Senior Conor Boland realized two of his loftiest dreams after coming to Catholic University. The first was to find a job on Capitol Hill. The second was to share his love of Christ and his passion for ministry with  fellow students.  

"I realized if everything Christianity professes is actually true, it would change my life. It led me on the path to Catholic University."

The first came quickly, after a brief encounter at a freshman social with a fellow student and intern on Capitol Hill. By the first semester of his sophomore year, Boland was working in the House of Representatives for the at-large congressman from North Dakota, Kevin Cramer. An unpaid intern at first, Boland was soon promoted to the part-time job he currently holds working in communications and legislative research.

Boland, a double major in theology and religious studies and history, says he chose theology because of his love of Christ and his desire to grow in his faith, and he chose history because of his career interest in politics.

“The history major has prepared me incredibly well for the work I do analyzing legislation, researching bills, and drafting press clippings for senior staff,” said Boland. “Thanks to my training, I am no stranger to reading and analyzing large volumes of text.”

Boland’s professional background and stellar academic record led him to earn a paid internship at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., this past summer. He was chosen, along with one other intern, from a pool of more than 70 applicants.

Though he loves his job and academics, Boland lights up when he talks about ministering to other students. Following a call he had felt since high school, he applied and was accepted as a student minister both his junior and senior years.

“In high school, I had this deep encounter with Christ and I really felt his love and his mercy and it compelled me to take my faith more seriously,” he said. “I realized if everything Christianity professes is actually true, it would change my life. It led me on the path to Catholic University.”

As a student minister, Boland lives in a residence hall and is responsible for assisting fellow residents with their spiritual needs, whether by creating opportunities for community bonding or by simply offering a supportive hand or a sympathetic ear. Boland says his favorite part of ministry is helping others encounter Christ’s love and being present for his fellow students.

“I love reaching out and being with residents and finding out about things that are going on in their lives,” he said. “It’s all about forming relationships with other people that are rooted in Christ.”

After graduation, Boland hopes to find a job teaching high school history or theology. He also finds pursuing a political career on the Hill intriguing, so he’s not ruling that out. But no matter his final career decision, his primary focus, in his own words, will be to wake up “each day with a deeper relationship with Christ and with others.”