Message from Provost & Executive Vice President John Pell
One of my most enjoyable reads this summer was John Hawthorne’s The Fearless Christian University. Drawing upon his various experiences in higher education, Hawthorne argues that institutions of Christian higher education still have an important role to play in the shaping of culture if they are willing to be fearless in the face of intense headwinds. “A fearless Christian University,” Hawthorne writes, “is focused on what is happening with the students. Because the university is serving them on their journey to become what they feel called to be.” Moreover, when institutions like Whitworth, which place a high value on the role of our community in a student’s formation, center “the student’s transformational journey,” it becomes clear to everyone involved that the “transformational mission is not limited to the classroom;” rather, we are encouraged to see our community as a “laboratory of how people of faith engage the broader culture.” In short, at a place like Whitworth, the transformative education we promise our students is possible only because our entire community – staff and faculty alike – are on mission together.
Hawthorne offers an exhortation to Christian educators to center students’ experiences and ensure that our institutions of Christian higher education are the types of place that support such transformation. What a high calling, to be in the business of supporting transformations. When I consider the vital role our community plays in the shaping of students’ lives, I cannot help but think back to being a student and walking onto a campus for the first time. With the advantage of time and perspective, I look back on that period of life and understand the value of such growth, but at the time, in that moment, setting out on my educational journey was unnerving because everything felt so uncertain. Yet, somewhere in me was the belief that transformation demanded these steps into the unknown; therefore, I had to trust that God would provide mentors and friends who would support me along the journey; that I would find the courage to leave behind comfortable patterns and daily habits for the promise that a fuller, more complete version of myself would be on the other side of this new adventure.
And, years later, here I am, no longer a student but rather a member of that community of mentors, teachers and coaches called to support students during their transformational journeys. Yet, if I am being honest, it feels like I am a student again, facing uncertainty as the landscape of higher education is rapidly changing before our eyes. Those of us who have devoted our lives to scholarship, teaching and serving students in countless other ways are being forced to ask hard questions about the value of higher education. These questions are disruptive because I have grown comfortable with my patterns and daily habits and naively believed that higher education would, for the most part, remain in a constant state. Certainly, there will be moments of disruption (pandemics, changes in federal administrations, new technologies that minimally alter workflow), but for the most part, my daily habits and patterns would remain the same throughout my career.
What I did not anticipate is living through a moment when the value and purpose of higher education would be so heavily scrutinized by pundits and provocateurs; I did not anticipate the speed at which technology would radically alter our daily practices and force us to reimagine how we support students as they develop the durable skills (critical thinking, clear and engaging communication, discernment, and wisdom) that are the hallmarks of a Christian education anchored by the liberal arts. But here we are, a community feeling uncertain, not unlike those of our students, and like our students asking, “where will this path lead me? Will this journey be worth the effort and sacrifice?”
The answer is a resounding yes – our work still matters, even if our daily practices and habits might change a bit. Our students are transformed because they arrive at a community filled with amazing people who support them on their journeys. Students can be brave and step into the unknown because they know we are going to walk alongside them and, when necessary, be brave for them. Certainly, there are loud voices from all corners of culture casting doubt on the purpose and promise of higher education, but our students, the ones we are welcoming to campus over the next few weeks, have made their hopes known – Whitworth is worth it.
Transformation is turbulent; it is unsettling to be in the midst of change. Yet our students time and again embrace this uncertainty for the promise of a flourishing life that lies at the completion of their Whitworth education. Amid change and uncertainty, our students hold to the belief that they will be transformed through the pursuit of knowledge and the forging of meaningful relationships made possible as a result of this place.
Our students’ faith for what is possible for their lives because of a place like Whitworth brings me comfort and gives me hope. Their willingness to place their trust in our community reminds me that while we may not be able to change everyone’s mind about the importance of Christian higher education, we can take comfort in knowing that we have the opportunity to serve those who are arriving at our campus this fall. And, what is more, I hope each of you takes joy in knowing that their choice to come to this special place is because they believe our faculty and staff are world-class and fully capable of leading them through this transformational journey.
This year, let’s make sure to remind each other of how important each one of us is to carrying out our shared mission to provide our diverse student body with an education of the mind and the heart, equipping its graduates to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity.
John Pell
Provost & Executive Vice President