Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News
I found family here
What compels a young college student to work all four years in the same department?
For Hannah Cola ’22, this was one of the easiest questions she's encountered at the University of Dayton.
“I truly found a family and support system at the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives,” she said.
Following her graduation as a Criminal Justice and Security Studies major, with a minor in Political Science, Cola recalls her time at the Institute and her four years of work to serve the Global Church.
“My parents are extremely Catholic, so I grew up going to church every Sunday,” Cola said. “I would participate in as many retreats and events as possible, so this was a good fit.”
Cola assisted with many projects for the institute, especially those involving online classes for faith formation through the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation, where 7,000 adult students a year are deepening their faith online.
“I think college was the best experience for my faith because I got to make it my own, and I feel my relationship with God is so much stronger now,” Cola said.
As for her studies at the University of Dayton, Cola arrived here from Twinsburg, Ohio. She chose UD because of all the opportunities offered, including studying in Hawaii, interning at the Ohio Statehouse and the Montgomery County Prosecutor Office and working at the Institute.
“I feel like I found a family at Curran Place (where the Institute is located)," she said, "and that has continued to prove to be true all four years.”
Thank you, Hannah. You will be missed!
Hannah will be moving to Greensboro, North Carolina to attend law school at Elon University School of Law with aspirations of becoming a prosecutor. VLCFF online classes continue year-round. Check out our calendar for start dates and descriptions of three or five weeks e-courses.