Initiatives Archive

The value of Trinity’s special education teaching programs is nearly impossible to quantify: Our special education majors go on to change the lives of students by cultivating relational peace, educational equity, and justice for all children and impacting the mind, body, and soul of each student through excellence in teaching.

So, the College is particularly pleased to see the value of our undergraduate and graduate degrees in special education recognized by Grad Degree Search. According to the rankings organization, Trinity has been recognized in several categories, including among the top 10 in the Great Lakes Region for both types of degrees! Our bachelor’s and master’s degrees were also honored with a top-50 rankings nationwide.

— 7th in Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region Ranking

—9th in Best Value Special Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region Ranking

— 44th in Best Value Special Education Master’s Degree Schools Ranking

— 49th in Best Value Special Education Schools Ranking

“When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school’s quality as well as its sticker price,” Grad Degree Search noted. “Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value.”

Trinity brings value in many ways, according to Christine Scholma ’04, assistant professor of special education and co-director of the Center for SPED. “One of the added values of Trinity’s special education program includes a variety of partnerships with local schools,” said Scholma. “Through these partnerships, students with disabilities come to campus to learn alongside Trinity special education majors. Prospective teachers get the opportunity to apply what they are learning in class by teaching local students about community living.”

During her time at Trinity, Emma (Darcy) Schneider ’19 explored her love of theatre. As part of Trinity’s Theatre Club, the English education major participated in plays on campus and was nominated for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.

After graduating in 2019, she spent a year teaching English at the high-school level. But she missed theater and decided to earn a graduate degree from the University of Chicago in Theater & Performance Studies while serving as theater program coordinator at Trinity. Now, Schneider’s connection to Trinity is deepening as she looks forward to serving as adjunct faculty and interim president of the Theatre Department

Schneider said her time at Trinity enhanced her appreciation for both theatre and literature. “Dr. John [Sebestyen, Ph.D., associate professor of communication arts and director of theatre] has certainly been one of the most influential people in my life, and that started in our collaborations within the theatre department. I also took several of his classes just because I loved theatre so much, and I always enjoyed learning from him,” said Schneider. She pointed to other life-changing courses as well, such as Dr. Mark Jones’s Shakespeare class, Dr. Michael Vander Weele’s English Senior Seminar, Dr. Erick Sierra’s Transatlantic Literature class, and Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell’s Secondary English Methods.

Schneider enjoyed teaching high school students after she graduated from Trinity but realized she was missing theatre. “While I was teaching high school students, I was able to incorporate one play into my curriculum for each class. These units were my favorite to teach, and my excitement about them translated well to my students, too,” she said. “Teaching these units made me realize how much I missed being involved in theatre and theatre studies, so I decided that as I moved into a goal to teach at the collegiate level, I would focus my work in theatre and theatre literature.” That involved exploring grad school.

A Degree from University of Chicago, a Return to Trinity

A native of Morton, Ill., Schneider was living in the Chicago area with her husband Tyler Schneider ’18. After exploring area theatre programs, she decided on University of Chicago’s master’s degree program in Theatre and Performance Studies and began classes there in the Fall 2020. Around the same time, she was in conversations with Sebestyen. The opportunity to take on the part-time role of Trinity’s theatre program coordinator developed from there.

Like so many aspects of life over the 18 months, particularly in education and the arts, COVID-19 impacted Schneider in her work and studies. Yet she adapted and brought her creative talents to new ways of expression within COVID constraints.

For example, during the Spring 2021 semester, she wrote and directed her own interactive play on campus, “Investigative Support,” which premiered at Trinity. The play was inspired by work on her master’s thesis, which involves the role of audience members in the theater-going experience. “Investigative Support” took place outside on the Trin Trail in March, to allow for safe social distancing.

At University of Chicago, most of her classes were virtual, presenting a unique way of studying performance arts. Schneider prepared a piece for presentation that involved the audience in a unique way. “It was more of a performance piece that reflects members of the BIPOC and LGBTQI community,” she said. The actors participating in the piece formed a circle while delivering monologues, and audience members were surrounded by voices, with the opportunity to step out of the cacophony and focus on just one speaker.

Now that she has finished her master’s degree, Trinity will continue to be a home for Schneider as she takes on additional roles here. Along with teaching as an adjunct professor in the Communication Arts department, Schneider will stay in her role as theatre program coordinator and serve as interim president of the Theatre Department while Sebestyen is on sabbatical during the 2021-22 academic year. She will also be directing Trinity’s mainstage play in Spring 2022.

