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By Maria Ignas (BA 25)

To be a ���Ĵ�ý Presidential Fellow, a student must display dedication to his or her faith, strong communication skills, and a propensity for leadership. The fellows’ responsibilities include communications, data analytics, and other duties that contribute to the work of the president’s office.

As the 2024-25 school year’s Presidential Fellows, exercise science major Carter Clear and biblical studies major Isabella Giunta received a masterclass in leadership through Dr. Drew Flamm’s college mentorship. It’s preparing Giunta to achieve her dream career of being an educator on the mission field, while Clear is receiving extensive training in communication and leadership.

“Mentorship is a core value of ours,” said Flamm. “It runs through everything we do, and I think it is part of what makes us here at ���Ĵ�ý distinctive.”

Flamm favors “life-on-life mentoring,” which involves working directly with the two on projects, meeting regularly for a leadership book study, and being available to answer their questions along the way.

“Mentorship is passing down knowledge,” said Clear. “Dr. Flamm’s been open to answering personal questions about leadership, such as what it means with his job, family, and friends.”

“Asking him questions and listening has been incredible,” said Giunta.

Beyond practical leadership, Clear and Giunta have been edified by Flamm’s commitment to ���Ĵ�ý’s mission of knowing Christ and making Him known. To him, these words constitute so much more than an inscription on the rock in front of McClain.

“The mission is continuously brought up in everything we do, whether I’m writing a script or questions for a podcast,” said Clear. “It’s evident that it is the center of his aim as president.”

“Something that has been really impressed upon me is the consistency between ���Ĵ�ý’s mission and what Drew lives out,” said Giunta. “That example is a greater influence on my life than any words he could say or meetings we could have.”

While Flamm has endeavored to lead Clear and Giunta well, he also knows mentoring is a two-way relationship.

“Carter is a thinker, and Isabella is driven to her core,” said Flamm. “I recently heard the term ‘reverse mentoring,’ and that definitely applies to how we view the relationship between the president’s office and presidential fellows. Keep an eye on these two. God has big plans for them, and I’m excited to have been a small part of it!”

Read more stories about how we’re doing college mentorship at ���Ĵ�ý. 

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