Having grown up with a Catholic education and a strong sense of community, Liz felt that the Lewis Mission was a true reflection of her personal values and beliefs from the moment she stepped foot on campus.
“It was the perfect fit for me! I was a few classes away from earning my associate degree
somewhere else; however, I took the risk and jumped into the Radio-TV
Broadcasting program right away, because Lewis truly felt like home,” said Liz.
Although
she was a transfer student and only spent a few semesters on campus, Liz
quickly became involved on campus. This motivation to get involved was fueled
by her eagerness to strengthen her spirituality and her drive to create change.
Liz was an active member of University Ministry, through which she traveled to
the Philippines and participated in several retreats. She also was a member of
the Black Student Union, worked for Lewis University Police Department, served
as the Promotions Director for WLRA, and was the Executive Producer of Lewis
Life – a segment for LUTN that highlighted students across campus.
Liz
felt supported by so many members of the Lewis community, which only served as
affirmation that she was in the right place. She had many unique experiences
and opportunities at Lewis that not only allowed – but also encouraged – her to
learn, grow, and explore. One in particular was the day she was invited to
participate in the Faith Behind Bars service-learning course with Dr.
Christie Billups in order to capture some highlights for a Lewis Life
segment.
“Being
a part of that class really opened my eyes and put things into perspective for
me,” Liz said. “It really brought the Mission to life and allowed me to see
that we have a personal and social responsibility to respect one another. I was
able to connect with these inmates, listen to their stories, and realize that
no matter what their past looks like, they are human beings and should be
treated as such.”
This
class and other community-based experiences were just the beginning for Liz. “I
am just getting started! I want to stay at Lewis and do more – make a bigger
impact.”
And
she is doing just that! Liz graduated from Lewis and recently accepted a
position to work as a graduate assistant in the Office of Community Engaged
Learning while pursuing her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.
“Being
part of the Lewis community, and the Lasallian network as a whole, has been a
great opportunity for me. One that I never went looking for, but one that had
been looking for me. I feel like this is the path I was meant to be on. I treat
the Lewis Mission as a personal guideline and use it as a foundation in all
that I do. I know I can make a difference in the world, and Lewis is giving me
a chance to continue to do that starting right here on campus.”
