Discover inspiring stories from the Indiana Wesleyan University community—where alumni reflect on their journeys, faculty share their passions and callings, and students offer personal insights shaped by faith and purpose. These testimonials highlight lives of service, leadership, and transformation in their communities and professions.
Voices of IWU
Herman Baker has been a part of Indiana Wesleyan University’s story since its earliest days. A lover of music from a young age, Baker became a freshman student in Marion College’s music program during the school’s first years. That same year, he helped found the Eurekans club
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IWU junior Kara Simison was named a 2025 Indy 500 Festival Princess, representing her university and hometown through months of service, leadership, and outreach. Her journey highlights IWU’s mission to develop students who lead with faith, purpose, and professionalism.
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Since the 1980s, Larry Wirtz has worked full-time as an inspirational speaker, comedian, and illusionist. After graduating high school, Wirtz took a few classes from Purdue University, but soon began performing full-time magic and comedy. “As scripture reminds us ‘the heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the
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It was the fall semester of my junior year, and I was completely stressed out. I felt sad, anxious, and distant from God. Despite my desire to talk to God and spend time in His Word, I found the days slipping away as my Bible lay unopened on my bedside
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Everyone needs someone in their life who can help them view challenges from a different perspective. At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), that person is Tiffany Jackson. As a partnership account manager, Jackson plays a key role in helping new students enroll in academic programs, despite the roadblocks they may face
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What does it look like to step into God’s purpose? For Connie Erpelding, it meant leaning into the unexpected — stepping away from her role at a large church in Iowa, moving across state lines with her husband, and establishing a new life in Marion, Indiana. She embarked on a
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Typical high school students juggle academic stress, shifting social dynamics, and the pressure of planning their futures. But Justin Rice, now a student at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), chose to take those challenges a step further. While still in high school, he made the bold decision to become a Licensed
Dr. Michele Brewer Prior to enrolling in the Doctor of Education program at Indiana Wesleyan University, Michele Brewer had earned multiple degrees from other institutions. Although those experiences were positive, IWU stood out to her as the most enjoyable, welcoming, and supportive academic environment she’s encountered. In her words,
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When Dr. Karen A. Dowling left Indiana Wesleyan University, it marked the end of a role she believed God had brought to her at the perfect time in her life and career. After beginning her professional journey as a teacher, she was seeking a change and found it in a
Reuben Rubio spent two decades in higher education before feeling God push him toward Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). While he appreciated aspects of the first of his previous institutions, the secular nature of the school and some faculty members’ disdain for religion created a divide that led him to question
Jaclyn Gidley’s journey to Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) began long before she enrolled as a student. In the late 1960s, Michael Scott Roorbach (’73) and Karen Hand (’71) met on the Marion College campus, fell in love, and married. A few years later, Michael became Marion College’s director
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Rob Raymond received his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in December 2024. Before his doctorate, he was already well-versed in the academic world. He holds degrees from the University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School, and Sullivan University. He describes his journey before IWU as long