In the News: Reimagining Higher Education Through Discernment
Liz was recently featured in an article highlighting an innovative approach to graduate education that exemplifies her commitment to integrating spiritual discernment with professional development. The piece explores how her English 6820 class at Marquette University transformed a traditional literary theory course into a journey of personal and professional discovery.
Beyond Traditional Education
"We really think about preparing our students for careers, but more importantly, preparing them to be people in the world and people in community," Liz shared in the article. This perspective challenges the common narrative that reduces education to merely economic outcomes, instead embracing Marquette's principle of cura personalis—care for the whole person.
Innovation in Practice
The article highlights how she integrated Ignatian discernment principles into graduate studies through creative approaches like discernment maps. Students used various media—from board games to photography—to visualize their educational and professional journeys. As one student noted, "There was a lot of internal work being done in this class."
The Power of Transformation
Perhaps most meaningful to Liz was the mutual transformation that occurred over those 16 weeks. As she shared in the article, "I feel like I was transformed being in community with these eight graduate students, as much as I have seen them be transformed. That, to me, is the power of the humanities classroom—being open to transformation, to building a community."
Why This Matters
In an era where humanities programs face challenges, this work demonstrates how integrating spiritual discernment with academic study can prepare students not just for careers, but for meaningful lives. It's a perfect example of how the "public-facing humanities" can thrive by fostering innovation, creativity, analysis, collaboration, and empathy.
Interested in exploring how discernment practices can transform your own journey? Whether you're in academia or another field, let's connect to discuss how spiritual direction can support your path.
