‘Only the educated are free’ – Epictetus

When I reflect on why I decided to work at St. Olaf College, I am reminded of the importance of a liberal arts education- to think critically, to write effectively, to analyze arguments with logic and precision, and to do these tasks with an understanding of our place in a larger human community.

My hope is that the only person who considers your education to be more important than I, is you. In a world where markets create commodities out of most anything and the easiest solution to discomfort is often conformity, the education you acquire at St. Olaf is something you can neither purchase nor absorb. It must be won through struggle and inquiry, debate and discourse, curiosity and creativity.