Abstract
Nick Doten, a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership, shares his unconventional path through higher education and the experiences that shaped his research. Drawing on his background as a first-generation college student, Army Reserve veteran, and fraternity member, his work explores how fraternity involvement influences students' religious and spiritual development. Using qualitative interviews, he seeks to understand how these communities shape identity, belonging, and meaning, and how his findings may help campus leaders better support students' growth and connection.