Come for the Conversation. Stay for the Food. Grow in Community.
Expand your horizons and deepen your insights as we together explore significant topics that impact us personally as well as society more broadly. So we can hear from each other, we sit in a circle for these conversations— moderated by Dr. Jono Quick, Andre Chan (MS Forestry 2026), and Alcade Uwonkunda (MS Global Health 2027). You will learn by listening to new insights that other participants share as well as by sharing your own thoughts and ideas. We hope by the end of the conversation, each person will have at least one “take-home” – a new idea or action to incorporate into your life.
We share a simple supper after the conversation to continue the discussion with each other. You will form new friendships with people from different backgrounds and disciplines and gain a new community as you participate in these gatherings.
Next Circle Discussion:
Finding a Life Worth Living in an Uncertain Future
What is the shape of a flourishing life? On what basis could you make such a determination? Big questions by themselves, but how do you approach them when the future is so uncertain? Join us at the Circle to find out. We’ll be reading together excerpts from A Life Worth Living by Yale faculty Miroslav Volf and colleagues. Then we’ll dive into Richard Banfield’s essay on preparing for an unknown future.
As always, you’ll hear the thoughts of others in the Circle and get to share your own as we together learn from these authors and apply those lessons to our own lives. Then the Circle moves around the table to continue the conversation over a simple home-cooked meal.
Join the Circle!
Location: Career Center, Room 036L, Bryan Student Center
When: 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Thursday October 22nd 2026
Food: From 7:30 on we will enjoy a light, home-cooked supper together for all who can stay and continue the conversation
Come for the conversation,
Stay for the food,
Grow in community
Information/Questions?
Past Conversations
Career, Relationships and Living Like It Matters – An in-person conversation with Alex and Melissa Hartemink
Relationships and Dating – The challenges of modern dating and relationship-building have left some people pessimistic. We discussed why social connection may be difficult for young adults today. We explored how changing our outlook may impact our engagement, and we’ll review some ideas about how to approach dating in person and online.
Facing Life’s Challenges – How do we respond when challenging situations come to us in life? Martin Seligman says optimists are healthier, happier, and more successful people than pessimists. And his work demonstrated that optimism is a learnable skill. Author Brooks believed that we can grow through life’s challenges. He suggests that we can deepen happiness and meaning by accepting negative emotions, learning from setbacks, practicing gratitude, and helping others.
Character and Courage- Loving Your Neighbor and Your Enemy – Wars and conflicts between people have happened throughout history. But throughout history, individuals have risen up to bring people together. This Conversation looked at historical figures like US President Abraham Lincoln, Pastor Trocme of Le Chambon, France, and young Ruby Bridges of Alabama.
Career, Relationships and Living Like It Matters – An in-person conversation with Pat and Emiko Davison
Character in an Age of Image – Does character matter for leadership? And if so, how do we strengthen character in our society? But the problem is not just “out there.” In our own lives, we also face temptations to manipulate to our advantage when we have influence—in personal relations, in our studies, at work, or at play. How can we build our own character so that we consider the needs of others even in a world where this may not be encouraged or rewarded?
Career, Rest, Relationships and Living Like It Matters – An in-person Conversation with Drs. Christina Gibson-Davis and Rhett Davis
Fulfilling Relationships – Everyone wants a sense of belonging, acceptance, and love. However, as with careers, the pathway to meaningful, lasting, and satisfying relationships has become more challenging. Social media, attention-grabbing technologies, post-pandemic cultural impacts, and evolving gender dynamics each play a role in shaping our relationships. What can we do to pursue fulfilling relationships.
Revitalizing Leisure – True leisure is not simply stopping work or engaging in passive entertainment. Leisure that genuinely refreshes invites engagement in activities that foster positive relationships and deepen one’s sense of purpose. Achieving this requires a proactive, purposeful approach to managing non-work time.
Gratifying Career – In a rapidly changing work economy, finding the first job and navigating career paths are more challenging than they have ever been. But do we just let the process drive us forward without considering the meaning and significance of work for our lives? How can we find work that is not just a means to an end, but rather is a meaningful part of a well-lived life? Asking the right questions and having a clear strategy can help us find work with significance.
Confident Pluralism: a discussion following the public lecture by John Inazu, Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University, on “Pluralism, Particularity, and Possibility”
Careers, Callings, and Things that Matter: An in-person conversation with Drs. Pat and Brenda Pun
Discerning Truth in a World of Misinformation: We scroll through social media, read news articles, and engage in conversations, but how do we discern what is true and what isn’t?
Achievement without Burnout: How changing our perspectives on time, work, and rest can bring greater peace and more meaningful productivity.
Pursuing Your Passion without Losing Your Soul: An in-person conversation with Dr. & Mrs. Quick about their journey of successes and failures, joys and sorrows, hope and despair.
Calling, Career, and Things That Matter: Finding purpose and meaning in a world of uncertainty, distraction, and competition.
Politics, Morality, and Civility: How to engage well with those who think differently and yet serve the public good.
The Quest for Genuine Friendship: Building true friendship when life is dominated by technology.