I currently work with Theological Horizons at University of Virginia, through the Consortium of Christian Study Centers’ internship program. Study Centers’ integration of faith and scholarship energizes me greatly, and I appreciate the opportunity to gain skills and perspectives in this role. I hold a B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies and a B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in German from Wheaton College (IL). Long-term, I aspire to pursue theological scholarship and work at the intersection of ministry and academia.While I love intellectual pursuits, I strongly believe that their value comes in applying them for the benefit of one’s community. For this reason, I hope to apply my Biblical and theological knowledge to caring for people in everyday life as a pastor. I also aspire to creatively work in the church to care for the earth together as part of living out our faith. At Wheaton, I discovered the richness of approaching the Bible and theology from a scholarly perspective. The disciplines of Biblical and theological studies captivated me, and I realized that the theological academy was a dream come true for me, a lover of learning and someone who desires to grow in my understanding of God. The pastor-scholar model of many of my professors inspired me deeply, and I decided that I will also pursue academic theological scholarship. I hope to study the implications of faith for environmental stewardship and how those intersect with other dimensions of our doctrine and practice. I am especially interested in the connections between our theology of creation and embodiment and paths for stewarding both in a more godly way. In addition to creation care, my academic interests include our theologies and practices of embodiment along with the Protestant Reformation and the nuances of its continued legacy in the church today.Towards these goals, I plan to complete the Certificate in Food, Faith, and Environmental Justice during my M.Div. at Duke Divinity School, starting in Fall 2025 at the conclusion of my Theological Horizons internship. During my M.Div., I also plan to explore potential research directions in the areas of environment, embodiment, Reformation, or a combination thereof to narrow these broad interests into a potential PhD topic. Ultimately, I hope to serve as a pastor and scholar. If these ideas interest you or you know of an opportunity in these areas, please feel free to reach out to me at fiona.balfe@my.wheaton.edu! I would love to connect.Clifton Strengths: Input | Learner | Connectedness | Intellection | Futuristic