Marci Corea: APF University Chapter Coordinator

I am very happy to announce that Marci Corea has come on board as the new APF University Chapter Coordinator. This position's role is "to promote the Fellowship and its mission on college and university campuses. This includes supporting existing chapters as well as encouraging the formation of new chapters on Adventist and public campuses."

To help you get to know Marci a bit, here is a brief interview with her:

Jeff: What issues are you especially interested in?

Marci: As a student, my interests were very diverse. Something I really appreciated about my education at Southern was that it covered such a wide range of topics in the realm of human rights, international development, social justice, international relations, and missions. Issues that have really taken hold in my heart, though, include fair labor practices, human trafficking, and the refugee crisis/immigration. God has repeatedly drawn me to these topics over and over in my studies and personal experiences! 

Jeff: What is your academic background and future?

Marci: I have a Bachelor's of Arts in Global Policy and Service Studies with a minor in Nonprofit Management from Southern Adventist University. This was a brand new program when I was coming into the school and my classmates were among some of the first graduates of the major. As I mentioned previously, this was a hybrid degree that included classes from a large range of specialties. Personally, I focused on the nonprofit and policy side of things and find myself pursuing a career in that direction. In the Fall I will begin a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University, and I can't wait to see what that chapter holds!

Jeff: You were instrumental in starting an action-oriented student group at Southern. Tell me about this group and your involvement with it.

Marci: My first year at Southern, there were a very small number of students in the Global Policy and Service (GPS) program. We knew that we wanted to have representation on campus as a community of globally-minded, mission-oriented, justice-focused students, but we did not feel that we fit in 100% with any other student group on campus at the time. So we founded the GPS Club. It started with just about 5 students but grew to a community of nearly 40 students by the time I graduated. We hosted monthly lectures called "GPS Talks," where missionaries, policy and nonprofit professionals, volunteers, and pastors shared their experiences and gave advice on how to work in various fields. We also hosted weekly community service projects and even a few trips to hear influential speakers or visit dynamic sites, such as the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

Jeff: What are some of your other relevant experiences that you bring to this position?

Marci: I was privileged to work very closely with many student organizations at Southern and even other schools, which gave me an idea for how to motivate and organize teams. Interning for a refugee resettlement agency while in college gave a whole new face to the current discussion we are having on refugees in politics today. Additionally, I have been blessed to have travelled and studied with people from all over the world, giving me a diverse perspective on many issues. 

Jeff: If someone is thinking about starting an APF student group, what would you tell them?

Marci: Look around. See what others are doing first. Collaboration is key. As a leader in the GPS Club, one of my favorite and most important tasks was organizing students and community organizations to collaborate. So often, we as passionate people get so focused on our mission that we forget to look up and seek help or the advice from others who may have gone before us or are even working on similar projects! When we collaborate, we are able to pull our various experiences and connections to get more done. After this, evaluate resources. And lastly, but certainly not least, make sure to set up a plan for sustainability! Students are often known for their excitement but lack of follow-through. Don't let that be true for your student group!

Welcome to the team, Marci!

If you would like to get in touch with Marci, please use our Contact Form.