About the Leaders
Who Leads Wheaton Passage?
The Passage Leadership Team is composed of dedicated faculty, staff, and student leaders who work collaboratively to create a supportive, transformative experience for incoming students. The team shapes the mission, vision, and logistics of Passage, ensuring that each aspect of the program is designed to help students connect with their new community, grow in their faith, and thrive at Wheaton College.
Passage Student Leadership
The Passage Student Leadership is a central part of the program, providing essential guidance and support throughout Passage Orientation. Comprised of upper-class students, this leadership umbrella includes several teams with distinct roles to foster community, guidance, and a welcoming environment for all new students. Read more about these teams below.
Orientation Committee (OC)
The Orientation Committee (OC) is a group of 12 Wheaton students who lead the planning and implementation of Passage. They coordinate move-in, campus programs, and on-campus events, ensuring new students feel connected to the Wheaton community from day one. Their goal is to extend radical hospitality and help each student find their place at Wheaton.
Trips Committee (TC)
The Trips Committee (TC) leads their peers to organize the off-campus trips that are an integral part of Passage. They facilitate logistics, activities, and community-building aspects of these trips, providing students with unique opportunities to form lasting friendships and connect deeply with one another in different settings. These trips are designed to foster spiritual and personal growth as part of the transition to life at Wheaton.
Passage Leaders (PL)
Passage Leaders are Wheaton students who guide small groups of new students throughout Passage. They lead discussions on topics like spiritual formation, community, and personal growth. Passage Leaders also help foster relationships in their group and provide guidance to new students as they navigate to their early days at Wheaton.
Passage Faculty Leadership
At Wheaton, 60+ full time faculty participate in our orientation program to help students set a vision for how they can build their faith—not lose it—through the pursuit of rigorous academic study. Through classroom dialogue and experiential learning activities, professors become trusted guides to help new students transition to college.
Passage Staff Leadership
Devoted staff members from over 15 of Wheaton College's departments come together every year to welcome you to campus through Passage. Here are some of the dedicated leaders who organize Passage and are ready to help with your transition to Wheaton College.
Steve Ivester Ph.D., Dean for Student Engagement
Through his own educational experience as an undergraduate music major at Wheaton, Steve can attest that God used others, including faculty, mentors, and friends in powerful ways in the process of his own growth – it was nothing short of transforming for his faith and his worldview. As Dean for Student Engagement, he is committed to educating and equipping college students through relational ministry, program advising, and leadership development experiences that develop students’ identity, skills, knowledge, and attitudes to engage an increasingly interconnected world, to encounter Jesus Christ throughout all aspects of their life, and to graciously share their growth and faith in Christ with others.
Nate Thompson, Ph.D., Passage Director
My greatest passion in life is facilitating the growth that comes through connecting individuals together as they interact with one another in God's creation. I have researched around the world to investigate how groups work together using team-building initiatives native to the adventure education disciple. The more I study community in creation, the deeper I grow in my fascination with God's power.
Stephanie Starr, Manager of Programs
In her role as Manager of Programs, Stephanie Starr supports Dean Steve Ivester and the Student Engagement department as a collaborative communications partner for various aspects of the Passage program by aligning the priorities of various stakeholders in order to deliver a seamless and meaningful experience for all participants.
Haley Vaughn Klein M.A., Passage Program Manager
With a background in student development and leadership, I am called to support students as they transition into the Wheaton community. As Wheaton Passage Manager, I’m dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where students build meaningful connections and discover their unique paths. It’s a joy to help facilitate this formative experience, where faith, friendship, and purpose intersect at the start of each student’s college journey.
Donna Marroquin M.S., HoneyRock & Passage Office Coordinator
As the HoneyRock & Passage Office Coordinator, I have the opportunity to work with summer staff, Wheaton students, and staff and faculty. I have the benefit of being deeply connected to the mission and vision of HoneyRock from Wheaton’s campus. I am able to use my administrative gifts and heart for developing relationships to bring the Northwoods and Southwoods campus of HoneyRock/Wheaton College closer together.