On a surface level, Data Science may seem to be a strictly statistical and fact-driven field - and indeed, it is! Yet, it also requires an incredible amount of creativity, critical thinking, and ethical considerations to truly excel.

Joy and gratitude define moments like these in the history of our university. From our beginning, the arts and humanities have offered a path for students to express, explore, and understand the world around them in creative, inventive, and thoughtful ways.

From her childhood in Ghana to the legal advocacy she currently engages in as an attorney, it’s clear that God has directed Maame (Yankah) Boateng's path and used her experiences to shape her legacy.

In 2008, David Garlock ’17 found himself in a hopeless situation. He had served over 8 years of a 25 year sentence in prison, alongside his brother, for taking the life of their abuser after many years of abuse.

Maxwell Bushong ’26, juggles responsibilities with the agility of an athlete - quite literally, as the libero for Eastern’s Men’s Volleyball team. But his game doesn’t end there.

Human beings are very interesting. The way we love. The way we eat. The way we fight. Our habits. Our speech. The way we bob down the street. The way we wade through the world. The way we reach toward light.

When we hear Palmer’s mission “The Whole Gospel for the Whole World through Whole Persons,” do we assume certain boundaries on that wholeness? Do we expect that a seminary education only equips those who are called to full-time professional ministry?

The arts are an integral part of Eastern’s identity, bringing our community together to laugh, cry, and gain a greater understanding of ourselves and the world God created.

Sometimes the ‘why’ questions are the hardest to answer. They stretch us far beyond what our minds can comprehend, forcing us to shift our perspective and dig deeper. And sometimes, just having the courage to ask those questions can be the catalyst to something world-changing.

This past semester, I studied abroad in Siena, Italy, a small city in the heart of Tuscany. My experience is something I will never forget. I had the opportunity to live with a local Sienese family.