Collaborating to eradicate disease through scholarship and community serviceInnovating to educate both the minds and hearts of students

John Brahier ’14

Educator and Director of Campus Ministry, Divine Child High School

MAJORS: MATHEMATICS | SUPPLEMENTAL MAJOR: THEOLOGY

As a high school educator and campus minister, John Brahier ’14 has dedicated his career to educating the hearts and minds of young people, inspiring his students to practice their faith in open and meaningful ways. Upon graduation from Notre Dame, Brahier — a math major with a supplemental major in theology— returned to his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, to teach math at St. Ursula Academy while also earning his masters in educational leadership and administration from Bowling Green State University. After four years of teaching theology, he is currently the Director of Campus Ministry at Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan, where he strives to meet the daily needs of students, staff, and families.

Brahier’s innovation in providing multiple methods of engagement for his students is evident in the countless lesson plans and multimedia projects he has created. His commitment to teaching students that ethics and faith can have a real-world impact on math and statistics even earned him recognition from Notre Dame in 2020. As part of the Teaching Human Dignity Contest sponsored by the McGrath Institute for Church Life, Brahier won first place for his full unit of lesson plans covering China’s “one-child policy,” which was in effect from 1979-2015. His lessons urged students to think beyond statistics and consider how historical, ethical, moral, and religious factors affect modern-day issues. In 2021 and in his new role as Director of Campus Ministry, he helped students launch “The Godcast,” a podcast that provides theological conversation-starters between parents and children, and empowers students to discuss challenging Catholic teachings. Brahier also recently started a project — The Fides Et Ratio Project, that seeks to provide formation and curricular resources to educators who hope to integrate faith more authentically into their content areas. 

Outside of the classroom, Brahier has established close relationships with Divine Child’s pastor and two priests to collaborate on retreats and student leadership opportunities. In addition to these endeavors, Brahier works closely with students who need additional academic support, intentionally structuring and guiding them to develop their gifts and talents.