Our Community Stories
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
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
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
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
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
Discovering Connections
Danielle Sommerman
I chose DePauw because I wanted a school with a small student body where I could make personal connections…
Meet Danielle Sommerman
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
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
Building Connections
Naima Shifa
The biggest part of my teaching is building connections with my students and creating a community in…
Meet Naima Shifa
Community of Communities
Jessica Curry
“Coming into school, I don’t know if I knew what I wanted to do. I began as an econ major and was in…
Meet Jessica Curry
Invaluable Research Experience
Star Long
Star Long came to DePauw with plans to major in kinesiology, go off to graduate school and become a physical…
Meet Star Long
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
Joy at the Intersection of Music and Service
Rafael Toro-Quiñones
“I’m kicking myself for dropping a leadership class with Dr. McKelligan,” laughs Rafael Toro-Quiñones…
Meet Rafael Toro-Quiñones
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
Uncovering the Story
Mariam Lobjanidze
I chose DePauw because of its rigorous academics, amazing opportunities to get experience in media and…
Meet Mariam Lobjanidze
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
Becoming my potential
Rhonesha Byng
I wanted to work in media when I came to DePauw, so I took advantage of WGRE, the campus radio station…
Meet Rhonesha Byng
Innovative Artistry
John Berry
Success and accomplishment flow from the challenging work done in the classroom and studio at DePauw…
Meet John Berry
From Intern to Analyst
Jessica Levy
I chose DePauw because I was looking for a management, finance or economics academic program that would…
Meet Jessica Levy
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
Making Connections
Sydney Schloemer
No matter what activity Sydney Schloemer ’26 has found herself doing at DePauw, her ultimate goal has…
Meet Sydney Schloemer
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
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
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
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
Freedom to Explore
Erik Wielenberg
Since 1999, Erik Wielenberg has been a fixture of the philosophy department at DePauw University. Not…
Meet Erik Wielenberg
Taking a Stand
Maddie Perry
Something I discovered about myself at DePauw was learning to confidently voice my thoughts and opinions…
Meet Maddie Perry
Endless Curiosity
Marielle Gearding
Theatre. Neuroscience. Creative writing. True crime. Dance. Marielle Gearding ’27 has no shortage of…
Meet Marielle Gearding
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