Graduate Students
Pres House is not just a community for undergrads. Grad students find their home here, too! You don’t have to take our word for it, though; check out the testimonials below from current and former grad students who found a home at Pres House.
Pres House has been one of my favorite pieces of life in Madison for many years. One of the greatest gifts this community has given me was the comfort in knowing that even when life changed or got busy and I had to miss a couple of weeks (or more), I’d always be welcomed back with open arms. Pres House provided a sense of familiarity for me as I navigated a new chapter of adulthood, and having a weekly scheduled social time gave me some stability throughout the years and encouraged me to branch out and challenge myself. I can wholeheartedly say that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am now if not for Pres House and all of the people I’ve met there.
Pres House has been one of my favorite pieces of life in Madison for many years. One of the greatest gifts this community has given me was the comfort in knowing that even when life changed or got busy and I had to miss a couple of weeks (or more), I’d always be welcomed back with open arms. Pres House provided a sense of familiarity for me as I navigated a new chapter of adulthood, and having a weekly scheduled social time gave me some stability throughout the years and encouraged me to branch out and challenge myself. I can wholeheartedly say that I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am now if not for Pres House and all of the people I’ve met there.
Pres House has been an amazing support system for me during my Ph.D. Our weekly coffee chats and other gatherings are an excellent opportunity to get to know other grad students outside of your department and to chat/vent about grad student life.
Pres House has been an amazing support system for me during my Ph.D. Our weekly coffee chats and other gatherings are an excellent opportunity to get to know other grad students outside of your department and to chat/vent about grad student life.
It provided me with a community where I could belong, learn, and have fun.
It provided me with a community where I could belong, learn, and have fun.
Pres House was a home away from home. The community was extremely welcoming and allowed me to feel supported as a student while also allowing me to push past my comfort levels to learn and try new things and see new viewpoints. The grad student cohort was an excellent way to take a break from studies to laugh, have fun, and relax, and at times also discuss thought-provoking questions.
Pres House was a home away from home. The community was extremely welcoming and allowed me to feel supported as a student while also allowing me to push past my comfort levels to learn and try new things and see new viewpoints. The grad student cohort was an excellent way to take a break from studies to laugh, have fun, and relax, and at times also discuss thought-provoking questions.
Pres House has provided a supportive, fun way to get outside of my department “bubble” and meet other graduate students, undergraduates, and community members. My Pres House community gives me purpose when my experiments aren’t going well, celebrates with me when good things happen, and provides an accepting space on the days when you’re questioning why on earth you signed up for grad school in the first place. I can’t imagine my graduate experience without a community like Pres House.
Pres House has provided a supportive, fun way to get outside of my department “bubble” and meet other graduate students, undergraduates, and community members. My Pres House community gives me purpose when my experiments aren’t going well, celebrates with me when good things happen, and provides an accepting space on the days when you’re questioning why on earth you signed up for grad school in the first place. I can’t imagine my graduate experience without a community like Pres House.
Pres House was my single most formative community during my MFA, outside my program itself. The community I found among peers, the leadership experience and personal growth I gained from my active participation in the ministry, and the unconditional welcome I received as a queer & trans person were all invaluable. Pres House is a vital, one-of-a-kind place in a campus community that desperately needs meaningful, intimate community spaces.
Pres House was my single most formative community during my MFA, outside my program itself. The community I found among peers, the leadership experience and personal growth I gained from my active participation in the ministry, and the unconditional welcome I received as a queer & trans person were all invaluable. Pres House is a vital, one-of-a-kind place in a campus community that desperately needs meaningful, intimate community spaces.
It gave me a sense of community, especially in graduate school, when life seemed otherwise too difficult to handle.
It gave me a sense of community, especially in graduate school, when life seemed otherwise too difficult to handle.
I found in Pres House a community of friends and companions to journey alongside, as I started a new chapter as an international graduate student in Madison. I found a space to talk through ideas, thoughts, and readings from graduate seminars; I also learned spiritual formations and encountered Christian witness. Community-building at Pres House was always thoughtful, intentional, and cultivated within a safe space. At the same time, it was also a constant call-to-action to serve the community by questioning and expanding the boundaries of the Church. Being a part of Pres House for my two years in Madison, deeply impressed upon me that there is indeed a space on the university campus — in our current moment — for a progressive Christian ministry that models the radical generosity and compassion of Jesus. I am deeply grateful to the pastors, staff, and friends for making this space possible.
I found in Pres House a community of friends and companions to journey alongside, as I started a new chapter as an international graduate student in Madison. I found a space to talk through ideas, thoughts, and readings from graduate seminars; I also learned spiritual formations and encountered Christian witness. Community-building at Pres House was always thoughtful, intentional, and cultivated within a safe space. At the same time, it was also a constant call-to-action to serve the community by questioning and expanding the boundaries of the Church. Being a part of Pres House for my two years in Madison, deeply impressed upon me that there is indeed a space on the university campus — in our current moment — for a progressive Christian ministry that models the radical generosity and compassion of Jesus. I am deeply grateful to the pastors, staff, and friends for making this space possible.