Spring 2026 Spark

Spark, the First-Year Seminar's (FYS) call to the greater good, is a panel discussion about vocation and career. Members of the Cincinnati community, including one FYS faculty member, discuss the paths they took through college and into their careers. They consider the surprises along the way, demonstrating that life rarely proceeds in a straight line from college into career, and that the reality is much more interesting. Panelists discuss whether one’s choice of college major matters, how they deal with failure, and how they see their own lives and careers as contributing to the greater good.

Spark takes place online (via Microsoft teams) on Wednesday, February 4 from 6-7pm. Register in advance to attend here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/86212ff4-7b6e-49bb-b7d0-a12a1c7f2280@150cf9f2-61ec-4265-ad7f-26b074376999

Our panelists this semester are: Bonnie Collins, founder of the Live Like Maya Foundation; Niamh O’Leary; Professor and Chair of English (and a FYS faculty member) here at Xavier; and Meeka Owens, Cincinnati City Council Member.