GRC Celebrates 25 Years: Spotlight on Teresa Mithen

GRC Alumna Gives Back, Leads and Enriches the Community Pastor Teresa Mithen recently came to GRC’s attention when she referred a child from her parish for a GRC Learning Lab. “I want other children, particularly my parishioners, to have the same kind of creative learning experiences I did at GRC,” she said. “I wish all parents knew how well GRC programs cultivate children’s love of learning and provide the type of creative, imaginative programs and stimulation that intelligent children care about, yet are often unable to access in their regular educational environments.” Mithen attended GRC’s Space Academy and Ancient Academy from 1983-1990. She also attended Learning Lab classes on Saturdays during the school year in Chemistry and Geology. She began volunteering with GRC’s Summer Academies after ninth grade because she wanted to help other gifted children have the same stimulating, hands-on opportunities that she had experienced. “At a time in my life when I was academically bored and socially ostracized at my public elementary school, GRC programs offered me both academic and intellectual stimulation, as well as a group of friends and peers who shared my love of learning,” Mithen said. Her mother, Dr. Phyllis Jacobson Mithen, PhD, with a doctorate degree from St. Louis University, was determined to find an environment that would nurture her daughter’s strengths. GRC experiences nurtured her love of learning. “I especially loved Ancient Academy—learning about different early societies such as Greece, Rome, Egypt, Medieval Europe, staging choreographed sword fighting, and making crafts such as Egyptian senet games, costumes, jewelry and wooden swords,” she said. These GRC experiences eventually helped influence Mithen’s career choices. “My love of history has continued throughout my life,” she said. “At Yale, I majored in history. My studies and my thesis focused on the experience of Women in the Medieval Christian Church. To relax, I read historical fiction. Currently, I am reading Phillipa Gregory’s novels about the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. No doubt, I am sure that GRC played a major role in cultivating my love of history.” Mithen is a graduate of Crossroads School, Yale College (B.A., History,) the University of Chicago (M.P.P.) and the General Theological Seminary (M.Div.,) and is currently working on a doctor of ministry degree. Since she returned to St. Louis in June of 2004, Mithen has served as pastor of Saint John’s Episcopal Church in south St. Louis and as the priest in charge of the Episcopal Campus Ministry at St. Louis University. She is also the Faith Committee Co-Chair for the St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice program and an Associate for the Order of St. Helena. “We are very proud of Pastor Teresa’s achievements,” said GRC Executive Director Susan Flesch. “She is an outstanding example of how GRC programs meet the academic and social needs of gifted students who will, as adults, make significant contributions to the entire community. We especially appreciate Teresa’s efforts to ‘spread the word’ about GRC programs to young people with whom she has contact in her role as a pastor.” For more information regarding Gifted Resource Council, please call the GRC office at 314-962-5920 or e-mail us at: info@giftedresourcecouncil.org.		About GRC Board of Directors Sponsors Become a Member Mark Your Calendar mindwonders Celebrating 25 Years!