Stephen Cartwright

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Stephen Cartwright

Stephen Cartwright’s passions include serving others and working with college students. In Residence Life, he has the opportunity to do both.

Prior to his time at Wheaton, Cartwright worked as a resident assistant at Trinity International University, as well as a graduate residence adviser during his time in seminary. He initially saw ministry as something separate from everyday life but began to see how Residence Life intertwined the two. “I was surprised by the ministry opportunity that Residence Life could be,” said Cartwright.

Although Cartwright did not plan on working in Student Development professionally, he learned about an open position for Residence Director of Fischer Hall at Wheaton in 2017, which set him on a new trajectory. Cartwright believed the position would suit his gifts and callings well, so he applied.

Throughout his time working in Residence Life, Cartwright has engaged in what he calls “embodied ministry.” This has included spending hours in hospitals with students, connecting individuals with a counselor in the middle of the night, and walking through tragedy with others. Cartwright, who is currently Assistant Director of Residence Life and Residence Director of Apartments & Houses, finds this type of ministry familiar because he witnessed it in his parents’s lives. “I’m the son of a pastor, so I remember my mom and dad responding to crises in the middle of the night, comforting families experiencing loss, and counseling people in our home,” said Cartwright. “So this kind of work made sense even though I hadn’t done it professionally.”

In his other role on campus as Ministry Associate for Spiritual Leadership, Cartwright hires, trains, and mentors student chaplains. Cartwright often emphasizes the importance of Christian integrity, which he views as foundational for the work done in the Chaplain’s Office.

Cartwright’s work with Residence Life and the Chaplain’s Office has ingrained a core truth into him: “It is so profoundly not about me,” he said. “Learning that lesson has shaped much of my life and everyday sanctification. To use a basketball metaphor, it’s not about Steve trying to win by scoring points. It’s about trying to set up students well spiritually, physically, and emotionally.”