ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø professors Anthony Minnema and Drew Hataway recently received a $60,000 program development grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) to launch a new initiative aimed at helping students explore calling and spiritual formation during study abroad experiences.
The program—titled Vocational Exploration and Spiritual Practices Abroad (VESPA)—will create guided journals, surveys and faculty training modules that encourage students to reflect on their faith and sense of purpose while immersed in global contexts. The resources will be piloted during the 2025 program, a faculty-led course that takes students along Spain’s historic Camino de Santiago.
“We are honored that NetVUE recognized the potential for VESPA,” said Minnema, associate professor of history and co-leader of the project. “The research spans several disciplines and departments, but its core is student engagement and learning how study abroad shapes students’ sense of vocation and faith.”
The idea for VESPA grew from student feedback following a previous Camino course, where participants expressed a desire for more structured reflection on spiritual themes. While study abroad often challenges students in transformative ways, many programs lack intentional tools to help them process those experiences through the lens of faith and purpose.
VESPA addresses this gap by offering students a robust journal that includes 30 short readings, each paired with reflection questions that connect academic learning with personal growth. The resources will be tested and revised through a multi-year, research-driven process and eventually made available to faculty leading study abroad programs across the university.
“Spiritual formation abroad can be difficult because students lose the rhythms and resources of campus life,” Minnema said. “This journal will give students and faculty space for conversations about vocation, faith and learning—wherever they go.”
The grant also supports faculty development in partnership with Samford’s Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation (FLV) and SamfordAbroad. As the VESPA materials are refined, they will be integrated into ongoing training and shared with other institutions through conference presentations and publication.
Other collaborators on the VESPA project include Amy Benton, professor of educational leadership, who will guide data analysis and survey development, and Bryan Gill, director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, who will assist with faculty training and student engagement.
VESPA supports several priorities outlined in Samford’s Fidelitas strategic plan, including academic distinction, student engagement and global influence. By helping students think intentionally about their calling and values while abroad, the program extends Samford’s mission of nurturing faith and learning far beyond the classroom.
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