This school year, the St.Viator community is filled with new faces. One of which is Mrs. Kellina Bruett-Fedell in the theology department. Though one may have had her as a substitute in recent years, she is now a permanent addition to the faculty.
“I have always thought that learning about faith as a young person is so important,” said Bruett-Fedell
She watched how faith affected her childhood and teenage years and knew that she wanted to significantly incorporate such into her life.
“I was inspired by seeing others put their faith into action,” said Bruett-Fedell, “That inspired me to bring faith to others.”
Mrs. Bruett-Fedell attended Ohio’s University of Dayton for her undergraduate studies. There, she obtained a degree in Religious Studies. She then studied at Loyola University in Chicago, where she earned her Masters of Arts in Religious Education. She has been teaching theology for 12 years, beginning at age 22.
“Love is teaching theology,” said Bruett-Fedell.
She has fostered her passion for Catholic education through her previous jobs at St. John Fisher, Holy Trinity High School, and St. Benedict Prep. She has also assisted with St. Raymond Confirmation preparation and volunteered at St. James.
One of her proudest teaching accomplishments was when she gave a final exam that involved running a coat drive at St. Vincent DePaul in Chicago.
“We were able to bring hundreds of warm coats to cold people in the city, said Bruett-Fedell, “I’d love to do it again!”
Outside the classroom, Mrs. Bruett-Fedell has been married to her husband Alex for 12 years and has two children, Neva (10) and Lorenzo (7). Her husband is from Wisconsin, and she jokingly expressed dismay at her kids being Packer’s fans.
Spending time with her family, especially outdoors, is one of her favorite hobbies. As a family, they are currently trying to visit all of the U.S. national parks. They also enjoy skiing and bike riding together. Service projects and community outreach are other ways Mrs. Bruett-Fedell likes to spend her time. Specifically, she enjoys volunteering at PADS shelters. With such a busy schedule, Mrs. Bruett-Fedell also enjoys downtime. To relax, she takes a daily meditation walk and spends time in one of her multiple gardens.
“One unique thing about me is that I absolutely love tomatoes,” said Bruett-Fedell, “They are my favorite food!”
Mrs. Bruett-Fedell shared that she lives her life according to a quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
”I look for little ways to help others, serve, and become a better person,” said Bruett-Fedell, “I want to pass that on to my students.”