This novel of ideas describes change in the lives of a student, Jessie Adamson and her faculty, Dr. Sophie Green, as well as to their innovative graduate program. Moving through the program, Jessie overcomes obstacles and faces tragic life events to discover meaning and fulfillment. Sophie, facing retirement, reflects upon her long teaching career and mulls over the state of education in the United States. The program, designed to place students first in their own educational journeys and guided by committed, energetic but beleaguered faculty, is wrenched out of shape by self-serving administrators. While competing forces merge into a perfect storm of faculty conflict with administration, the program demonstrates its transformative power through the relationship between Jessie and Sophie, the power of their learning community, and the effects of the program's distinctive design on the lives of learners.