Profiles of Leadership

Karina Christiansen
Hometown: Somers, NY
Class Year: 2007
Major: History (Economics minor)

Loyola Honors: Member of the Honors Program; Dean's List; Alpha Sigma Nu- Jesuit Honors Society

Loyola Activities: JUSTICE Club President; Student Coordinator for the Ignatian Family Teach-In; Student Coordinator for Adult Education at CCSJ; Organizer of a weekly peace stand on Charles Street; Green and Grey Society; Club Ultimate Frisbee Encounter; El Salvador team 2007

What have you found most rewarding about your involvement/experience at Loyola? The opportunities and support I have found through the Center for Community Service and Justice have been the most rewarding experiences in my four years at Loyola. As a member of the JUSTICE club, I have stood for peace on Loyola's campus, marched in Washington D.C. with tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators and protested at the gates of the School of the America's. As a CCSJ volunteer and Service Coordinator, I have been exposed to justice issues in Baltimore such as inadequate housing and illiteracy, and I experienced direct service with people who are marginalized in this society. Through CCSJ, I will travel to El Salvador after graduation to hear the stories of the people and see firsthand how they are organizing their society in sustainable and innovative ways. These experiences have been as instructive as any of my classes in developing my intellect, character and expectations of my future career and lifestyle.

James Porter
Hometown: Malverne, NY
Class Year: 2007
Major: Sociology (Music minor)

Honors/Awards at Loyola: Deans List; Alpha Sigma Nu; Alpha Kappa Delta; Honors Program

Activities at Loyola: Campus Ministry Intern (Connections Pre-Orientation Coordinator and CCSJ Liaison); Spring Break Outreach; FE100 Teacher; Green and Grey Society; Loyola College Chapel Choir; Loyola College Chimes; Loyola College Chorale; Loyola College Madrigals; Evergreen Players; Spotlight Players

What have you found most rewarding about your involvement/experience at Loyola? Two words sum up my involvement at Loyola - friendship and opportunity. Through organizations like Campus Ministry, I have met people who shared the same values, faith and passion for life as me. My closest relationships at Loyola have been with people who are also involved in Campus Ministry. The other organizations to which I am affiliated have allowed me to partake in activities that I genuinely enjoy doing and have allowed me to find groups of people who felt the same way about things like singing or acting. Being involved at Loyola has been the best thing to happen to me. The opportunities I’ve been afforded have also made an impression on my life at Loyola. I have had the opportunity to lead freshmen during their first week at Loyola, serve meals at an outreach program, help rebuild New Orleans and educate others about social justice issues. All of these things have helped me grow as a person, a leader and even as a professional ready to enter the "real world." I learned a lot in classes, but it was what I learned outside of the classroom that I have found to be most valuable.

Teresa Beilstein
Hometown: Simsbury, CT
Class Year: 2007
Major: Economics

Honors/Awards at Loyola: Alpha Sigma Nu; Omicron Delta Epsilon; Green and Grey Society; Dean's List

Activities at Loyola: Evergreens; Campus Ministry Intern; College Board on Discipline; Orientation Advisory Board

What have you found most rewarding about your involvement/experience at Loyola? Throughout my four years at Loyola, I have had many wonderful and meaningful experiences, but in all of these, the most rewarding element has been the people I have met. The professors, staff, administrators and fellow students I have known have shaped my Loyola experience, and each one inspires me to constantly improve. I have been very blessed to be surrounded by such intelligent, caring and passionate people at Loyola.

Chelsea M. Dodd
Hometown: Riva, MD
Class Year: Junior
Major: Education

Honors/Awards at Loyola: Presidential Scholarship; Gratis Award 2003-2004; Spoke at DSS Awareness Meeting; Emerging Women Leaders Conference Nominee

Activities at Loyola: Collegium; Koinonia Discussion Group Member; Emerging Women Leaders Conference Attendee; Sophomore Initiatives RoadTrip Program Participant and Student Leader; Greyhound Staff Writer; Women’s Meet and Eat; Roots and Shoots Member; Teacher Education Program Member; Service Learning Classroom Assistant at Guilford Elementary/Middle School; Classroom Tutor at Mother Seton Academy; After-School Team Teacher at St. Katherine’s School; Education Society Member; St. Mary’s Year of the City Volunteer Program Teacher’s Assistant

What have you found most rewarding about your involvement/experience at Loyola? The things that are most rewarding to me are those things that bring me joy. One thing that I particularly have enjoyed here at Loyola is Service Learning. Every semester, an education major has a service learning component attached to one class. To fulfill this component, the student must spend a certain amount of time working at schools or other centers of learning in the surrounding community. One day last semester I was at Mother Seton Academy tutoring a young boy. The time came when I had to leave. As I was saying goodbye, I apologized for leaving him in the middle of our lesson. The young boy said, "Oh no, Miss Chelsea, that’s okay, now I understand this and this and this," pointing at the different sections we had worked on his workbook. His eyes danced with pride. Through this service learning experience and by proxy through Loyola College I have been able to make connections with those that are the most in need, the children of Baltimore City. I plan to pursue a career in elementary education in this area.