Vocation and Calling | Nick Hyer

In the Fall of 2020, Campbell staff members invested in themselves and their coworkers by taking part in a virtual cohort on a quest to illuminate their gifts and career paths. The staff members used their reading and discussion groups to get to know one another, telling stories from their own lives and the lives of others who made an impact on them. 

Led by Vice President for Spiritual Life and Campus Minister Faithe Beam, the cohort met in two groups of six and was funded through a $10,000 grant from NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Theological Education) to engage staff in the process of vocational discernment. Participants read “Let Your Life Speak” by Parker Palmer, which shares insights and wisdom on the learning from our core attributes and following a sense of meaning and purpose. They also discussed their faith journeys and the integration of their spiritual lives at Campbell. 

Cohort discussion encouraged personal spiritual formation, interdisciplinary exploration of the meaning of “calling” and new ideas and practices toward engaging students in career discernment.

Nick Hyer is an academic advisor at Campbell who strives to bring openness and optimism to every conversation with a student under his wing. During Campbell Spiritual Life’s vocation and calling cohort, Nick reflected on the ways that his natural curiosity led him to a career in academic advising — a field where he gets to question students about their dreams and encourage them in ways that help them develop a good understanding of their own passion and purpose. 

Hyer didn’t always know what he wanted to do for a career, and has had a variety of experiences in higher education shape the scope of his professional lens. But he believes that his own journey through indecision has helped him become a more empathetic, patient and grace-filled advisor to students. When he met his wife, Hyer realized that there are many ways to provide clarity to students at pivotal points in their lives, and that he could offer his own unique perspective to guide others as they shape their own journey.

“It is through the relationships that I’ve built around vocation that I have been able to become closer to God and fulfill what I believe is my calling,” Hyer said.