Our Community Stories
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 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
Global Strategist
Phyllis Ferrell
DePauw pride has remained an important part of Phyllis Ferrell's life, even after graduation in 1994…
Meet Phyllis Ferrell
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
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
Enriching a Global Perspective
Marwa Aarab
As an international student keen on medicine and research, I chose DePauw University after careful examination…
Meet Marwa Aarab
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
Fostering Personal Connections
Sarah Rowley
What excites me about teaching? Everything! The magic that happens in the classroom is completely dependent…
Meet Sarah Rowley
Empowering Students
Leslie James
Since I recognize that each student brings a unique dimension to the collective, it is problematic to…
Meet Leslie James
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
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
Where Passion Meets Opportunity
Arley Johnson
Since she was in high school, Arley Johnson ’26 has been intrigued by athletic training. As a track and…
Meet Arley Johnson
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
Deep Roots
Jason Soto-Vega
Originally from Costa Rica, Jason Soto-Vega ’25 grew up being taught the importance of community, hard…
Meet Jason Soto-Vega
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
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
A coast-to-coast college adventure
Peyton Rohr
West Coast: The First Visit from Sunny California Peyton Rohr ’27, a student-athlete and media fellow…
Meet Peyton Rohr
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
A Place to Flourish
Miriam Linton
When Miriam Linton ’29 began her college search process, she knew that finding a tight-knit community…
Meet Miriam Linton
Taking a Stand
Maddie Perry
Something I discovered about myself at DePauw was learning to confidently voice my thoughts and opinions…
Meet Maddie Perry
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
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
An Envelope and an Opportunity
Thom Jackson
Over the course of his lifetime, Thom Jackson ’82 has been no stranger to professional success. He’s…
Meet Thom Jackson
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
From Guernsey to Greencastle
Tanner Austin
“I came out here on a limb,” says Tanner Austin ’28. “It's just unbelievably lucky how it all worked…
Meet Tanner Austin
Innovative Artistry
John Berry
Success and accomplishment flow from the challenging work done in the classroom and studio at DePauw…
Meet John Berry
Everything is possible
Sahit Liyanage
What is the value of undergraduate research? One is the experience itself: the chance to learn and engage…
Meet Sahit Liyanage
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
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