By Christi Mays
When Dannah Fritschle ’22 blew out her knee playing soccer her sophomore year of high school, the full-ride scholarships she was offered from several DI schools vanished. But this devastating turn of events led her to UMHB, where she eventually discovered a new degree that proved perfect for her future career — the Bachelor of Transformational Development.
Dannah, who grew up watching her mother work at a nonprofit, spent much time in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. As a young girl, the work and progress she witnessed in those countries deeply impacted her, and she dreamed of one day becoming a missionary. There was only one part of that career path that dissuaded her.
“I don’t want to be the stereotypical missionary and have to fundraise my whole life,” she explained. “I want to work and do ministry. My achiever mindset actually wants to have a day-in, day-out job and structure to my life.”
Determined to find a way to do both, Dannah decided the best route in college was to double-major in business and Christian studies.
One afternoon while discussing this plan with a friend, Madeline Hill, Madeline quizzically looked at Dannah and asked, “Have you heard about my major, transformational development? It’s literally half Christian studies and half business!”
“It was kind of like an awestruck moment of realizing the Lord’s faithfulness,” Dannah said.
