‘Careers as Vocations’ Panels Reflect on Life Beyond ND

CSC News & Reflections
Spring 2004

As director of the Legal Aid Clinic of the Notre Dame Law School, Bob Jones integrates his faith and social concerns into his career and every day life.

As video producer, Mike Schmiedeler has developed television programs and documentaries that explore issues of faith and service in our times.

As a management consultant, Deb Hines is motivated by her faith to help non-profits and for-profit businesses develop strategies, social entrepreneurship and leadership.

These speakers were only a few of the 27 Careers as Vocations panelists who spoke this semester at the Center for Social Concerns. From architecture to science, media to ministry, the Careers as Vocations sessions have helped students reflect on their own discernment process and illustrate how faith and social concerns can be integrated into life beyond Notre Dame.

“ There are all kinds of ways to do God’s work in the world. I had to pick a path that made sense for me,” said Jones. “This path included work in both public policy and direct service.”
As an undergraduate Schmiedeler seriously considered doing direct service work with the Holy Cross Associates. Even as he went to work as a local TV producer, he had nagging doubts about his career choice.

However, as he progressed in his career, he realized that his calling was to use his given abilities to effect change. Over the years, he has produced many videos including several for the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).

“ I am able to incorporate my Catholic values into both the product and the quality of life in the workplace,” said Schmiedeler.

The Business Careers as Vocations panel provided yet another perspective on the many different ways in which people can do God’s work in the world. Hines spoke of the lessons she’s learned through years of discernment.

She spoke of years struggling with the business world, moving from place to place, job to job and through different volunteer positions, seeking a way to integrate vocation into the business world.

In 1998, she started a consulting company—the Center for Individual & Organizational Effectiveness.
Her experience in finding a career that integrated faith and the business world, while still having time to do volunteer work, has helped her “look for more connections between all of the sacred and secular areas” of her life.

For seniors, the Careers as Vocations panels provide valuable insight and reflection during critical decision-making time.

But this reflection is also helpful to guide younger students with decisions about majors or as an early way to brainstorm about possible career paths.

“I want to decide if law is the route to take for me,” said Dana Stovall, a junior considering Law School. “Hearing the panelists really helped in my discernment and answered a lot of questions.”