University Receives NetVUE Professional Development Award
Oct. 9, 2025
The University of the South has received a Professional Development Award from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), a nationwide network of over 300 colleges and universities formed to support and enrich vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students. The award will enable a team of faculty members to work on expanding the University’s capacity for vocational exploration and reflection in both advising and the academic program.
In the coming year, the participating faculty will enhance their knowledge of vocational discernment, including best practices for reflection, and do one or more of the following: develop a new or revised course syllabus that integrates vocational exploration; create reflective exercises for faculty colleagues to include in their courses; or contribute to the development of resources for use by pre-major and major advisors.
The participating faculty are (pictured above, from left): Assistant Professor of Biology Kevin Rodriguez; staff co-leader and Director of Student Formation Elizabeth Wilson; Assistant Professor of Psychology Katy Morgan; Associate Professor of Religious Studies Kati Curts; faculty co-leader and Associate Professor of Environmental Systems Keri Watson; Assistant Professor of Art History Leslie Todd; Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Carl Biehl Professor of of International Affairs Amy Patterson; and Associate Professor of Computer Science Ross Sowell.
This professional development opportunity follows several recent initiatives—like the establishing cohorts of faculty fellows for purpose and career and faculty fellows for advising and mentoring—that have provided Sewanee faculty with support as they work to embed career exploration and reflection on purpose throughout the Sewanee experience.
“This award will help us to build on previous efforts and advance the University’s strategic goal of student formation through vocational exploration and discernment,” says Kim Heitzenrater, associate dean for career readiness and student success. “As this work grows across academic programs and advising conversations, we expect that all Sewanee students will benefit from the many opportunities to find their purpose as they explore paths for their future.”
