This was recorded live at our annual Baccalaureate Service on May 8, 2026.

In his role as Campus Pastor, Evan Tinkenberg reaches out to students, faculty, and staff to encourage the integration of learning and faith. He grew up 30 miles south of Chicago in northwest Indiana, where he was raised in a generously loving family and a rich community of Reformed churches. He enjoys drinking good coffee and reading eclectically; ask him for a book recommendation. Evan graduated with a B.A. in Theology from Trinity Christian College and an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Exegesis Prize. Kim, Evan’s wife, is a nurse who loves baking and cooking new foods. Together they enjoy going for coffee or bookshop dates, hiking, kayaking, and bike rides. They do much of this with their two young kids in tow.

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Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation.

We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation.

Head over to our events page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs.

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