Transforming Chaplaincy at Vassar College
From 2018-2020, Vassar College used design thinking tools to interview students they hoped to better serve and to reimagine their approach to chaplaincy. This case study introduces design thinking as an approach to understanding and adapting to institutional contexts.
As a result of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand the process of design thinking
- Describe the discovery process, including questions one might ask to better understand “user” experience
- Consider how you might apply this methodology to your own institution
- Consider organizational hierarchy and factors that may support or impede organizational change
organizational competency
design thinking
college chaplaincy
community building
organizational change
identifying allies
This case study was developed by: Liz Aeschlimann (Vassar College), Zachary Moon (Chicago Theological Seminary), Lars Mackenzie, John Schmalzbauer (Missouri State University), and Wendy Cadge (Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, Brandeis University).