“Trinity has always been a strong home to me. I’m blessed to be here,” she said. “I’m really thankful to be part of this community and to see my roots here continuing to grow.” 

During her time at Trinity, Emma (Darcy) Schneider ’19 explored her love of theatre. As part of Trinity’s Theatre Club, the English education major participated in plays on campus and was nominated for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.

After graduating in 2019, she spent a year teaching English at the high-school level. But she missed theater and decided to earn a graduate degree from the University of Chicago in Theater & Performance Studies while serving as theater program coordinator at Trinity. Now, Schneider’s connection to Trinity is deepening as she looks forward to serving as adjunct faculty and interim president of the Theatre Department

Schneider said her time at Trinity enhanced her appreciation for both theatre and literature. “Dr. John [Sebestyen, Ph.D., associate professor of communication arts and director of theatre] has certainly been one of the most influential people in my life, and that started in our collaborations within the theatre department. I also took several of his classes just because I loved theatre so much, and I always enjoyed learning from him,” said Schneider. She pointed to other life-changing courses as well, such as Dr. Mark Jones’s Shakespeare class, Dr. Michael Vander Weele’s English Senior Seminar, Dr. Erick Sierra’s Transatlantic Literature class, and Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell’s Secondary English Methods.

Schneider enjoyed teaching high school students after she graduated from Trinity but realized she was missing theatre. “While I was teaching high school students, I was able to incorporate one play into my curriculum for each class. These units were my favorite to teach, and my excitement about them translated well to my students, too,” she said. “Teaching these units made me realize how much I missed being involved in theatre and theatre studies, so I decided that as I moved into a goal to teach at the collegiate level, I would focus my work in theatre and theatre literature.” That involved exploring grad school.

A Degree from University of Chicago, a Return to Trinity

A native of Morton, Ill., Schneider was living in the Chicago area with her husband Tyler Schneider ’18. After exploring area theatre programs, she decided on University of Chicago’s master’s degree program in Theatre and Performance Studies and began classes there in the Fall 2020. Around the same time, she was in conversations with Sebestyen. The opportunity to take on the part-time role of Trinity’s theatre program coordinator developed from there.

Like so many aspects of life over the 18 months, particularly in education and the arts, COVID-19 impacted Schneider in her work and studies. Yet she adapted and brought her creative talents to new ways of expression within COVID constraints.

For example, during the Spring 2021 semester, she wrote and directed her own interactive play on campus, “Investigative Support,” which premiered at Trinity. The play was inspired by work on her master’s thesis, which involves the role of audience members in the theater-going experience. “Investigative Support” took place outside on the Trin Trail in March, to allow for safe social distancing.

At University of Chicago, most of her classes were virtual, presenting a unique way of studying performance arts. Schneider prepared a piece for presentation that involved the audience in a unique way. “It was more of a performance piece that reflects members of the BIPOC and LGBTQI community,” she said. The actors participating in the piece formed a circle while delivering monologues, and audience members were surrounded by voices, with the opportunity to step out of the cacophony and focus on just one speaker.

Now that she has finished her master’s degree, Trinity will continue to be a home for Schneider as she takes on additional roles here. Along with teaching as an adjunct professor in the Communication Arts department, Schneider will stay in her role as theatre program coordinator and serve as interim president of the Theatre Department while Sebestyen is on sabbatical during the 2021-22 academic year. She will also be directing Trinity’s mainstage play in Spring 2022.

“Trinity has always been a strong home to me. I’m blessed to be here,” she said. “I’m really thankful to be part of this community and to see my roots here continuing to grow.” 

According to Missy Strong, host of the “Music Ed Amplified” podcast and general and vocal teacher at Fleetwood Elementary School in Mount Laurel, N.J., hearing the phrase “music history professor” often conjures up a picture of a “middle aged, CIS gender Christian white guy” for her.

And as she told her audience on a recent episode, that’s described her guest, Trinity’s Professor of Music and Department Chair Mark Peters, Ph.D. So why was she interviewing him, particularly for a podcast generally focused on elementary school educators?

“When I heard about the transformation Dr. Peters is doing in his classes, I wanted to know more, and I wanted to ask him questions, and I wanted to feel some hope for what is happening in undergraduate music education when it comes to music history,” she said. “Because I haven’t felt much hope in the last couple of years.”

She added, “I’m happy to say that my talk with Mark inspired me by encouraging me that there are programs where professors are making real change, and that there are intentional efforts to see more diversity in the field.”

