This week, Ayanna McConnell, the president of the University of Michigan Alumni Association, joined us for Friday lunch. Ayanna shared her U-M journey with students, beginning as a student committed to meeting new people and experiencing the varied opportunities of a large university, to transitioning into her current role as a faithful leader interacting with alums across the world. She enjoyed engaging with students and encouraged them to be ready to apply their faith wherever the Lord leads.

Our guest this week was Isaac Wingfield, instructor of photography and the head of Visual Arts at the U-M Residential College. In our conversation, Isaac discusses how his passion for the visual arts originated and how he understands beauty from a Christian framework. He also talks about the prison Creative Arts program that he leads, which uses photography to restore a sense of identity and dignity to individuals in prison.

Associate Professor of Educational Studies, Jamaal Sharif Matthews, reflected on how Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” still speaks to the church today and how righteousness and justice form the axis of our relationship with God and other people.

Two MCSC students, senior Brady Nichols and junior Natalie Mouw, shared their reflections on how their Christian faith has impacted their lives as students at Michigan, the ways their faith has been challenged and grown, and the significance of the Michigan Christian Study Center to their U of M experience.

Kristin Wong, the MCSC Director of Spiritual and Community Life, shared her experience as a cello major at the U of M, her journey to becoming a Christian counselor, the importance of the spiritual disciplines, and how to cultivate Christ’s spirit of peace amid the stress of final exams.

Professor Thad Polk joined us for lunch on Friday. Students heard how Professor Polk became a Christian, landed at the University of Michigan, and has flourished as a professor here.

We were delighted to host Melodie Marske for our lunch conversation. Melodie is the Regional Director of Graduate and Faculty Ministries for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. She shared how her time at Michigan transitioned into a calling to full-time ministry, and how people, prayer, and her church have sustained her through the years.

Our Friday lunch featured a fascinating conversation with Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta, who shared how he ended up as a political journalist and his reflections on how we can navigate our current situation faithfully.

Our Friday lunch speaker this week was Joseph Ho, a historian at the University of Michigan who specializes in the history of Christianity in Asia. Joseph studies history using old photographs and films, and he brought with him to the Center a vintage camera from the mid-twentieth century—the same type that was used to take the famous photograph of U.S. marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima in 1945. Students enjoyed hearing Joseph’s journey into academia.

This week we spoke to Paul Clyde, professor of business economics and public policy at the UM Ross School of Business. 

David Blaauw, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, for his Friday lunch conversation with students this week. Dr. Blaauw shared how he became a Christian and how engineering the world’s smallest computer stems from a sense of Christian calling and his desire to make a positive difference in the world through his work.

We were grateful to Kristin Collier for joining us this week. With grace and candor, Kristin shared her journey of faith and the changes that came with her conversion to Christianity, keeping students engaged long after lunch had ended.

Pete Dahlem joined us for Friday lunch. Pete came to Michigan as an atheist with the goal of graduating and becoming wealthy. But during his freshman year, his unbelief began to crumble, eventually leading to his conversion to Christianity with a new set of desires and goals. Pete also shared the beauties, benefits, and challenges of worshiping in a multicultural church.

Alison Vander Roest, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering joined us for lunch this week. She shared her academic journey with students and spoke about the intersection of faith and science.

Abdu Murray, the noted apologist and U-M alumnus, shared his faith journey and encouraged students on how they can have productive conversations about faith. Students also appreciated the chance to ask honest questions and hear Abdu’s thoughtful answers.