Vocation and Calling: UIndy Launches Professional Development Series Through NetVUE Grant

The University of Indianapolis was recently awarded a Professional Development Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). 

The NetVUE grant supported the launch of a year-long professional development series for UIndy faculty and staff known as “Vocation Fellows,” modeled after the University’s existing Faculty Fellows program. 

Led by Dr. Jonathan Evans, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and Dr. James Willis, assistant professor of practice in philosophy and religion, the series includes three workshops per semester. The goal of the series is to build a community of learning that equips UIndy faculty and staff to engage undergraduate students in vocational reflection and calling.

“The work of the Vocation Fellows grant aims to prepare UIndy faculty and staff to assist students in deepening their sense of purpose and sense of place,” said Dr. Evans. “We believe that when students can articulate why their studies at UIndy matter and how their gifts translate into life after college, they not only become fully engaged members of the UIndy community, but can see how their time at UIndy will propel them to live meaningful, community-minded lives.”

Through guest speakers, guided readings, and facilitated discussions, the series equips Vocation Fellows with practical tools to foster conversations about purpose, belonging, and life after graduation with UIndy students.

• In September, Vocation Fellows were introduced to foundational vocabulary and frameworks for understanding vocation and calling. 
• In October, Dr. Richard Sévère, dean of the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at Purdue Northwest, led workshops for the Fellows on belonging, displacement, and vocational discernment.
• In November, Vocation Fellows explored cultural narratives around passion and vocation, using Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken and Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore’s work as springboards for reflection.

By equipping faculty and staff to guide students in vocational reflection, the series strengthens UIndy’s commitment to experiential learning and diverse perspectives, ensuring that conversations about purpose and belonging are embedded within the academic experience.

“Being a part of Vocation Fellows has been a great opportunity to converse and collaborate on how staff and faculty can empower students to find the purpose behind the career goals they are pursuing in all facets of their UIndy experience,” said Rebecca Franks Merriman, assistant director of the Stephen F. Fry Professional Edge Center. “With many of our students wanting to be agents of change and help in their communities and our world, the content that we have studied has expanded past the traditional ideas of vocation and calling, and considers barriers that might be faced, so that we can ensure these conversations are relevant to each and every UIndy student.”

Fellows have also begun developing individualized projects aimed at strengthening undergraduate initiatives across campus. Pamela Howard, assistant professor of practice in supply chain management, created a semester-long program in her introductory supply chain courses that helps freshmen and sophomores reflect on their values and life goals and how those connect to potential career paths. At the end of the program, students will have developed a plan with action steps to strengthen that mindset as they continue in their program within the School of Business.

“Business students often come in thinking they’ll graduate, get a job in the business world, and that it won’t have meaning beyond that,” said Howard. “This program is helping me to help my students think a little more about that, beyond, ‘Is this job going to give me a paycheck?’ to more, ‘Is this job going to give me a sense of purpose?’” 

This spring, the series will address challenges in vocation, identity within academic life, and navigating diverse career paths. 

Ultimately, organizers hope the initiative will strengthen both student retention and long-term success by embedding vocational reflection into the fabric of campus life.

“We hope the outputs of this NetVUE Professional Development Grant can help propel future efforts to provide faculty and staff with resources to encourage vocational reflection with students,” said Dr. Willis. “We believe that vocational discernment is an important part of higher education in the 21st century, and that UIndy is well-placed to encourage meaningful reflection of one’s purpose in the world. Additionally, we hope future efforts continue to support and grow a culture of care for students during and after their college experience.”

In doing so, the series reflects the heart of the University’s mission—championing lifelong learning through relevant, innovative education. By embedding conversations about purpose, belonging, and service into campus life, UIndy is preparing students not only for their first job, but for a lifetime of thoughtful engagement with their communities and the world.