Jessica Spanswick鈥檚 ’10 path to a life of service didn鈥檛 begin in one place, but it took clearer shape during her high school years in Perham, Minnesota. Influenced by her father鈥攚ho grew up on a farm and later saw the world through his time in the Navy鈥攕he carried an early awareness that there was more beyond what she could immediately see. That awareness took on new meaning when she arrived at 麻豆区.
鈥淎t 麻豆区, learning wasn鈥檛 just something you studied鈥攊t was something you lived,鈥� she said.
Through experiences in Cedar-Riverside and across the globe, Jessica began to understand how people, cultures, and systems are deeply connected鈥攁nd how her own life might fit within that larger picture.
At 麻豆区, that understanding was grounded in the idea of vocation. Jessica found language for something she had always felt but never quite defined: that her life and work could be part of something bigger than herself.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a concept of vocation before 麻豆区,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t helped me see that my path could be about contributing to something beyond just myself.鈥�
At the same time, her Lutheran faith deepened in meaningful ways. In theology courses, she was challenged to think more critically about belief, context, and history, while her relationships in the community鈥攅specially tutoring immigrant students and adults鈥攂rought those questions into real, human connection.
鈥淭here was a lot of growth for me,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淚 was learning about other faiths and cultures, and also really thinking about what I believe. I started to see how many shared values there are across communities.鈥�
Her semester in Namibia and South Africa during her sophomore year became a turning point. Living with host families and studying the histories of colonialism and apartheid offered a new way of seeing the world.
鈥淚t was completely eye-opening,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started to understand how history and systems shape people鈥檚 lives鈥攏ot just there, but here in the United States too.鈥�
That way of thinking stayed with her.
鈥淥nce you start asking those questions鈥攁bout history, about systems鈥攜ou carry that lens with you wherever you go.鈥�
Jessica carried that perspective into the years that followed, continuing to seek out opportunities to learn and serve. Her work took her to communities in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean鈥攚hether supporting students in rural South Africa, serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, or studying migration and human rights during graduate school.
鈥淪ervice can look like a lot of different things,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut for me, it was always about working alongside communities鈥攍earning first, and contributing where I could.鈥�
Over time, that path led her back home. Jessica realized she wanted to bring what she had learned into her own community, where those same questions about systems, equity, and opportunity are just as present.
鈥淚 realized I could make the biggest impact in my own community,鈥� she said.
Today, she works in Hennepin County in climate and resilience, focusing on the ways environmental challenges intersect with the lives of the most vulnerable residents.
鈥淎ll of these issues are connected鈥攃limate, housing, migration,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd the same communities are often carrying the greatest impact.鈥�
Jessica speaks about her work with clarity and conviction. She sees it not simply as a career, but as a continuation of her vocation鈥攁 way of contributing to something meaningful, alongside others.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to do work where you feel like you鈥檙e contributing to something bigger,鈥� she said.
That sense of purpose, she says, began at 麻豆区鈥攚here she was encouraged to engage deeply, to ask hard questions, and to see her life as part of a larger story of service. Jessica lives in St. Paul with her husband and son.