Joseph Gleason

Major: Food Science with Fermentation Minor

How I got Involved at St. Toms:
Although I attended Mass at St Tom’s as a freshman my first semester, it wasn’t until being a retreatant on BA18 where I was opened to the community of St. Tom’s. There, I met fellow Catholics that pushed me to become more involved with my faith, both inside and outside St Tom’s.

Favorite Bible Verse:
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Bio:
Hello everyone! I’m Joe Gleason, a senior this year at Purdue. Saying that now makes me realize how fast this journey I’ve taken throughout college has been. I grew up in Suffield, Connecticut, a small rural town, with my parents and three siblings. There, I keep bees, have a few chickens, grow strawberries, blueberries, apples, hops, and more! I love movies of all kinds and cooking food from around the world! When I left home for Purdue, I started off my freshman year thinking my faith was built on stone, but quickly realized how sandy my foundation was. As my faith was eroding away, I was kindly pressured to go on BA 18 as a retreatant. There, I felt the community I had long dreamt of finally revealed itself to me. As I began the process of identifying who I am and who I ought to be, I became more involved in St Tom’s; I joined a bible study, started attending Wednesday night Masses, and, when BA 19 came around, volunteered as a kitchen staffer. After studying abroad in Ireland my sophomore spring semester, I became Kitchen Staff Head for BA 21, the co-leader of my Bible study, and Kitchen Manager. Today, although I continue to be challenged, I am confident in the foundation that I’ve built these past years as I serve as Rector for BA 22.