Will Edwards has a long history with STM. First as a student, and now more recently in a leadership role as a member of STM’s Board of Trustees. While an undergraduate, STM became his spiritual home. A place where he worshiped, studied, shared meals and made memories as he grew in his faith.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Will to ask him a few questions about his relationship with STM. How it began, how it’s evolved and the
role STM alums play in supporting a thriving Catholic environment at Yale.
ML: What drew you to the Chapel as an undergraduate?
WE: My Catholic faith and identity has always been important to me from my earliest memories. As universities sometimes have a reputation of being a somewhat hostile environment with respect to religion, I was encouraged to see such a vibrant community at STM when I arrived on Yale’s campus. The most prominent factor, though, that drew me to the Chapel was our Chaplain, Father Bob Beloin. His intellect, faith, energy, humor, charm, generosity and humanity brought the Church alive for me in a way I had not experienced before. That is a sentiment that I have heard from many alums.
ML: How did your involvement continue after graduation?
WE: I have been fortunate to make frequent visits back to campus since moving to New York City, and it has been a great joy to watch STM thrive
over the years. When I was a student, the entire program was conducted in the basement of the Chapel, called Chapel Hall. Today, the 30,000 square foot Golden Center is very exciting for Catholic life at Yale—and, for the broader Church at large. It has also been a great honor to serve on the Board of Trustees since 2012 and to be a part of the continued growth and evolution of STM into a global leader of campus ministry.
ML: It’s wonderful to hear that you continue to live in the spirit of STM as a donor and volunteer, but beyond your service on the Board, you are also interested in creating a sense of community among our young graduates. Tell us a bit about your involvement in the STM Alumni Group. What prompted its creation?
WE: In discussions with other alums about our experience of church after leaving Yale, there was a recurring theme that the experience at STM was difficult to replicate. Nick Sklar '01 and I continued to explore the idea of extending some of the aspects of STM to other alums. How could we help form a resource network for graduating seniors and keep them connected to the culture of the Chapel and its mission of cultivating informed faith and spirituality beyond Yale’s campus? From that discussion, the STM Alumni Group was born.
ML: What’s next for the Alumni Group?
WE: We are planning another event in New York City for the fall of 2018 and are also exploring a West Coast gathering. STM's Leadership Team has been incredibly supportive to find ways to continue to build connectivity with STM.
Visit http://bit.ly/STMYoungAlumniGroup to connect with STM alum in your area.
To connect with Will and other STM alums, contact Margaret Lukaszyk at margaret.lukaszyk@yale.edu.
Pictured above, L to R: Will Edwards '02, Kerry Robinson '97 M.A.R., Father Bob Beloin
