Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

One of the biggest post-pandemic challenges to faith development on any campus — or in any community — is motivating active involvement. Across the nation, church service attendance has dropped, especially post-pandemic. UD is working to reverse the trend, and Campus Ministry is definitely on the front lines of faith formation.      

Campus Ministry at UD is one of the largest collegiate ministry programs in the nation, and they know that one of the most effective ways to enhance spiritual growth is through peer advocates.

“Peer-to-peer is the most successful (at engaging students),” said Crystal Sullivan, executive director of Campus Ministry. In the Marianist tradition, Sullivan says Campus Ministry welcomes all students to the table, and the effect is to create spaces where every student has an opportunity to lead.

“Student leaders in faith are inspired by their faith tradition and draw other students into practicing that tradition,” said Sullivan, speaking about the students who Campus Ministry employs each year. “Our student workers are actively, authentically living their faith and, depending on their role, inviting other students to participate in that, too.”

Donor gifts during One Day, One Dayton (the University’s annual giving day) fund all of Campus Ministry’s student employees and interns. Sullivan said that the consistency of donors during giving days allow them to use the funds in this manner. And their students are making an impact through their leadership.

Lindsey Person, a junior from Cincinnati, works for Campus Ministry’s Center for Social Concern. One of her primary roles as the community outreach assistant is to organize Service Saturdays for fellow Flyers.

“Our mission at the Center for Social Concern is helping others,” said Person. “And I feel like that’s kind of God’s mission for us — to help others. It allows us to see our faith in action.”

Person is a behind-the-scenes leader, connecting students with organizations that are devoted to furthering the common good for all. She said God gives everyone unique talents, and, although she tends to be quiet, her role allows her to flex her organizational gifts. 

Other students, like Chetan Deore, take on a more visible leadership role. Deore, a junior from Mumbai, India, was one of the nominees for the 2023 Student Employee of the Year for his work with Campus Ministry.

During his first year with Campus Ministry, he supported interdenominational ministry by organizing retreats and assisting students who were speaking or providing music for weekly services. As a Hindu from northern India, Deore explained that he didn’t experience weekly services in his tradition. Hindu students gathered together for festivals and special events, but going to temple was a personal thing.

“One of my favorite parts of how Christianity is practiced is the togetherness,” said Deore. “The culture of every Sunday coming together for worship, sitting together, sharing our food.”

Inspired by the ministry he witnessed on campus, Deore established UD’s Hindu Ministry during his second year. They decided to meet weekly, too, and Deore said they now have more than 100 members with an active leadership base of 17 students.

He also said that his experience working for — and working with — Campus Ministry has been amazing. And Sullivan is happy to see Deore’s success.

“As a Catholic university, we strive to be a place where people of all religious traditions live, learn and deepen their faith,” she said. “The diversity of faith enriches the community and offers a great witness of solidarity for all people of faith. It’s also one way we authentically model what it means to be Catholic.”