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Center for Vocational Reflection

Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Ave
St Peter MN 56082

Our office is located at 210 Johnson Student Union--next to the Community Service Center, Career Center, and Linner Lounge.

Dr. Chris Johnson, Director

Name: Christopher Carl Johnson
Birthday: August 15
Hometown:  Litchfield, MN
Year in College: Gustavus class of '85; starting my 9th year as director of the CVR
Favorite Quote: Behold, I make all things new!
Two/Three aspirations for your life: To leave the world a better place for my having been
here, to learn to play the guitar and build furniture, and to be the kind of parent that
my kids will want to emulate when they become parents
Something you may not know about me: I'm a co-founder of, and am helping to launch,
Prairie Oaks Institute -- a new nonprofit education, retreat, and sustainable-living
center located on a 200-acre century farm near Belle Plaine, Minnesota.  The mission of
POI is to cultivate ways of living and leading that affirm the interdependence of all
living things and connect self, spirit, community and earth for a resilient, renewed
future.  Our programs, facilities, resources, and events will seek to nourish expansive
imagination, bold thinking, wise action, and cross-sector solutions to the unprecedented
environmental and social challenges of our time.
How you spend your free time: Being a dad, working on POI (see above), reading,
gardening, cooking, biking, woodworking

 

Phone: (507) 933-7159
Fax: (507) 933-6277
Email: cjohnso5@gustavus.edu

 

 

Amy Pehrson, Assistant Director

Name: Amy Ruth Gerber Pehrson
Birthday:  November 15
Hometown:  Walters, MN
Year in College: Graduated from Gustavus in 1991
Favorite Quote: "Live wholeheartedly.  Be surprised. Give thanks and praise - then you
will discover the fullness of your life."  Brother David Steindl-Rast
Two/Three aspirations for your life: Get my master's degree in ??, travel abroad, play a
piano duet at a recital with one of my children
Something you may not know about me: Something you may not know about me: I graduated 2nd
in my high school class (out of 20!)
How you spend your free time: Sitting in my screen porch with something good to read

Phone: (507) 933-7169
Fax: (507) 933-6277
Email: apehrson@gustavus.edu

 

Student Interns:

 

 

Mary Dierkes

Name: Mary Margaret Dierkes
Birthday: The 30th Day of December, 1989
Hometown: Born - Kansas City, MO, Current- Eagan, MN
Year in College: Sophomore
Favorite Quote: "In everything, keep trusting that God is with you, that God has given
you companions on the journey" -Henri m. Nouwen
Two/Three aspirations for your life: Write/ publish a book, do mission work in a foreign
country, leave people in a better state than how I found them
Something you may not know about me: I can balance a metal spoon on my nose!
How you spend your free time: In a variety of ways- most of which surround spending as
much time as possible with my friends and family, and jammin' to Andy Mckee.

Email: mdierkes@gustavus.edu

 

Jake Jones

Name: Jacob Jordan Jones
Birthday:  September 13th 1989
Hometown:  Woodbury, MN
Year in College: Sophomore
Favorite Quote: "We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children" - Native American proverb
Two/Three aspirations for your life: I want to be a good husband and father with a great
family, I want to do what makes me happy, and I want to help others!
Something you may not know about me: I pierced my ears for six weeks this summer! And
then took them out...
How you spend your free time: I spend my free time sleeping, playing my guitar, hanging
out with my friends, having lots of family time, and reading and being curious about the world!

Email: jjones3@gustavus.edu

 

 

Emily Kuenker

Name: Emily Anne Kuenker
Birthday: September 9, 1988 (it's the second day of classes this year...)
Hometown: Aurora (A-town) Colorado
Year in College: Senior
Favorite Quote: "Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime and
departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time." HWL
Two/Three aspirations for your life: Travel to every continent, understand the meaning of
"namaste", and see U2 in concert
Something you may not know about me: I am Irish and darn proud of it!
How you spend your free time: These days I spend it writing letters

Email: ekuenker@gustavus.edu

 

 

Colleen Peterson

Name: Colleen Rachel Peterson
Birthday: Birthday: September 1, 1989
Hometown: Forest Lake, MN
Year in College: Sophomore
Favorite Quote: "I was called upon to serve. I was not called upon to succeed." -Mother
Teresa
Two/Three aspirations for your life: Go back to Africa, study abroad, and have a job
working with children
Something you may not know about me: I love backpacking in Colorado, and being outdoors
How you spend your free time: Smelling flowers, playing with kids, napping, hanging out
with friends

Email: cpeterso8@gustavus.edu

 

 

Rachel Schmitt

Name: Rachel Ellen Schmitt
Birthday: January 19, 1989
Hometown: Excelsior, MN
Year in College: Junior
Favorite Quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
Two/Three aspirations for your life: Continue to search for and live my calling, travel
the world, and to never stop learning.
Something you may not know about me: I wear a garnet ring every day that once belonged to
both my Grandma and my Great-Great Grandma (all three of us share the same birthstone).
How you spend your free time: In the company of friends and family, reading, singing,
listening to music, living in the Campus Center

Email: rschmit3@gustavus.edu

 

 

Anna Swenson

Name: Anna Elizabeth Swenson
Birthday: October 20th, 1989
Hometown: Eagan, Minnesota
Year in College: Sophomore
Favorite Quote: "Even the youth will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But
those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like
eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31
Two/Three aspirations for your life: 1. Encourage the kids I teach to have a passion for
life long learning 2. Help others in their walk with God 3. Travel to another country for
an extended period of time.
Something you may not know about me: My family has had six dogs, Rosalita, Lars, Minnie,
Disney, Mickey and Boji!
How you spend your free time: Watching Gossip Girl or The Office, reading, napping,
hanging out with my friends, or facebooking

Email: aswenso3@gustavus.edu