said. “It’s a really exciting thing to know you can follow your passions and delight in the gifts that God has given you and in the sense that he’s allowed you to love.”

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Written by Heather Cox, writer for the Alumni Office. Heather is a junior Journalism major at IWU. She is also the Editor of GrantCOnnected.net, a community news site run by IWU students. She is unsure of where life will take her after college, but she knows she never wants to stop writing!