Joe Bolinger’ s life has taken several turns, but the constant rhythm through it all has been his love of his Brown County roots and his banjo.
Bolinger graduated from Brown County High School in 1999. The recipient of the Brown County Community Foundation Lilly Scholarship, Bolinger set out for Earlham College, where he double majored in philosophy and religion. After graduating from Earlham in 2003, he enrolled in divinity school with the Unitarian Universalist church.
“ I was interested in becoming a pastor, but I soon decided that I wanted to pursue politics instead,” he said.“ I wanted to work on policy from behind the scenes, not as a politician.”
In 2007, he graduated from Indiana University’ s Master’ s of Public Affairs program, but still was unsure of his future.
“ While in the master’ s program, I realized that I really liked research, solving problems, learning new things and writing— all things that photo by Paige Langenderfer
Joe Bolinger
~ by Paige Langenderfer
The Lean and the Plenty: Joe on banjo, Eric Fritz, drums, Dakota Curtis, guitar, and Ian Ottinger, upright base. Not pictured: Andrew Van Nieuwenhze and Devin Brown. a professor does,” he said.“ So, I started working on my Ph. D. so that I could become a professor.”
In December 2016, Bolinger graduated with his doctorate degree in U. S. social welfare policy. His dissertation focused on government housing vouchers. And while he was adequately educated to take on a life of professorship, Bolinger realized that the lifestyle was not what he was looking for.
“ To get a job as a professor, you really have to follow the job where it takes you,” he said.“ You don’ t get to choose where you end up, and I wanted to stay near Brown County to be close to my girlfriend, my family and friends, and my bands.”
20 Our Brown County Sept./ Oct. 2017