Bethany College to Conclude Vocational Reflection Initiative with Keynote Presentation

LINDSBORG, KAN., AUG. 13, 2024 — Bethany College will conclude a year-long vocational reflection initiative funded by a $15,000 Professional Development Grant from the Council of Independent College's Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). The culmination of this programming will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Mindy Makant, a distinguished professor and leader in vocational studies, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Makant, a Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Youth and Family Ministry Program at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina will address Bethany College faculty and staff during a workshop focused on the significance of vocational reflection and exploration within Lutheran higher education. The keynote will accompany roundtable discussions to further embed vocational discernment into the college's curricular and co-curricular offerings.

"Dr. Makant's extensive experience in vocational studies and her deep understanding of Lutheran educational values make her the ideal speaker to bring this important project to its conclusion," said Pastor Melissa Woeppel, Campus Pastor at Bethany College. "We are excited to have her on campus to inspire and challenge us as we continue to support our students in discovering and pursuing their callings."

Makant's expertise is well-documented through her work as the founding director of the Living Well Center for Vocation and Purpose at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She has authored two books, The Practice of Story: Suffering and the Possibilities of Redemption and Holy Mischief: In Honor of Women in Ministry (forthcoming). Additionally, she serves as an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a certified spiritual director, and a member of the ELCA's Task Force on the Social Statement on Church, Government, and Civic Participation.

This keynote presentation marks the final stage of the NetVUE-funded initiative, which began with a comprehensive effort to address barriers to vocational reflection and exploration faced by Bethany students. The initiative included book study groups, focus groups with crucial student constituencies, and the development of new pedagogical approaches to enhance the vocational development of all students. The feedback gathered throughout the year has informed curricular changes and programmatic adjustments that will benefit Bethany College students for years.

For more information about the event or the vocational reflection initiative, contact Pastor Melissa Woeppel at woeppelm@bethanylb.edu.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.