Religious and spiritual life director Rev. Nancy Vogele, who started her position on Jan. 1, said she wants to further communication and exploration through spiritual conversation at the College. Although she has not yet implemented new initiatives, Vogele said she wants to "listen first" and then respond to what the Dartmouth community needs.
Vogele said she wants to build a community in which students are free to explore and converse about serious matters. She welcomes anyone who wants to talk, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, she said.
"I really want to listen to what's happening on campus," she said. "To listen with what I call my spiritual ear, and to listen to how religion, spirituality and finding deeper meaning might be able to add to the conversations being had on campus."
While Vogele is less than one month into her new position, she has already involved herself with Tucker Foundation programs, campus activities and students, Berthold Fellow for Faith and Service Rich Lopez GR'16 said.
"Tucker is catering to students in a very unique way," Lopez said. "Tucker isn't tied to any one religion per se. It isn't burdened by needing to fulfill a curriculum."
The Tucker Foundation sponsors social justice programs with ties to faith, Vogele said.
"All faith, as it deepens, needs to find an outlet, and there are infinite outlets," she said.
Vogele described herself as a "bridge builder" between social issues and religious issues. Without inward reflection, an individual has nothing to inform his or her outward actions, she said.
Vogele wants to improve existing Tucker programs by making them more well-known and accessible to students while broadening the discussions of faith on campus. Because Vogele is not tied to one religious department, she is available to work with all students. She has attended discussions and met with students individually to discuss the recent bias incidents.
Vogele has volunteered with the Office of Pluralism and Leadership and the advisory committee for investment responsibility, she said. She spent the past 11 years working at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in White River Junction, Vt.
"I think that she brings a great perspective because she's a Dartmouth alumna herself," Lopez said. "She's returning at a time when there are certain issues on campus that need a different perspective."
Pranam Chatterjee '15, a participant in the Multi-Faith Council, said he hopes that Vogele will engage more students in discussing faith and beliefs, especially those who may not identify with a particular religion.
"She can relate to a lot of the struggles Dartmouth students may be going through," he said. She brings a diverse perspective to religious life and campus because she was not born episcopalian and identifies as gay.=
Ariel Shapiro '13, student director of the office of religious and spiritual life, said she expects Vogele will stimulate conversation on campus.
Shapiro said that Vogele is eager to improve campus dialogue.
"She's used to working with people of all different backgrounds and ways of life," Shapiro said. "I think that she has a real desire to learn from people."
Shapiro pointed out a divide between students involved with religious activities and those that do not affiliate with any religion and said she hopes Vogele will help bridge that gap.
"I think Nancy is more than any of us in the religious and Dartmouth community could have hoped for," Chatterjee said. "She's something we really need. She can be a leader for us."
