From Chicago suburb to Greenville’s campus, Zoe Barnes Finds Her Place in the Saddle

Published: September 18, 2026

Author: Liz Dowell

When Zoe Barnes and her father stopped at Greenville University’s table during a college fair, one detail immediately caught their attention.

“My dad looks down at the table and goes, ‘Oh, horses!’” Barnes recalled. “And I’m like, ‘Yes, I’m listening.’”

For Barnes, a longtime animal lover from Zion, Illinois, the horses gave her another reason to consider Greenville — and eventually became part of a college experience she never expected.

It was as if her calling had found its way to GU. The equestrian program opened up an opportunity that helped her realize that the Christian college was the place she wanted to call home.

Located between Chicago and Milwaukee, Zion offered Barnes some opportunities to work with horses, but not the everyday exposure common in more rural communities.

She grew up reading horse books. Near her hometown, she participated in a monthly EquiScouts program, a free horse-exposure program. It focused on exposing kids to the horse world and horse-related activities but was not intended to include actual riding. Students bathe horses, take them out to graze, or learn about horse anatomy.

Barns eventually signed up for riding lessons separate from the EquiScouts, but COVID-19 shut them down.

Barnes first heard about Greenville through her piano teacher, who encouraged her to consider the University’s music program. Although music was not the path Barnes wanted, GU’s available scholarships and hands-on equine opportunities convinced her to apply.

She initially enrolled at Wheaton College, closer to home, but transferred to Greenville. Moving from college an hour from home to one five hours away meant leaving close friends just before the birth of her first nephew.

The transition was difficult, but the horses that first caught her attention helped Barnes begin to find her place.

“When I was around the horses, I got some of the therapeutic benefits of being around them, too,” she said. “It was like, I can be here without the drama. I can just be with the animals.”

Now entering her junior year, Barnes majors in elementary education and minors in equine-assisted services. Through the equine program, she is learning how horses can support emotional healing, build confidence, and meet other therapeutic goals.

The program has also pushed Barnes beyond the traditional classroom environment where she typically thrives. She credits Professor Liz Bays with integrating science, writing, and practical horsemanship in ways that have expanded how Barnes approaches education.

“I got to see a whole new side of learning and challenged myself in a completely different way,” Barnes said. “It was much more challenging than a classroom for me, and I enjoyed that.”

“Zoe embodies the character trait of perseverance. Her desire to learn and develop her skills is evident by how she tackles challenges, asks questions, and gives 100%,” said Bays. “No matter the obstacle, she perseveres. The biblical interpretation of perseverance means more than just enduring; it is finishing well while keeping a good attitude in the process.”

“Zoe works hard to be a good model for this in all she does,” she added.

Her move from the Chicago area has also given Barnes a broader perspective she can carry into her future classroom. She hopes to teach middle elementary grades, particularly students beginning to explore science and mathematics.

“It’s easy up in Chicago to think that all of Illinois looks like that,” she said. “It’s really eye-opening to go somewhere more rural, see the bigger picture and see how much of Illinois is different from our one little corner.”

At Greenville, Barnes has found room for academics, work, and faith. Without a car, she can walk to her job, church, and nearby stores. She has also developed relationships with professors who recognize when she may need support.

For the Chicago-area student who worries Greenville is too small, Barnes believes its size offers something valuable.

“You get to know your professors better,” she said. “They know you, and it makes it so much easier to ask for help.”

What began with two words—“Oh, horses!”—has become an opportunity for Barnes to rediscover an old passion, experience a new community, and prepare to serve students with a broader understanding of the world they call home.