There’s a certain energy that follows history and founding faculty member Chris Bradley, one that students and colleagues describe as welcoming, curious, and deeply rooted in community.
This energy shows up in small, daily moments. A game of Quiddler at lunch, a nickname that sticks, a quick “see ya later” on the way out of class. But within those moments is something more lasting. As junior Mazzy Menyhart shared, those everyday interactions, from shared lunches to inside jokes, are what make his classroom feel like a place where students belong. Senior Caroline Appel said he taught her to have fun while writing, reminding her that the best authors are genuinely interested in what they are exploring. And junior Shae Kary put it simply, “Mr. Bradley brings people together and makes school so much more fun for everyone.” In his classroom, living the questions is not just an idea, it is a daily practice, one that pushes students to think more deeply and stay engaged. As Mazzy noted, “he makes it feel like he’s learning with you.”
This approach to learning extends beyond his classroom. In January, Chris was awarded a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship to pursue “Pilgrimages Outward and Inward: Exploring the Camino de Santiago and the Pyrenees.” Through this experience, he will explore the concept of pilgrimage by walking the final 100 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago and climbing a peak in the Pyrenees, engaging both a shared and personal journey shaped by reflection and discovery. One of four University teachers to receive a 2026 fellowship, Chris sees this kind of experience as essential. As he shared, “One of the things I always try to emphasize is that our teachers are people who are constantly pursuing curious and interesting things. That’s hard to quantify, but there’s real value in students getting to spend time around thoughtful, creative people.”
At University, that belief is lived out every day, in classrooms where curiosity is encouraged, relationships matter, and learning continues well beyond the lesson.
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