Get to Know GU’s New Chaplain

To read the full interview with Keli (Totten ‘16) Pennington go to greenville.edu.

MEET GU’S NEW CHAPLAIN

Keli, thank you for sitting down with us. We’d love to hear your GU story. As a student, I was in choir and part of residence life. I graduated in 2016, majoring in theology and communication. After graduating, I worked in the admissions office for about two and a half years.

My husband (Willem ’17) and I moved to North Carolina, so I could work on my master of divinity at Duke Divinity School. I worked at a United Methodist Church and taught online for GU. My husband had a great job and we loved Durham. Willem got a call from GU about a job. He applied and said, “We’ll see.” Within a few weeks, I’m back in Burritt Hall. Looking back, it was totally God’s hand at work to unexpectedly bring us back to GU last summer with Willem working in assessment and me working as Residence Director. What was your path to becoming GU’s chaplain? I started the ordination process to become an elder in the Free Methodist Church in 2016. (Keli was ordained in March 2022). This year, it became clear the Lord was calling me to serve college students. There were many conversations with Ross Baker (dean of students) about needs on campus, especially in the wake of former chaplain Lori Gaffner’s death, discussing how we can continue her work. Students also communicated how they would like to see spiritual development addressed on campus.

What does spiritual formation mean when many students don’t identify as “Christian”? The challenge, or opportunity we have, is to reintroduce Christianity in a compelling way. I think especially for Gen Z – they’ve heard of

Christianity – but what they know is not appealing. So how can we recast what God has called Christians to be in a way that resonates with Gen Z?

“The reason I ultimately came back to GU, is that I truly believe in a Christcentered education for character and service, and I know how transformative it can be because it has transformed my life.”

What is already happening at GU that you are looking forward to building on? Working in the residence hall, I noticed students wanted meaningful smaller group connections. Thinking through the “how” of doing small groups more intentionally can be an incredibly impactful part of the student experience.

How do you see your role as chaplain as part of GU’s commitment to interconnection?

My work naturally lends itself to being interconnected. It makes sense at a Christian university that spiritual formation is going to be in everything we do, so I’m excited to work with and support all the things people are already doing to care for our students, spiritually.

I want more church leaders on our campus and more students on church campuses. We have awesome people in our alumni office doing church relations already, so I’ll be supporting what they’re doing. Within the theology department, there are many connections with partners for student internships. Tapping into the resources people already have and work they’re already doing will be key.

What are you most looking forward to as you start your new role on campus? I’m excited to work with students again. They bring so much energy and great ideas, working with them, and encouraging them to help their vision become reality here on campus.

“Hands-on” learner and criminal justice major Derrick Ferguson ’23 flourishes because of experiential learning opportunities at GU. Law enforcement training conferences, tutoring at afterschool programs, research, and coursework all contribute to Derrick’s appreciation for donors who make experiential learning possible.

“I’m forever thankful for your kind hearts and gracious donations. It means everything to me – honestly! I will make a difference in the world and pour into others as you’ve done to me! Thanks so much!”

Thank you for giving.