A Legacy of Care

“My hope is that every student knows they matter and feels empowered to follow their call.” In a few words, Dr. Melanie Baffes (MDiv ’10, PhD ’16) articulates Garrett Seminary’s commitment to supporting its seminarians—not just as students, but as people. After 20 years in the Garrett community, Dr. Baffes plans to retire from her position as Director of Academic Support and Student Thriving at the end of December and leaves a towering legacy. Her accomplishments are not just measured in the countless students whose lives she has touched, but by a system that will nurture all who come after. “Inclusivity, acceptance, and a deep sense of community is woven throughout Garrett,” she reflects. “But the ways we guide the people who come through our doors are forever evolving. I’m grateful to have played my part.”

Dr. Baffes knows the Garrett academic experience intimately, from both sides of the institution. After an accomplished career in publishing, she initially arrived as an MDiv student. “I never considered ordination, but I was quite interested in spiritual direction, companioning, and pastoral care,” she recalls. “To my surprise, I was eventually drawn to the academic sphere, and chose to do a PhD in biblical studies, working with Dr. K.K. Yeo. It was wonderful; I loved my experience.” She completed her dissertation on the gospel of John and subsequently worked as an adjunct professor—both at Garrett and several nearby universities. Still, something about her alma mater exuded gravity, and for several years she directed Garrett’s writing center. Eventually, she transitioned from those positions into her current role.

While Dr. Baffes’ commitment to student flourishing remained constant across those many years and responsibilities, Garrett as a school was undergoing profound transformation. “I’ve seen a change in this institution that is so positive,” she notes. “When I studied here, it really was a school for pastors. As a student who didn’t fit into that mold, I didn’t get a lot of support for what my ministry might look like. Now, there are so many interesting programs and we do an incredible job helping students find creative field education placements that are so well-suited to their ministries.”

Over the past six years, there’s also been a significant shift in who seeks a Garrett education. “Now, through advances in remote education, we’re bringing theological education throughout our country and world—which is so important,” she says. “We’re helping people everywhere become pastors and teaching many others to deepen their relationship with God as they explore widespread callings.”

These joyful changes do, however, create new challenges. “If we’re going to recruit these students, we need to support them,” Dr. Baffes says, brimming with purpose. “When I was a student, we were just handed a degree grid and knew which courses we had to take. It’s much more complex now—students are transferring credits, seeking dual degrees, balancing ordination requirements and non-ecclesial vocations.”

The wondrous increase in remote international students likewise erects new hurdles. “Some students struggle with internet connectivity,” she explains. “Others may intermittently lack electricity, particularly in regions where there are load shedding problems and governments will cut off power for a week at a time.” To support them through these challenges, Dr. Baffes has worked with professors to create new forms of academic accommodation. “For some, we’re asking professors to let students submit assignments through WhatsApp, or to see a recording of class later and respond to it,” she offers as an example. “We don’t want to penalize anyone for their circumstances.”

When Dr. Baffes leaves Garrett at the end of the calendar year, these contributions and more will remain. And the institution is thrilled to announce the hire of Deborah Coyle, who will work beside Dr. Baffes in November and December, learning about the support systems she will inherit. A career professional in academic guidance, Mrs. Coyle brings a wealth of experience across a wide range of institutions. “At the University of Chicago and other prior experiences, I had the opportunity to advise students across a wide diversity of majors and minors and have developed programs and best practices for student support,” Coyle shares. In this role, she’s thrilled to weave all these skills together.

Equally important to her experience, Coyle also exudes the same passion that has defined Dr. Baffes’ tenure. “There are lots of ways that people engage the world to offer healing and wholeness,” she notes. “Garrett’s graduates do incredible work. But the personal calling I feel is to clear the weeds and create the best environment for them to develop the skills they’ll need.” Graduate study is difficult under any circumstances; Coyle is excited to make sure it doesn’t have to be harder than it needs to be. “Things that might present as challenges in the classroom are often actually rooted in problems outside of it,” she notes. “I welcome opportunities to help students reflect on those challenges—to identify what supports might be most appropriate so that they can more fully embrace their call. The student is the one who has to walk up that mountain, but I can help to carry their backpack.”

In the coming months, Dr. Baffes is excited to show Coyle all the resources she’s created to assist students on that journey. “She’s so welcoming and authentic, our students will respond to that,” Dr. Baffes notes. “I think she is going to be terrific.” Coyle likewise expresses gratitude for this transitional period. “There’s so much I’ll be soaking in over the next weeks,” she says. “I’m thrilled to pick up her legacy and hope I can make everyone at Garrett proud of where we’re headed.”

For Dr. Baffes, there’s also opportunity for well-deserved reflection on what she has accomplished. Sometimes, those contributions’ collective weight crystallizes in an unexpected detail. “It’s weird, but one of the things I’m proudest of is an encounter I had at Home Depot. I ran into a young Haitian man, and we began to talk about God—as one does at Home Depot,” she laughs. “I told him I was at Garrett and he shared that he had always wanted to go to seminary. So, I brought him to campus, showed him around, and handed him off to the admissions team.” Rev. Evens Paul (MDiv ’18) took that chance encounter and built something marvelous. “He came to Garrett, did his degree, and now he runs Sustainable Action International, an organization that builds schools and sustainable agriculture, and supports local healthcare.” she beams. “He does this ministry without much fanfare, he’s just quietly doing the work.” It’s a fitting testament for someone who, herself, has gently made the world a better place—one student at a time.