Meet New TMC Board Member: Evan Schindler

Evan Schindler has the distinction of being the Merton Center’s youngest current board member. A former summer intern at the Merton Center, Evan was elected to the board for a three year term last November.

What are the values and convictions of someone now in his twenties and what has formed them? Evan remembers growing up during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and it being a normal thing to “watch the war” on TV. Since those days the U.S. intervention in the Middle East seems to Evan to have changed nothing. As he has grown older the USA at war continues to appear as just another “normal” thing. What can change that? Evan has always been fascinated by other cultures and is proud that his country is so open to diverse people. The age of the internet has made it incredibly easy for Evan to expand his cultural appetite. He thinks it’s important for his generation to connect with others around the world on a personal level. Evan says, “War will become a thing of the past when we grow to love one another and respect one another as equals.”

Evan is a recent graduate of Clarion University with a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications (a combination of Public Relations, Advertising, and Journalism). In 2013, Evan served as a summer intern at the Merton Center assisting with membership outreach and media publications. He was intrigued by the political and economic controversies surrounding the Occupy Movement and the Wall Street bailouts at the time. Evan says, “The internship gave me hands on experience in writing, publication design and public speaking. It was awesome to be in a position where I felt my voice was heard. I left with a solid resume and portfolio, but more importantly I saw first hand how grassroots movements gain momentum. It was an eye-opening experience to see the commitment of staff and projects, and to see how much they accomplished.” Evan now works full time in the Pittsburgh area. He and his wife, Jingjie, also work with Chinese international students who wish to study in the United States.

When asked to serve on the TMC board, Evan did not hesitate. “I believe that the Merton Center continues to be a vital resource for those with a cause. It’s a place where people without a voice can finally speak. I love the energy of the organizers and the overall mission of the TMC. It’s an honor to be on the board, and I hope to bring the same eye-opening experiences that I’ve encountered to others in my generation.” Evan is a self-starter and plans to follow through on promoting the Center to a younger generation during his board term. He believes there are some exciting tools that can help the Center increase engagement with its membership and grow support for the Center and its projects. He hopes to assist the Center in utilizing new technologies in accomplishing its mission.

Evan says, “As someone who works in consumer engagement and data science, I hope to educate others on the benefits of strong membership relations. I also want to work with Tony (TMC’s Executive Director) on some of the exciting new big data initiatives. I hope to provoke younger people to get involved in The Center. I think it's important to reach out to Gen. Y as they become more aware of their own political and economic choices. All of this is in an effort to grow TMC membership and to move The Center towards a strategy for sustenance.”

Evan has hope for a more peaceful and just world and tells a story to make his point. “My wife, Jingjie, and I met during our summer internship at the Center. She came to Pittsburgh from China to study at Pitt, and we fell in love. We were born on opposite sides of the planet, yet we had such an incredible personal connection. I think it was because of our openness and curiosity towards each other's cultures. If everyone from different cultures could be so open, the world would be a better place.”

Evan invites TMC members and NewPeople readers to feel free to be in touch with him. He loves to hear about the new ideas and projects of the Center. (Evan can be reached through the Merton Center.)

We welcome Evan Schindler to the Board and thank him for his commitment to the mission of the Thomas Merton Center.

Joyce Rothermel mentored Evan Schindler during his summer internship at the Merton Center.

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