Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have jointly received an Institutional Impact Grant totaling $492,703. The grant, from the Educating Character Initiative, a project of The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, will support "Building Lives for Good: Character Formation through Story." This new initiative aims to benefit individual students by helping them form a consistent, internal narrative that aids their growth and development through the implementation of narrative pedagogy.
Narrative pedagogy involves using storytelling and shared experiences as tools to help students establish connections within their lives and communities. Current students frequently manage fragmented identities, presenting different versions of themselves based on context, such as expectations from family, friends, and social media. This fragmentation can intensify in higher education as students build professional identities and navigate academic life across various courses. "Building Lives for Good" directly addresses this challenge by employing narrative pedagogy, which involves teaching and learning through the exploration of stories.
The initiative, and narrative pedagogy generally, is rooted in narrative psychology, a field with significant ties to Valparaiso University. Dan McAdams ’76, Ph.D., a Valpo graduate and alumnus of Christ College — the Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences, is recognized for his foundational work in this area. Ariana Turner, Ph.D., a former Ph.D. student of McAdams at Northwestern, is now collaborating with Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman to research and implement this new initiative.
All incoming Valparaiso University students will encounter narrative pedagogy in the classroom, either through the first-year Valparaiso University Experience course or in Christ College — the Honors College. This classroom experience will emphasize learning to articulate one's own stories, as well as drawing insights from the stories of older students, alumni, authors, and community members. Eric Johnson, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, noted that the initiative seeks to more intentionally link student learning with their personal development, fostering character, purpose, and a commitment to others that will guide them throughout their lives.
The College of Engineering will implement narrative approaches within its technical courses as a pilot program. This effort aims to encourage engineering students to embrace all facets of their character, regardless of the academic or professional setting. Reva Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering and the driving force behind the proposal, expressed a desire to see students "bringing their full and integrated selves to the classroom and to their engineering work." She noted that this approach helps students develop a coherent sense of character, allowing them to consistently live out their values.
Students will continue to experience narrative pedagogies throughout their enrollment at Valparaiso University. After piloting each stage of the program, Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology plan to incorporate lessons learned and then begin piloting a revised version of the practice within their respective programs.
The "Building Lives for Good" initiative was made possible through the efforts of a cross-disciplinary team of faculty and staff from various University departments. This team includes Professor Johnson, Anna Stewart, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Leadership and Service, Michael Chikeleze, Ph.D., J.D., professor of leadership studies and Richard C. & Francelia A. Gozon University Chair, Lisa Jennings, clinical associate professor, Sam Graber, Ph.D., associate professor of humanities and literature, and Devin Sodums, M.S., director of the office of sponsored and student research. University President Rev. Brian Konkol also participated in refining the idea and contributing to the overall direction of the program. The Educating Character Initiative, which awarded the grant, receives its funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
