Education

Texas State University - San Marcos

It all started when…

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Aarhus University - Aarhus

I did both my bachelor's and my master's degrees at Aarhus University. It's one of the country's best universities and the best for many programs--including my own.

The university is based in Aarhus, the second-largest town in Denmark, by the coast--a series of old buildings which have housed and educated countless Danes, including the current Queen and Crown Prince of Denmark.

Masters of Art - Diaconia

In the year of 2014 an interdisciplinary committee of professors from the fields of business and management, social science, and theology came together and created a project to bring humanity back into the service field; this project became the master's program of Diaconia.

This exclusive and unique education focuses on how best to aid people in distress--and provides the background in leadership to do so effectively.

Through Diaconia's interdisciplinary structure I have been trained to analyze and assess various challenges that may arise while working in the field of human care. Through the broad tool-set granted by social science, business, and theology I am able to address the needs of people on a holistic level, while still keeping aligned with the overarching goals of government organizations, social services firms, or NGOs. Armed with the key abilities in problem-solving and developing innovative solutions granted by this program, I am a valuable asset to any organization.

As far as employment relevance, the program description says: “It is expected that graduates will be able to fill positions as managers or executives in the social sector, including in particular working with marginalized groups and integration of refugees and immigrants." (Aarhus University - Diaconia)

The real core of diaconia is captured with the Danish word omsorg; a translation of this term into English would best be described by a combination of these words: care, concern, and advocacy. For a graduate from Diaconia, omsorg defines the care we seek to provide. By performing a holistic service through attentive care, a graduate tries to empower the powerless, and support and strengthen the weak.

Below is a list of the three primary academic fields the interdisciplinary program consists of, including several key skills obtained from each field.

diaconia - Social Science

The first field Diaconia includes is Social Science. The largest impact of this field can be found in the leadership theory and research/evaluation classes.

The leadership class focused on prominent theories of effective leadership, and how these theories can be applied in multiple situations. With the theoretical knowledge from the class I am able to adapt leadership styles to the situation and people concerned, and so interact with and lead employees as well as volunteers as we work towards fulfilling the organization's set goals.

The research and evaluation classes have given me the ability to prepare, construct, and complete research projects and evaluations of a program's quality and effectiveness. Through practical experience gained through my master’s thesis, I have learned the importance of the precise and accurate detailed work which lies behind analysis and reporting.

The main skills gained from this part of the master's course include:

• Critical analysis

• The ability to distill useful and actionable information from raw data

• Structuring and conducting research and evaluation

Diaconia - management & business

The second field Diaconia includes is Business and Management--specifically, entrepreneurial theory and social innovation.

I am trained to identify, analyze, and solve complicated problems through researching old habits and new trends, and identifying new solutions if needed. Furthermore, I can confidently present my ideas to investors and get buy-in from multiple sources.

The main skills gained from this part of the master's course include:

• Identifying what works and what doesn't in past, present, and future processes

• Finding and testing potential solutions to various problems

• Being bold enough to be a voice for change

• Communicating and successfully getting buy-in potential solutions, both in presentation and writing

Diaconia - Theology - ETHICAL, pastoral care

The third field Diaconia includes theology--specifically, the equal value of humans and the ethics of service.

Going from the biblical principle of "helping thy neighbor”, I am ready to meet people at their current state and see them for their value as an individual. I am educated in both ethics and pastoral care--a model of emotional and mental support focused on the well-being of the individual.

Through my teaching in theology, I learned how to interact and be respectful towards various religious beliefs; I offer my assistance while being respectful to any and all backgrounds.

The main skills gained from this part of the master's course include:

• The learned ethics of helping people while in an asymmetric power balance (i.e. a nurse helping a patient, when the nurse has more power and knowledge than the patient)

• The power of pastoral care and applying this when discussing sensitive and personal problems and concerns.

• The knowledge of historical traditions for helping our fellow humans.

Bachelor of Theology

Through my studies of theology, I have learned about ancient and modern ethical and humanistic philosophies. I have also learned about is the power of word choices in meaningful translation of ancient texts in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Through the lens of linguistics, I can also interpret the ancient texts according to their historical context and accurately draw and apply messages and applying those to a modern-day lifestyle.

Through this study, I've also developed the skills of critical thinking and how to present and make complicated knowledge more understandable for a broad population.

Centered around the knowledge of theology with a heavy focus on humanities, the study has given me a deeper insight into the value of human history and how all of humanity in the western world share a similar historical/religious background.