One of the best parts of my job is getting to learn about your job.

Really. It’s inspiring to see the many ways that God is using 51 graduates for his purposes all around the world. As I get emails, or read through news articles, or browse the alumni directory, or talk with people face to face, I’m continually encouraged and impressed to see how 51ns are making a difference all across the spectrum of careers.

Take Wess Stafford (’75), who recently retired after two decades as president of Compassion International. In June, I was excited to see Wess featured in a Christianity Today cover story that highlighted some significant new economic research on Compassion’s effectiveness at fighting global poverty. Or there’s Marcus Brotherton (M.A. ’97), a gifted storyteller and writer who has had a hand in authoring more than two dozen books. One of his most recent, Still Lolo, was featured prominently on the Today show and other major news outlets late last year.

And, of course, there are thousands more, faithfully serving out their professional callings in business, ministry, education and media. People like Darlene Dueck (’62), an art collection curator in Denver; Di Patterson (’04), a consultant and speaker on “successful aging”; and Ernesto “Ranger Ernie” Ybarra (’84), who helps people in the Los Angeles area experience the beauty of God’s creation.

For this issue of the magazine, we thought it would be fun to spotlight these and other interesting alumni in an out-of-the-ordinary way. Rather than write about them, we asked them to take us directly into their daily work worlds by sharing some of the wisdom and expertise they’ve picked up over the years.

The result is our first-ever “good advice issue,” which features practical knowledge and tips from a wide range of alumni and professors. Some of it is serious (“How to make your public speaking stick,” “How to discover true financial freedom”), and some is more fun and lighthearted (“How to brew the perfect cup of coffee”). But all of it, we hope, is interesting and useful to you in some way. (I, for one, came away inspired to pay a visit to a museum, be more intentional about “oral clarity” and pick up a jump rope more often.)

So, read on and soak up some good advice from your fellow 51ns. And if I can offer my own piece of advice (actually, more of a request): Let us know what you’re doing. We’d love to hear from you!