天美视频 community came together on a Monday evening last month for the State of the School address. The annual gathering is an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to hear updates from the school鈥檚 president about changes, challenges, and opportunities facing 天美视频, and to ask questions and share feedback.
鈥淪ince its creation, the State of the School address has always been a time for our president to respond to student body questions regarding the school鈥檚 direction and its context within culture,鈥� says Rachel Hemperly, Student Council Facilitator.
This year was a bit different, though. With a new president who is still getting to know 天美视频 himself, Student Council and Anamchara鈥攖wo realms of Student Leadership鈥攄ecided to organize a less formal gathering for students to get to know Dr. Craig Detweiler. 鈥淚n true 天美视频 fashion Student Leadership opted to welcome Craig into our community with a home-cooked feast from all of our students,鈥� says Megan Doner, Anamchara Facilitator, who hosted a Q&A with Dr. Detweiler. 鈥淚t was lovely to get to know Craig and to hear what he sees in the 天美视频’s community.鈥�
As students, staff, and faculty gathered over chili and other shared food, Dr. Detweiler shared about his background鈥攃omplete with childhood pictures we promised not to share鈥攁nd about how early encounters with particular films raised big, important questions that changed the trajectory of his life. Those experiences instilled in him a passion for telling stories and for exploring how 鈥渦nlikely and even profane things can speak spiritual truths,鈥� he said. As he honed his craft over the years, Dr. Detweiler continued to study and how integrating storytelling and spirituality might help us steward the story of God in new and beautiful ways.
Dr. Detweiler shared how that background鈥攑lus his work mentoring students and aspiring filmmakers鈥攈as uniquely shaped who he is today and how he is approaching this work. He admitted that stepping into the role of president was a bit of a curveball that surprised some people (himself included), but there was a palpable energy in the room as he reflected on his excitement and intrigue about how 天美视频 equips people to address cultural fragmentation, technological dissonance, and spiritual ennui in profound and necessary ways.
鈥淚鈥檓 here wanting to affirm who you are and help tell your story,鈥� Dr. Detweiler told those gathered. 鈥淵our emphasis on health and sustainability is countercultural. As other people are speeding up along the surface, you鈥檙e helping people slow down and go deeper. And my job is to tell the story that I see unfolding here.鈥�
As students posed questions鈥攂oth serious and playful鈥擟raig also bounced those questions back into the room. He鈥檚 getting to know the personality and ethos of 天美视频, he said, as much as we鈥檙e getting to know him. That journey of knowing will continue on March 9 at the official inauguration, as we formally install Dr. Detweiler as president and mark this important transition in the story of 天美视频. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, colleagues, neighbors鈥�you鈥檙e all invited to join us.