When the Field and the Classroom Meet: Chris Huber M.A. ’26

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Chris Huber M.A. ’26 spent five years working for newspapers in the state of Washington as a reporter and photographer, working some odd hours as he spent his time in the newsroom during the day and in the community covering events during evenings and weekends. Eventually, he felt compelled to search for deeper meaning in his career.

“I felt like God was drawing me to spend my day-to-day with a deeper purpose by helping people,” said Huber.

This prompting led him to apply for jobs where he could do this, many of which were at World Vision. After submitting applications for a year, Huber was offered a contract position as a writer for a donor-facing team at the nonprofit organization. This later led to him working on World Vision’s magazine team, where he gathered stories of impact from various program areas.

In 2020, Huber moved with his wife and children to Ecuador for two and a half years to support the Venezuelan migration crisis response as a communications manager for World Vision. 

This job change transformed his mindset about humanitarian work as he witnessed suffering and injustice firsthand and had opportunities to walk alongside communities experiencing them. He developed greater empathy and a different perspective on the church’s role in bringing hope and healing to a broken world. “Witnessing to and participating in the redemptive work of Christ through the church in such a large-scale crisis situation left me hopeful and motivated to continue in my commitment to work in the humanitarian space,” said Huber. 

This experience set him on a path that would eventually guide him to Wheaton’s Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership program. When he returned to the U.S. in 2022, Huber began his current role as a member of World Vision’s evidence and learning team. In this position, he gathers empirical evidence of program impact to present to senior leadership and donors. Around that same time, he decided to pursue a master’s degree and chose to do so at Wheaton, a school he had been curious about for years. 

Huber felt drawn to the HDL program because he knew it would provide a formal setting to engage with the same material he encounters at work in a new environment and to view his vocation with an explicit faith lens. As a flexible learning student, Huber is completing his master’s degree from the comfort of his home in Spokane, Washington.

“It’s amazing how the degree program is deepening and broadening my knowledge and awareness of the field I work in,” said Huber, identifying overlap in his day job and academic studies. “And the day-to-day work I do in my field is actually helping me enrich my study life and engage better in the class material and discussions.”

Another significant draw of the HDL program for Huber was its flexible, hybrid nature. This allows students to complete classes and receive certificates, such as the Spiritual First Aid Certificate, from various parts of the world on a timeline that’s feasible with their other work and personal commitments. Taking one course per semester was not Huber’s initial plan but has become a reality he is grateful for. The program’s hybrid element also creates a couple of opportunities for the cohort to spend time in-person together at the outset and culmination of the program. Beginning with an introductory class and concluding with a course involving vocational reflection and career planning, the one-week intensives enable students to develop greater community with their peers. 

For Huber, challenging classes and the community within his cohort have been a blessing. “I’ve appreciated having the opportunity to connect with other believers who are doing this kind of work and have diverse perspectives and experiences,” he said. “And, academically, I’ve appreciated exploring and researching areas I otherwise wouldn’t. As much as one can enjoy writing a research paper, I have, as I’ve been able to write in a different style than I normally do. I’ve also gained technical skills that have stretched me, such as analyzing spreadsheets and gaining practice with building frameworks.” 

Upon completion of his degree, Huber hopes to use what he has learned to speak with more clarity and authority in the spaces he already works in. “Someday, whether at World Vision or a different agency, I hope to be able to step into some form of leadership equipped with what I have learned at Wheaton,” he said.