Beyond the Classroom: Dr. Rachelle Kramer Brings a Holistic Vision of Student Success to LSTC

With 25 years of ministry experience and a passion for building community, LSTC’s new Student Success Counselor is helping students find the support, connection, and belonging they need to thrive.

For Dr. Rachelle Kramer, student success is about much more than grades, coursework, or the moment a graduate crosses the commencement stage. It is about the relationships, experiences, and communities that shape a person along the way.

“I am a strong believer that student success requires a holistic approach,” Kramer says. “It is far more than intellectual development and crossing the graduation stage, important as those things are.”

As LSTC’s new Student Success Counselor, Kramer brings that philosophy to a newly created position designed to support students throughout their educational journeys. Drawing on 25 years of ministry experience, she hopes to cultivate a community where students feel known, supported, and empowered to flourish.

A Ministry Rooted in Connection

Kramer comes to LSTC after 25 years serving in Roman Catholic ministry, including 15 years in Catholic higher education. Most recently, she served as Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at DePaul University, where she oversaw professional and student staff and programs encompassing worship, retreats, social justice, faith-sharing groups, leadership development, and outreach to Latiné students.

An accomplished pianist, vocalist, choral conductor, and liturgist, Kramer has also directed music and worship programs at universities and parishes throughout her career.

Her arrival at LSTC represents something of a homecoming. In 2020, she completed her Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree at Catholic Theological Union, making her return to the Hyde Park neighborhood especially meaningful.

But it was LSTC’s mission that ultimately drew her to the institution.

“I am deeply passionate about the mission of this institution, particularly its attentiveness to diversity and emphasis on hospitality and reconciliation as a Reconciling in Christ community,” she explains.

As a woman and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Kramer has experienced the limitations of ministering within institutions where she did not always feel fully welcomed. At LSTC, she sees an opportunity to serve within a community whose commitments reflect her own convictions.

Supporting the Whole Student

In her new role, Kramer envisions herself as an advocate, resource, and trusted point of contact for students navigating the many dimensions of seminary life.

That might mean helping someone locate financial resources, working with faculty to address an academic challenge, supporting student organizations, or simply offering a listening ear during a difficult season.

“I primarily see my job as an advocate and “go-to” support person for our students,” she says.

Just as importantly, Kramer hopes to strengthen connections among students, faculty, staff, and administrators, ensuring that students can navigate institutional systems without unnecessary obstacles.

Her approach reflects a conviction that student success is a shared responsibility, one that depends on both personal relationships and effective institutional support.

“We all have a role to play in fostering student success as listeners, mentors, and in our given fields of expertise.”

Creating a Place to Belong

Kramer understands firsthand how profoundly a theological community can shape its students.

Reflecting on her graduate education at Catholic Theological Union and St. John’s University, she remembers not only the intellectual formation but also the friendships, spiritual growth, and sense of belonging that made those experiences transformative.

“It was a holistic education that fed me spiritually, socially, emotionally, and intellectually,” she recalls. “That kind of education taught me how to be a better human being and minister. It formed me.”

At a time when loneliness and disconnection affect communities across society, Kramer believes theological institutions have a particular responsibility to cultivate meaningful relationships.

For her, belonging is not simply an enhancement to education. It is an expression of Christian faith and an essential part of preparing leaders who can foster reconciliation, build bridges across difference, and care for others.

An Open Door and a New Beginning

As she settles into LSTC, Kramer is eager to meet students and become part of the rhythms of campus life. Already, she has found moments of affirmation, including a recent chapel service that she describes as deeply moving.

For students wondering when or why they might reach out, Kramer has a simple invitation: stop by, send an email, or grab a cup of coffee. No question or concern is too small, and conversations need not always be about academics.

“I hope students will feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to any conversation they have with me,” she says. “I am here to listen, support, and—hopefully—share a few laughs along the way.”