About the Founders

For full time work, Lauren serves as the Director of Ignatian Spirituality at Loyola University Chicago, where she focuses on the formation and inclusion of faculty and staff to the school's Ignatian mission. She coordinates the university’s Spiritual Exercises program, facilitates seminars and orientations, and directs retreats among other things. Prior to this role, she served as the Associate Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola where she developed and implemented a campus-wide retreat program.

After living on the east coast for 11 years (Boston, New York, and DC), she returned to her Chicago roots in 2010. Prior to working at Loyola, she served as a high school teacher, campus minister, and coach for Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in the Washington, D.C. area. Lauren earned both her B.A. in Theology and M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College, and has certificates in Spiritual Direction (Loyola University Chicago) and Spiritual Entrepreneurship (Columbia Business School). She completed her D.Min. at Catholic Theological Union in 2024, with her doctoral project "Deepening a Sense of Belonging: Making Space for Religiously Unaffiliated Employees in Jesuit Higher Education.” Her interests include finding new physical challenges, going on adventures, story-telling, exploring the awesome city of Chicago, and visiting her loved ones around the country.

When Oliver applied to study at a Jesuit theology school in 2010, he had never heard of Ignatian Spirituality. However, after studying & ministering at multiple Jesuit institutions and personally making the Spiritual Exercises, he became convinced that Ignatian Spirituality is one of the best kept secrets of Christianity.  Oliver is passionate about translating the ancient wisdom of the Spiritual Exercises for modern audiences and helping people awaken to the spiritual life through their lived experience.

Oliver has worked in a variety of roles supporting college student spiritual wellness. Oliver earned his B.M. in Voice Performance from Gordon College and his M.Ed. in Religious Education from Boston College. He has also earned certificates in Ignatian spiritual direction (Loyola University Chicago) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (Cornell University). After graduating from BC, Oliver served as the faith formation campus minister at Loyola University Chicago, where he built a vibrant community of Ignatian faith-sharing groups and led Ignatian retreats. He then served as the Associate Dean of Students at Cornell University, where he was also the director of the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making. Oliver recently returned to his home state of Maine, where he serves as the Director of the Rachel Lord Center for Religious & Spiritual Life at Bowdoin College. Oliver is an avid runner and is tackling a personal goal of running a marathon in every state. When not running, Oliver can be found singing, cooking, bird-watching, and spending time with his partner, Will, and their puppy, Shadow.