The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), selected a dozen individuals from across the nation through a competitive nomination process to participate in the 2026 summer seminar on Religion/Theology/Vocation—and among the twelve was TLU’s Dr. Carl Hughes, professor of theology.
The seminar, which took place earlier this month in Indianapolis, Indiana, offered an opportunity for full-time faculty members to examine the interrelationship of the study of vocation and calling with the academic fields of theology and religious studies, exploring implications for research, teaching, and service to the institution.
“At TLU, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good.”
“The idea of vocation or calling, which has deep roots in the Lutheran tradition, is closely connected to everything we do at TLU,” said Hughes. “This dimension of our mission emphasizes that all of us—students, faculty, staff—are called to use our unique gifts and talents for the good of the world. At TLU, the notion of vocation shapes how we talk about career, service, lifelong learning, personal growth, and the common good. Vocation reminds us of the infinite worth of every member of our community and calls us to support each other in cultivating a sense of purpose in every facet of our lives.”
Seminar discussions covered a range of activities that can enhance vocational exploration in undergraduate education. The primary focus of the seminar extended beyond classroom applications to include research, writing, and institutional leadership on the topic of vocation.
“Over nearly two decades, NetVUE has made a huge impact at colleges and universities across the country by renewing and enriching reflection on vocation,” said Hughes. “It was an honor to participate in this summer’s seminar for theology and religion faculty. We prepared for the seminar with hefty amounts of reading and writing, which complexified my understanding of vocation and nurtured my own vocational reflection. I learned so much from the other faculty members in the seminar, who came from diverse institutions and backgrounds but shared a common commitment to fostering vocational reflection in their students and themselves. What I learned through this experience will shape my teaching at TLU for many semesters to come.”
