Overview

Mission, Vision, and Values

History

Why do we do what we do?

Wesley Center Staff

Overview

Established in 2001, the Wesley Center helps the university live up to John Wesley’s charge to “Do all the good you can.” The Center nurtures collaborative relationships and encourages Hamline’s engagement with the greater community, both local and global. The Center’s focus on vocation and leadership creates opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to explore their life’s work as they contribute to justice and equity in the world. Wesley Center staff teach courses, offer faculty and staff development, and work directly with students in the Wesley Center Scholars program and other curricular and co-curricular activities.

The Wesley Center initiates and administers programs, helps connect potential partners for new initiatives, and provides an incubator for exploration of emerging opportunities. Currently, three programs form the core of the Center’s collaborative work with programs across the university and with neighborhood organizations, communities of faith, and other educational institutions.

• Theological Exploration of Vocation Program (TEVP)—a university-wide initiative to expand Hamline’s understanding of the “vocation of the university” and to encourage lives of leadership and service. Initiatives include holistic advising for incoming CLA students and eight other programs for undergraduate, graduate and law students; curriculum development support and mentoring for faculty and instructional staff; and conversations and workshops on vocation-related topics. TEVP is funded in part by a five-year $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana.

• Leadership in Support of Neighborhood (LISN)—a community leadership development program in partnership with the Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC). Beginning in 2005-06 a yearly cohort of 12 emerging leaders, or “LISN Fellows”, pursues individualized leadership learning programs with HMC and university staff, while contributing to community projects that enhance the neighborhood. LISN is funded by grants from St. Paul Foundation, St. Paul Travelers, Bigelow Foundation, Bremer Foundation and others.

• Antiracism Study-Dialogue Circles (ASDIC)—a transformative antiracism program based on community formation to explore the interpersonal dynamics of racism. Since fall 2004, 11 circles have served 160 individuals from the university and community, who participated in 12-week circles of conversation, shared readings and videos, critical analysis and reflection. As part of Hamline’s TEVP sustainability plan, this program will be made available to CLA undergraduates as a four-credit course beginning in FY08.

The Wesley Center director reports to the Vice President for University Relations. Staff include three full-time (two faculty program directors and an administrative director) and four part-time staff (three Wesley Center Fellows and a development officer). The Wesley Center is housed in the Wesley/GLS House at 1500 Englewood Avenue next to Hamline United Methodist Church.