BELONGING AND BECOMING
HOW STUDENTS THRIVE FROM THE START
Every Wildcat’s journey begins with belonging. At IWU that sense of community reflects a Christ-centered commitment to help students flourish in faith and learning. Amid the uncertainty facing higher education, IWU’s culture of belonging empowers students to thrive. From the moment they arrive, first-time students who feel supported build a strong foundation that shapes their experience, carries them through challenges, and prepares them to graduate as world changers.
Guiding students through these first experiences are Crystal Keetch, Ph.D., Becca Rankin, and Ronda Thompson, leaders whose work embodies IWU’s mission to blend faith, innovation, and care.
CRYSTAL KEETCH, PH.D. DEAN OF STUDENT THRIVING IWU MARION
THRIVING FROM THE START: IWU MARION
freshman
transfer students enrolled in FYE 101
Building Strong Beginnings: Crystal Keetch, Ph.D.
As dean of student thriving on the Marion campus, Keetch understands the power of strong beginnings. Her leadership led to First Year Experience (FYE) 101: The Wildcat Way, a one-credit seminar designed to help students transition into college life.
Each August, as first-year students arrive with both excitement and uncertainty, FYE 101 helps them find community and confidence from their first weekend through the semester. In fall 2025, the course welcomed 578 freshmen and 57 transfer students.
Led by a faculty member and a peer educator, FYE 101 introduces new students to IWU’s values, campus resources, and the “firsts” of college life. This innovative redesigned course, shaped by input from faculty, staff, and student leaders, emphasizes both practical tools and relational connection.
“If students walk away from FYE 101 knowing people here care about them and want them to be successful, then we’ve done our job,” Keetch said.
While Keetch helps traditional students begin well, Becca Rankin and Ronda Thompson guide those in National & Global and Wesley Seminary programs to finish strong, fulfilling IWU’s mission of character, scholarship, and leadership.
Rethinking Intentional Care: Becca Rankin
As director of academic services at Wesley Seminary, Rankin is reimagining student support with intentionality. As of fall 2025, Wesley Seminary enrolled 714 students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Among the graduate students, most are already serving in ministry while pursuing their education, making relevant and accessible educational pathways a priority for Rankin.
To better serve these adult learners, Rankin led a 2024 redesign of the Student Success Team. Each coordinator now focuses on a specific student group, allowing for proactive rather than reactive care.
“Our goal is to make learning accessible, applicable to ministry, and deeply rooted in spiritual formation,” Rankin said. “We don’t just want students to earn degrees. We want them to belong.”
BECCA RANKIN DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SERVICES, WESLEY SEMINARY
SUPPORTING EVERY LEARNER: WESLEY SEMINARY
students balancing ministry and study
RONDA THOMPSON IINTERIM VICE PRESIDENT OF LEARNER SUCCESS IWU NATIONAL AND GLOBAL
INNOVATION WITH PURPOSE: IWU NATIONAL AND GLOBAL
adult learners pursuing degrees online
People-First Innovation: Ronda Thompson
As interim vice president of learner success, Thompson oversees support for more than 12,000 adult learners enrolled through IWU National and Global (N&G). Many balance careers, families, and life’s challenges.
“Life doesn’t stop while you’re earning a degree,” Thompson said. “Our advisors walk alongside students so they never walk the online journey alone.”
Her team uses AI chatbots for instant help and automated alerts that identify students who may be struggling. Alongside these tools, new-student onboarding and online chapel opportunities foster both personal and spiritual growth.
By combining technology with compassionate advising, Thompson is leading innovation that strengthens retention and transforms lives.
A Community of Belonging
Across programs and campuses, Keetch, Rankin, and Thompson model IWU’s mission to help every student thrive, from traditional freshmen to working adults.
In a season when higher education faces uncertainty, IWU’s Christ-centered community remains a steady place of belonging where students are known, supported, and equipped to carry Christ’s light into a changing world.