For Walla Walla University faculty and staff, their calling is not only about what happens at the front of a classroom. It happens in office conversations, research labs, mission planning, senior trips and the quiet moments when a student realizes someone is paying attention.
Tiago Arrais, WWU associate professor of biblical studies, describes that work in one word: presence. “The need is the call,” he said. For Arrais, being present means noticing more than what appears on the surface and joining a university mission that prepares students “not only to be the greatest professionals out there, but also to be the kind of people behind the professionals who are deeply related to God.”
That kind of formation takes different shapes across campus. Matthew Williams, WWU associate professor of biology, sees his calling in helping students learn to investigate the world with care. Drawing from the book of Genesis, he describes inquiry as one of humanity’s oldest callings. His hope is that students learn to think “critically, carefully, honestly and, importantly, faithfully” as they engage the world around them.
Ruth Meltzer, WWU associate professor of health and physical education, sees teaching as an extension of her work as a physical therapist. She wants students to become better healthcare providers not only through clinical knowledge, but also through empathy, listening and holistic care.
Brian Schaffner, WWU assistant professor of business, carries a similar desire into the classroom, hoping to offer students the same Christian mentorship he once received at WWU. “WWU does not end when our university students graduate,” he said. “That is the beginning of the relationship.”
For Andrea Keele, WWU associate chaplain for missions, the common thread is listening. She sees God at work when faculty and staff take time to listen to students and one another.
Together, their stories point to a calling shared across disciplines: to teach with excellence, serve with presence and help students become people of purpose, faith and care.