Over the course of the hour-long podcast, Strong and Peters talked about a range of topics, including how he has moved on from the story that has most often been told to undergrad students in music history, which is that of European white men. Instead, he strives to tell the story of all human persons. Peters also shared his thoughts about how history is not a record of what happened in the past—rather it’s the stories we decide to tell about the past; why he doesn’t use textbooks in his music appreciation courses; and how he wants students in his general music courses to think differently about music in their lives, rather than focus on technical and classical terms.

“We must learn to give a voice to those who have not had it in the past,” said Peters.

Click here to hear the entire episode, “Telling a Different Story: A New Approach to Music History.”

Matthew Nolan ’18 didn’t pursue a college degree immediately after graduating from high school. Instead, he worked for more than 10 years before coming to Trinity and earning a double major in computer science and mathematics. And while he was nervous about embarking on a college education at 30, he found a home at Trinity and now has a career he loves as a data analyst at Exelon Corp.

“All the professors are outstanding and went above and beyond to invest into their students,” said Nolan. “The math and computer science classes put me in a position to be successful in my current role.”

After graduating from Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, Ill., Nolan went to work at Menards. “It was during that time I became a Christian,” he said. “After becoming a Christian, I realized that God has given me certain gifts and skills that I was not leveraging at Menards.”

Nolan decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree and began looking for a Christian college. “I applied to many Christian schools but the thing that made me come to Trinity was that I reached out to [former Professor of Mathematics] Dr. Dave Klanderman to discuss my concerns about going to college as a 30 year old. I met with him on campus one day and he spent hours answering all my questions and then some,” said Nolan. “That made me realize that Trinity was the place for me.”

Nolan was passionate about mathematics and focused on that degree initially. “But Dr. Klanderman and [Professor of Computer Science] Dr. Jeff Nyhoff encouraged me to take some computer science classes in my first semester to see if I enjoyed it. After taking a few classes, I not only enjoyed the computer science classes but saw how pairing that with a mathematics major worked really well for many different careers,” he said. While pursuing a double major, he also earned a minor in business.

The summer before his senior year, Nolan interned with Exelon, America’s leading energy provider and a Fortune 100 company based in Chicago. “After graduating in May of 2018, I was hired full-time by Exelon. Now, two and a half years later I am a senior data analyst.”

Nolan loves being a data analyst. “My favorite part of my job is that it is a great balance between three things that I love; math, computer science, and people. I also love that I am not doing the same thing every day–the data, the people, and the problems are always different and therefore exciting to me,” he said.

He was also excited to learn that Trinity is launching a Data Analytics program, beginning in Fall 2021. “I get to see the need for data analytics and the lack of knowledge, training, and skills that exists,” he said. “I sit in a unique position in that I get to interact with every aspect of our business, and I can see how desperate the company is for data professionals,”

Nolan encourages all students at Trinity to familiarize themselves some aspect of data analytics. “The future is not a world of data. We are already in that world, and too many people are not prepared for it,” he said. “Even if you don’t want to be a data analyst, having experience, such as a minor in data analytics, will help you in any profession. I find it to be an extremely rewarding career. There are always new challenges because the data is never the same and the business problem is never the same; so being able to work on new, challenging projects is a lot of fun.”

When he is not working, Nolan serves at his church, Judson Church in Joliet, Ill., and is on the board of directors of MorningStar Mission in Joliet. He is also currently pursuing a Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois and is planning to start seminary in the fall. “My motivation for attending seminary is to just better equip myself to serve God,” he said. “I want to be able to serve better at church, at home, at work, wherever. Now that my career is established, I feel like the timing is great for me to focus more on my biblical knowledge and I know could do that by reading books and many other ways. But I thrive under structure so I felt attending seminary would be best for me.”

Looking back on his time at Trinity, Nolan points to the impact his professors had on his life, as well as his studies. “To have professors that I could talk to about anything, not just school, was comforting and made Trinity feel like a second home,” he said.

Michael Parr ’21 has always planned to finish his undergraduate degree. “I’m constantly learning,” he said. “One of my internal values is that when you stop learning, you get passed up. But I have a lot to juggle outside of school.”

So, despite a full schedule with a busy family life and a job as senior project manager for facilities planning design and construction at University of Chicago Medicine, Parr began to explore options for finishing up his Bachelor’s degree. While doing research, he discovered Trinity’s Adult Undergraduate Program–and in just a couple of months, he will be walking across the commencement stage with a degree in business management.

