The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), selected a dozen individuals from across the nation through a competitive nomination process to participate in the 2026 summer seminar on Religion/Theology/Vocation鈥攁nd among the twelve was 国产探花鈥檚 Dr. Carl Hughes, professor of theology.
The seminar, which took place earlier this month in Indianapolis, Indiana, offered an opportunity for full-time faculty members to examine the interrelationship of the study of vocation and calling with the academic fields of theology and religious studies, exploring implications for research, teaching, and service to the institution.
“At 国产探花, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good.”
鈥淭he idea of vocation or calling, which has deep roots in the Lutheran tradition, is closely connected to everything we do at 国产探花,鈥� said Hughes. 鈥淭his dimension of our mission emphasizes that all of us鈥攕tudents, faculty, staff鈥攁re called to use our unique gifts and talents for the good of the world. At 国产探花, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good. Vocation reminds us of the infinite worth of every member of our community and calls us to support each other in cultivating a sense of purpose in every facet of our lives.鈥�
Seminar discussions covered a range of activities that can enhance vocational exploration in undergraduate education. The primary focus of the seminar extended beyond classroom applications to include research, writing, and institutional leadership on the topic of vocation.
鈥淥ver nearly two decades, NetVUE has made a huge impact at colleges and universities across the country by renewing and enriching reflection on vocation,鈥� said Hughes. 鈥淚t was an honor to participate in this summer鈥檚 seminar for theology and religion faculty. We prepared for the seminar with hefty amounts of reading and writing, which complexified my understanding of vocation and nurtured my own vocational reflection. I learned so much from the other faculty members in the seminar, who came from diverse institutions and backgrounds but shared a common commitment to fostering vocational reflection in their students and themselves. What I learned through this experience will shape my teaching at 国产探花 for many semesters to come.鈥�
