As liberal arts institutions continue to work to educate the whole person, connecting vocational inquiry to sports can engage students in exploring vocation in creative ways. NetVUE’s September 2024 Webinar focused on vocational elements of personal development within the context of college athletics, opening up opportunities to explore meaning and purpose in both curricular and co-curricular contexts. NetVUE hosted a webinar on September 19, featuring three speakers who discussed experiences and strategies of how we can take vocation beyond the classroom in our work with student-athletes.
Stephanie Ahlfeldt is an associate provost and professor of communication studies at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She has taught a variety of courses in communication and theatre. Currently, she is committed to high-impact learning practices, including community engagement, undergraduate research, and student-athlete initiatives. She explored how to connect sports to broader life experiences.
Angie Morenz of Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, is chair and professor of physical education and sport management. She has served as commissioner of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Her research focuses on NCAA Division III student-athletes, athletic identity, and retirement from college athletics. She shared the student-athlete vocation arc and fostering connections on campus.
Finally, Marcus Wagner of University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, discussed fostering relationship and identity in student-athletes in the context of university mission. As the associate director of intercollegiate athletics for mission, he assists in the department’s “Greatness through Virtue” strategic plan.
The concluding 30 minutes of the webinar were dedicated to questions from participants, including questions about the specific approaches to integrating vocation in college athletics. Additional related resources were also provided: the Callings podcast episode on Vocational Advice for Undergrads: Season 4 Highlights, and blog posts on Handle Hard Better and Nurturing Vocation: Ideas from Health & Human Performance.
The webinar was recorded and can be accessed through the NetVUE Online Community Network, to which all staff and faculty members at NetVUE institutions have access. Click here for more information about NetVUE membership.
Rachel F. Pickett is the webinar coordinator for NetVUE.
