Craig Talmage isn’t sure what life after college graduation holds for him. His sense of humor helps him cope with the uncertainty.
“My joke as a kid was that I’d either be President of the United States or a pastor, and I’ve become neither yet,” he says with a smile.
He continues in a more serious vein. “I am not a very future-oriented person, so I’ve always struggled with the notion of God’s call for my life, specifically. I believe God calls us all to reach out ... and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, but I also believe that this call is lived out differently by each individual.”
For Craig, living out that call right now means working toward a master’s degree in
Industrial / Organizational Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato campus.
He will graduate in spring 2010, at which time he has the option of working toward his doctorate.
Craig was drawn to the field because he feels there is a tremendous need to help people feel comfortable and productive in their jobs.
“People spend the majority of their time in the workplace. I wanted to choose a career field that worked to better their lives in these settings.
“My favorite part of studying psychology and applying what I’ve learned is that I get to encounter people in all walks of life (young, old, experience, inexperienced, etc.). The major duty of any I/O psychologists is to listen to the wants and needs of individual persons."
His interest in this field carries over to his volunteer work as well. Craig is beginning his second term as president of the
Lutheran Student Movement (LSM).
His involvement in LSM began during his undergraduate years with
Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Arizona.
“I am passionate about training leaders in this church and in our communities to better serve the people in this world,” Craig says. “I am also passionate about helping new and existing organizations, specifically nonprofits and churches, develop their employees and organizations to better serve those they serve.”
In his free time, Craig enjoys hanging out with friends and playing his acoustic guitar. He enjoys composing and would love to record a CD someday. In the meantime, he conscientiously “tries each day to serve God by treating His children and His world the best I can.”
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