Ms. Engen did not just find a teaching job at Benet, she moved to Illinois for it! After interviewing with the administration and the religion department, it became clear to her that there was something special about the Benet community. Ms. Engen explains, “I recognized the person of Christ in the students and faculty at Benet, and ultimately made the decision to move to Illinois to teach in a place where I saw the Lord present and already working.”

Before starting her journey at Benet, Ms. Engen attended Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. While there, she studied the Catholic faith and how to teach it to people of all ages. She also spent this time working for different Catholic ministries.

Now in her second year at Benet, Ms. Engen, who solely teaches sophomores, has found that one her favorite parts of the job is getting to know her students. She loves being able to meet students where they are and build relationships with them. Ms. Engen believes that high school students are in an important stage of life where they start to ask “big questions” and  look for “something” for the first time. She hopes to offer guidance in the same way that her own teachers did when she was in high school.

Of course, there is much more to Ms. Engen than what students see in the classroom. Outside of school, Ms. Engen appreciates doing anything artistic. From reading, to painting, to crocheting, Ms. Engen loves it all. She also cherishes spending her free time in nature doing things such as going for a walk, taking a hike, and relaxing in the fresh air.

Although Ms. Engen has only been at Benet for a short time, she has already become an important part of the community. Benet is lucky to have Ms. Engen!