Parr said several aspects of Trinity’s program attracted him. Convenience was one, since he lives in nearby Palos Park, Ill. He said that he was also impressed with Trinity’s 8-week class program and the clear course sequence for completing his degree.

His favorite classes include those taught by Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss. “Prof. Sweiss is just a stimulating teacher,” Parr said. “His classes have actively challenged me to think differently.”

Parr was also surprised by how impactful his biblical studies class turned out to be. “I hadn’t opened a Bible in a long time, and it was eye-opening,” he said. “I saw things with an adult’s mind, instead of a child’s.”

The support of his family has made it possible to finish his degree. “As an adult who went back to school, it’s so important to develop a network at home that supports you completing that degree,” he said. “My wife Stacey and I had many conversations about that.” His support network also includes son Lucas, a freshman in high school who is involved in Boy Scouts, basketball, football, and track; and a daughter Brooklyn, who is in fifth grade and participates in dance and other creative activities. The family also includes two dogs. And with two school-age children, Parr has found he can encourage them to complete their homework as he does his own.

“If you can develop that support group that wants to see you succeed, that takes so much pressure off,” he said.

When Taylor Boice ‘15 was recently named to Fortune magazine’s “Five Star Wealth Managers under 40,” he was surprised and honored. And he credits his time at Trinity for helping to pave the way for his professional career success.

Boice, who is currently director of financial planning at Capital & Risk Management Services (C&RMS), knew he had been nominated. “But I really didn’t think I would be selected. This is such a competitive field and I knew there were a lot of accomplished people who could be considered for the award,” he said. “When I got the email and subsequent phone call confirming I was going to be recognized in Fortune, I really couldn’t believe it. It became real when I got a copy of the February/March issue and found my name on the list.”

For Boice, who began working for C&RMS in downtown Chicago after graduating from Trinity, working with clients is one of the best parts of his job. “I’m very thankful to the people who helped me develop as a person and professionally and am especially thankful for the amazing clients I get to work with every day. I wouldn’t have chosen this career or found myself in this position without the help and guidance of my family, friends, and mentors along the way.”

Those mentors include people he met at Trinity, where he double majored in communication arts and finance and played baseball. They helped prepare him for his career in two ways. “The first is all the field-specific knowledge that is a vital foundation for me as a financial planner,” said Boice. “I use a lot of the technical skills I learned at Trinity as I work to give clients the best possible advice and ensure that I manage their money well. I am also constantly communicating with clients to ensure they understand and implement the advice I am giving them. The skills I learned in my communications classes have been vital in communicating effectively with clients.”

Trinity also helped prepare him by developing his ability to think critically and solve problems. “My job is constantly changing, and I am constantly meeting new clients with unique problems,” said Boice. “I need to think critically and creatively to provide solutions for the people I am working with.”

A native of Hudsonville, Mich., Boice said a number of factors attracted him to Trinity. He fell in love with the campus after visiting several times. He also wanted to play baseball during college and was excited to receive an athletic scholarship. Boice also liked the campus’s proximity to Chicago. “I really felt comfortable here and saw a lot of value in having small class sizes and having all the curriculum taught from a Christian perspective,” he said.

His favorite memories include living in the dorms, as well as later moving off campus with people who are still some of his closest friends. Boice also said the professors in the business and communication arts department had a strong impact. “What has stuck with me most is the life experiences they shared with us as students,” he said. Boice also has great memories playing on the baseball team. “Coach [Justin] Huisman always focused on doing things the right way, which led to a lot of victories on the field and has really helped me in my life to this day.”

He also married a Trinity alumna, Janna (Ottenhoff) Boice ‘14. They now make their home in Northwest Indiana with their 3-year-old daughter, Quinn, and 9-month old son, Ryne. He loves to spend time with his family, particularly enjoying outdoor activities when the weather is good.

He also likes to watch baseball and basketball. “I also enjoy playing golf and enjoy participating in the golf outings for Trinity and other local Christian schools throughout the summer,” he said. Boice is also looking forward to returning to campus, as more in-person events are planned. “I’m hopeful I can continue being connected with the Trinity community and help students as they are growing and shaping their future. We are best when we work together and combine our strengths. This is something I witnessed clearly through the Trinity community, both as student and as a graduate today,” he said.

Boice said he is thankful to everyone from Trinity who helped shape his experience and helped him get to where he is today. “I still talk to a lot of former professors and students and even have the privilege of working with many of them as clients. Trinity is a special place with a lot of special people,” he said.