One of the best parts of my job is getting to learn about your job.

Really. It鈥檚 inspiring to see the many ways that God is using Biola 桃花视频s for his purposes all around the world. As I get emails, or read through news articles, or browse the alumni directory, or talk with people face to face, I鈥檓 continually encouraged and impressed to see how Biolans are making a difference all across the spectrum of careers.

Take Wess Stafford (鈥75), who recently retired after two decades as president of Compassion International. In June, I was excited to see Wess featured in a Christianity Today cover story that highlighted some significant new economic research on Compassion鈥檚 effectiveness at fighting global poverty. Or there鈥檚 Marcus Brotherton (M.A. 鈥97), a gifted storyteller and writer who has had a hand in authoring more than two dozen books. One of his most recent, Still Lolo, was featured prominently on the Today show and other major news outlets late last year.

And, of course, there are thousands more, faithfully serving out their professional callings in business, ministry, education and media. People like Darlene Dueck (鈥62), an art collection curator in Denver; Di Patterson (鈥04), a consultant and speaker on 鈥渟uccessful aging鈥; and Ernesto 鈥淩anger Ernie鈥 Ybarra (鈥84), who helps people in the Los Angeles area experience the beauty of God鈥檚 creation.

For this issue of the magazine, we thought it would be fun to spotlight these and other interesting alumni in an out-of-the-ordinary way. Rather than write about them, we asked them to take us directly into their daily work worlds by sharing some of the wisdom and expertise they鈥檝e picked up over the years.

The result is our first-ever 鈥済ood advice issue,鈥 which features practical knowledge and tips from a wide range of alumni and professors. Some of it is serious (鈥淗ow to make your public speaking stick,鈥 鈥淗ow to discover true financial freedom鈥), and some is more fun and lighthearted (鈥淗ow to brew the perfect cup of coffee鈥). But all of it, we hope, is interesting and useful to you in some way. (I, for one, came away inspired to pay a visit to a museum, be more intentional about 鈥渙ral clarity鈥 and pick up a jump rope more often.)

So, read on and soak up some good advice from your fellow Biolans. And if I can offer my own piece of advice (actually, more of a request): Let us know what you鈥檙e doing. We鈥檇 love to hear from you!