“Where do you call home?” is the first question the Rev. Eric Doolittle asks when he meets someone new.
As Doolittle rounds out his fourth year at North Central, he is hitting his stride. As a social activist, father, reverend and colleague, he has connected with the North Central community with a belief in uniqueness and inclusivity.
Before he found his way to the Midwest, where he pursued his undergraduate degree in sacred music at Illinois Wesleyan University, he grew up in East Tennessee. Following, he made his way to Virginia where he received his master of divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Aside from being North Central’s college chaplain, Doolittle also serves in extension ministry in the Northern Illinois Conference.
Doolittle’s job is more than its simple description, “college chaplain.” He is finding ways to reach beyond this definition and make his mark with every student.
“He’s been very affirming to me. He’s a really good sounding board to talk about issues with whether it’s issues going on in the real world or the bigger world or issues at home and personal issues and he’s very receptive and very good at listening, so what I take away from him is that feeling of affirmation in my own self,” said Manilyn Gumapas, ’18.
Defining Doolittle’s job at North Central can also help one illustrate Doolittle as a whole. A recurring word, “warm,” follows Doolittle across campus. “His job really is to support the spiritual welfare of the North Central community and not just for students, but also for faculty and staff. I think what he has also made his job is in also training and equipping students to cultivate their own faith in such a way that leads them to act,” said Whitney Roberts, director of civic engagement and social innovation.
On one end, Brian Rainville, director of ministry and service at North Central defines Doolittle as his “partner in crime.” The two team up to make North Central a more spiritually connected place. Among other things, Rainville and Doolittle have teamed up to bring the Lux Veritas speaker series to life at North Central. This series capitalizes on the North Central motto “light and truth.” Rainville also notes Doolittle’s creative ways to connect:
Outside of his spiritual association with the campus, students find themselves relating to him in a number of uncommon ways. Doolittle’s colleagues define him as a “big gamer,” he has also found a home with the Nerd Culture Club on campus. “We’ve shared an affinity over tea. But then again to bring the nerdy aspect of it, he has a tea steeper shaped like the Tardis from Dr. Who,” said Gumapas.
If you want a small look at Doolittle’s personality, you can find him on Twitter, providing commentary on everything from what’s going on in the world to what is going on at North Central:
To Doolittle, “home” is more than what city or country you are from. “When you interact with him what stands out to you most about him is his ability to dive deep really quickly and get at what’s going on or just to ask about you in a way that is authentic and not surface level,” said Roberts.
Home is more than what is surface level to Gumapas. “Instead of asking students where they’re from no matter what they look like or who they are and stuff, he words it as where do you call home. Which is not only a very nice, inclusive way of wording it but also it appeals to the emotional side of things, too,” she said.
