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Featured Alumni

See what some of our grads have to say about the PACS program and its influence on their careers today:

 

Ally Austen is the Resettlement Case Manager at Church World Service, Harrisburg

After graduating from Messiah, Ally spent about five months traveling the states and, not long after, found herself back in Pennsylvania starting a job with CWS Harrisburg as a Resettlement Case Manager. Her job entails welcoming refugees to the US, providing guidance in all areas such as cultural orientation, safety, public benefits, medical appointments, etc., and helping to grow in self-sufficiency throughout their first three months in the US. 

"I believe PACS could not have been the more perfect major to prepare me for the type of life and career I want to lead. I learned how to genuinely and intentionally engage with the people and world around me, all within the lens of thinking, "how can I help make the world a better place?”. PACS encouraged me to thoroughly examine my values and the values of the world around me, equipping me to feel capable of creating sustainable change wherever I went. Having PACS as a major was one of the few things I was 100% sure about throughout my four years at Messiah. The broad applicability of the classes I took and topics we covered meant I could take my education almost anywhere and know it would benefit me"

Galen is a Legislative Associate at Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

"My PACS major set me up perfectly for a successful career in the faith-based advocacy space. A strong theological and historical foundation were crucial to my formation, as were development of my writing and critical thinking skills. As a PACS major, I also learned to be more culturally aware, which has served me well as I've traveled in my current position. Not to mention the relationships I made that will last a lifetime. I could not be more pleased with my PACS major and the way that it prepared me to be an advocate for peace and justice."

 

Hosana is currently working as a coach at an English coaching business in Osaka, Japan. There she works with business people who want to achieve higher English proficiency in a short amount of time.

"PACS was a dream major! PACS provided various courses and discussions that I had dreamed of participating, in fields like theology, history, and social work. I also got introduced to new fields such as refugee work, grief care, and restorative justice (PACS allows you to explore different areas!). During my time as a PACS student, I encountered my life motto: Imago Dei. It means "image of God." This idea has been the greatest gift in my life, shaping who I am as a peacemaker today. Humans disagree on so many things, and it is heartbreaking to see the world in division, hatred, and pain. However, I find hope in people who choose to see God 's face in each person, showing deep respect and love to their neighbors regardless of differences and disagreements. See God in people around you, wherever you are (customer service, classroom, etc)!"

Madison works as a Housing Development Assistant, SOME (So Others Might Eat) in Washington D.C.

"Being a PACS major intersected my passions and call for justice with academic work. My interest in the Middle East led me to spend a semester abroad in Amman, Jordan. My curiosity of urban development provided opportunity to live and learn intentionally in a city for credit! These experiences and supplemental coursework, allowed me to be energized during my post-graduation job search because I was confident in my education and ability to carry to the core pillars of the PACS program into any work environment."

Luiza is the Associate Director of Conflict Resolution at Colorado State Univeristy 

As a first-generation college student, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies at Messiah University as one of the first cohorts of PACS students. She went on to earn her Master of Philosophy in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation from Trinity College of Dublin while living and serving in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In her current position, she helps students build skills and navigate interpersonal conflicts. Luiza’s work within conflict has centered around using storytelling to uplift human dignity in times where individuals are devalued, unheard, or marginalized. She also has a passion for food justice; unpacking the ways in which violence can be perpetuated through food systems and exploring how peace can be cultivated starting with the seeds we plant all the way through meals shared at our tables. Luiza continues to study and refine her practices, presently studying to incorporate trauma-informed approaches alongside resilience building practices.

 

 

Kyle is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations/Special Advisor to the Executive Director at Churches for Middle East Peace

Kyle holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from Messiah College, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Kyle was first introduced to Middle East advocacy work during a semester abroad in Cairo, Egypt. After graduating from college, Kyle spent 10 months serving with the Mennonite Central Committee in Bethlehem, Palestine, where he was seconded to work with Bethlehem Bible College. Most recently, Kyle served as the Program Assistant for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on Legislation where he helped coordinate lobbying work on Middle East policy and trained grassroots advocates on how to lobby their Congressional representatives.