On this week’s episode of Bellarmine Magazine’s podcast - The Pineapple - English professor Conor Picken discusses his journey to Bellarmine and his role as faculty director of the Brown Learning Community. Picken also talks about his own experiences as an undergraduate, urging students to be engaged in their college community, work hard and be realistic about their goals, both in and out of the classroom.

Picken places emphasis on encouraging students to participate in the social aspect of the collegiate community. “I think what Bellarmine affords students the opportunity to do is engage in shared experience,” he said. “There is no value that can be placed on doing things with people, experiencing strife, triumph. I mean, I sound cliché, but it’s the truth. You cry with these people, you study with these people, you drink coffee with these people.”

“For me, my undergraduate experience was as much about the people, not just the people who are grading my papers, but the people that I lived with, and played soccer with, and studied abroad with.” 

The Pineapple is a weekly podcast produced by Bellarmine Magazine that provides listeners with exclusive content from the Bellarmine community.

Listen to this podcast episode online, or search for "The Pineapple" on Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

This article was prepared by student worker Christina Mudd.