Looking for guidance in your spirituality? Rev. Dr. Mandy Tarpening is here to assist. As a former C-SC alumna, Tarpening is the newest member of the student life office. She began as the school’s official chaplain during the 2023-2024 academic year. Before she took this position, Jill Miller was the only option for mental health services. Now, Rev. Dr. Mandy Tarpening is available for appointments.
Tarpening is part of the 1999 graduating C-SC class, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy. Additionally, she completed a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from South College. Before becoming the chaplain at C-SC, she served as a senior pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Macon, Missouri, and is actively involved in several community organizations.
As the relatively new chaplain, Tarpening has fresh ideas to enhance student involvement and improve their experiences. In September 2024, she introduced a new organization called “The Table.” This fellowship combines worship and food, offering students a chance to gather around ‘the table’ and worship together. They meet every Sunday at 5 pm. “My biggest challenge was stepping into this position with no programming in place and students not knowing there was even a chaplain on campus,” said Tarpening. She has been gradually working to overcome this challenge through initiatives like “The Table” and by offering counselling sessions to students.
“When I started at Culver-Stockton, it was important to me that students feel loved no matter what,” she shared. Her goal on campus is to create more opportunities for spiritual life. Tarpening returned to C-SC because she wanted to give back. “I had the opportunity to give back to a school that gave so much to me.” She expressed that Culver-Stockton College significantly impacted her and played a vital role in her decision to pursue a career in spirituality.
Many students on campus truly appreciate having a new chaplain. “The Table” has experienced growth over the past several months. Tarpening has implemented various services that enrich campus life. She has also collaborated with Jill Miller, the Director Of Counseling and Wellness Services, to reach out to the student body and become familiar with the students.
Tarpening is passionate about supporting students in their spiritual growth. “Spirituality can play an important role during this time in your life when you are searching and seeking. It is one stable thing to have in your life that you will have outside of college. Faith can serve as a guiding force in life,” explained Tarpening. Her main piece of advice for students is to find your community and invest in yourself as much as you invest in others.
Rev. Dr. Mandy Tarpening continues to enhance students’ overall experiences and spiritual lives. She offers appointment times on Wildcats Connect. The door to her office, located in the Gladys Crown Student Center, is always open.
