The Story We're Still Becoming: James MacLeod on History, Students, and the Future We're Shaping

The Story We're Still Becoming: James MacLeod on History, Students, and the Future We're Shaping

Throughout this year, we’ve listened to the voices that make up this place, stories rooted in memory, shaped by experience, and carried forward in community. In this final episode, we sit down with James MacLeod, the professor of history and chair of the Department of History, Politics, and Social Change, who reminds us that history is not simply something we inherit. It’s something we interpret, wrestle with, and pass on. For him, teaching history isn’t about delivering settled answers. It’s about making space for the voices in the room, especially the voices of students, to enter the larger human story. In their questions, their challenges, and their hopes, he sees something more than academic curiosity. He sees the possibility of change. This episode explores how listening to the stories around us deepens the story we’re living in and how the next chapter may already be taking shape in the lives of those we’re teaching, mentoring, and learning from.

Getting Lost, Finding Vision: Abigail Werling on A Leader's Journey into Possibility

In this powerful episode of the We Grow Aces Podcast, we sit down with Abigail Werling as she talks about visionary leadership and believing one of the greatest gifts we can give others is the freedom to dream. As the Vice President of University Advancement, she has built her leadership around relationships, possibility, and helping people see beyond what is into what could be. A self-described dreamer, she shares how relational leadership isn’t about control, t’s about unlocking imagination, courage, and calling in others. But her story isn’t just about professional leadership. In a deeply personal moment, she recounts getting physically lost in the woods, an experience that unexpectedly became a profound spiritual turning point. What began as disorientation in the forest surfaced a deeper realization of her own spiritual lostness. In the quiet and uncertainty, she encountered clarity, surrender, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Growing Impact: Juliet Aura on Nurturing People and Potential

In this Season 2 episode of the We Grow Aces Podcast, we sit down with Juliet Aura, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, to explore her passion for helping people grow and thrive. Juliet shares her “why,” rooted in a love for seeing development unfold—both in the clients she tends to in the clinic and in the students she mentors in the classroom. She reflects on her journey moving to the United States, driven by a desire to expand her impact and do more for the people around her. This episode highlights the joy and purpose found in supporting others’ growth, showing how dedication, care, and intentional guidance can leave a lasting mark on both individual lives and broader communities.

All In: Rachel Roscoe on Supporting Others and Leading with Impact

In this Season 2 episode of the We Grow Aces Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Roscoe, Assistant Director of the Center for Student Engagement, to explore the power of showing up for others. Rachel shares her “why,” rooted in the desire to be someone people can rely on—to give her all when her name is tied to something and make it the best it can be. She reflects on the selflessness of her parents, who modeled care not just for each other but for her as a child, and how that inspires her to give back in her work today. Her impact is not measured by recognition or applause; rather, it comes from supporting others’ dreams and visions, helping people flourish, and creating meaningful outcomes that extend beyond herself. This episode invites listeners to reflect on how serving others with dedication and care can be one of the most powerful ways to live your “why.”

Our Common Humanity: Teddy Decorrevont on Kindness, Identity, and Creating Warmth in the World

In this Season 2 episode of the We Grow Aces Podcast, we sit with Teddy Decorrevont, Residential Coordinator, about identity, belonging, and the power of kindness. Teddy shares his journey wrestling with identity and the ways this has shaped how he relates to others. Central to his “why” is a deep commitment to creating warmth and care for those around him, helping people feel loved, seen, and accepted—like sitting by a fire wrapped in a blanket. He reminds us, echoing Henri Nouwen, that those who truly matter in our lives are the ones who sit with us in our struggles, sharing presence rather than solutions. Teddy challenges listeners to reflect on how we show up for others and how our shared humanity can create spaces of belonging for everyone.