Episode 2

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Published on:

24th Feb 2026

Roots & Wings: Real Campus Ministry Secrets with Steve Blaha

Kelly Albrecht welcomes campus ministry veteran Steve Blaha, whose practical wisdom exposes what really happens beyond faith on campus. Discover why "roots and wings" isn’t just feel-good talk. It’s a formula for how Marquette students thrive emotionally, spiritually, and in leadership. If you think campus ministry is only for devout Catholics, prepare to rethink everything.

Steve Blaha breaks down how faith, service learning, and multi-faith engagement converge to build students’ confidence and resilience. He reveals how tough transitions, grief, and personal questioning are met with concrete support, not clichés.

Wondering how a university’s spiritual core shapes students to lead, serve, and heal? Find out how Steve Blaha’s approach to campus ministry sets Marquette apart.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Trust yourselves. Trust your kids. Parents, you got this. You've been doing this really well for 18 years with each of your kids. Keep leaning into that. Keep loving them. Keep giving them space. They're going to grow.

14:16 - Each time one of our students experiences a loss, and many of our students experience very big losses during their time at Marquette, it's just something that we just naturally need to like just wrap them up and support them and care for them and walk with them. And that's not a short-term thing. It is as long as they need us, we really want to be there supporting them.

26:50 - It's part of welcoming everyone in the world to come and study here together, to think on the big questions together, to try to work towards the world's needs together so that when students graduate, they've got that muscle memory. They're able to do that where they live and with whom they work. And that makes the world better. And so we're an important part of that equation.

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About the Podcast

Marquette CAREs
Highlighting the people and programs that bring “We Are Marquette” to life.

College life can be exciting, overwhelming, surprising, and transformative. Often all at once!

The Marquette CAREs Podcast supports students and families as they navigate that journey with clarity, connection, and compassion. Hosted by Kelly Albrecht, CARE Team Case Manager at Marquette University, each episode features a campus expert, community partner, or student leader exploring topics such as well-being, safety, transition, struggle, resilience, and growth.

In these 25-30 minute conversations, listeners gain practical takeaways, behind-the-scenes context, and real talk about what students experience throughout their time at Marquette. Each episode closes with our signature “We Are” Moment, where guests share a personal story of care, support, or community. A reminder that at Marquette, we show up for one another.

Informative, accessible, and rooted in cura personalis, this podcast is your guide to understanding how we care for the whole person at Marquette University.

About your hosts

Zabrian "Z" Oglesby

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Zabrian "Z" Oglesby (ze/zir or they/them) serves as the Assistant Dean of Students within the Office of Student Development housed in Division of Belonging and Student Affairs at Marquette University.

Zabrian joined Marquette in July 2023 as Assistant Director of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and brings more than a decade of experience as a Student Affairs administrator. Their expertise spans Student Conduct, Crisis Response, Operational Excellence, and Social Justice Education.

Beyond Marquette, Zabrian is a Senior Instructional Program Manager at CodePath, a tech-education nonprofit reimagining higher education for first-generation and low-income students and preparing the first AI-native generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders.

MU OSD

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The staff in the Office of Student Development serve as educators and supporters who are available to help you make the most of your college experience. The office oversees SPARK, New Student and Family Orientation, Family Weekend, Student Conduct, and the CARE Team.

The Office of Student Development is located in room 329 of the Alumni Memorial Union. The office is open Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.