Get to know your Commuter Coordinators
If you’ve been to any of our development events there’s a chance you’ve already met our team of Commuter Coordinators. The team of coordinators consist of Juliana Peterson, Derartu Berrios, and Cade Shipman.
Here is what a Commuter Coordinator is in the words of one of the team members. “In short, a Commuter Coordinator helps to foster an environment for commuters to grow and develop in different areas of their life and to celebrate their time at Liberty! This can look like a 1 on 1 meeting with Coordinators, a development event such as Commuter Life Hacks, or movie and game nights” Derartu said.
Read through the tabs below to get to know a little more about each of the Coordinators.
Where do you call home? – “Richmond VA”
What year are you? – “First year of my grad program”
Describe yourself – “Well my friends would say I am kind, joyful, wise, youthful, and goofy.”
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? – “I love listening to music, building relationships through quality time with friends, cooking or baking gluten-free recipes, and going on walks.”
What made you want to be a Coordinator? – “After working in the Commuter Lounge for 2 years and seeing students day in and day out I noticed a consensus of feeling lonely after they leave campus. As much as the independence and freedom of your own home can be rewarding it can also be isolating. There are not as many opportunities where students are touched outside of the classroom. Once this position opened up my heart was already headed towards giving students a place where they belong and giving them someone to see and hear them. I wanted to work to help celebrate them and help them move towards their next phase of life.”
What event are you looking forward to most? – “Finding you Calling. I look forward to seeing how the guest speaker will help our students and team to better understand our career paths, passions, and skill sets.”
Why should students get connected if they haven’t already? – “If a student genuinely needs connection due to feelings of loneliness or isolation for whatever reason we are here to provide companionship and connect with you. We can help point you toward others to help you plant your roots in a community.”
Advice to commuters – “Run hard. Don’t waste your time in college. Be intentional with how you use your time. Spending time well doesn’t mean filling it completely, it includes rest. Prioritizing rest and time with Jesus is vital for you.”
Where do you call home? – “Los Angeles, CA”
What year are you? – “Junior in my undergrad”
Describe yourself – “I would say I am creative, chatty, approachable, and very much a people person.”
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? – “I love being outside, exploring new places, going on road trips, traveling, and working on DIY projects around the house.”
What made you want to be a Coordinator? – “It was definitely the people element. I love connecting with people and being involved in all the events. My passion is being able to create opportunities for students to get connected with one another. Even as a resident student, there were times of feeling disconnected that helped lead me to want to help others.”
What event are you looking forward to most? – “It would either be exploring the Natural Caverns or the Auto 101 workshop.”
Why should students get connected if they haven’t already? – “A lot of students don’t realize what events or resources we have. By them connecting they will realize what all we have to offer.”
Advice to commuters – “My advice is for them to come out to our events. We see a lot of people who connect with each other at these events. It can be a leap of faith not knowing what to expect out of the event, but I encourage you to go out on a limb and trust the outcome.”
Where do you call home? – “Born in Ethiopia, but grew up in Orlando, FL.”
What year are you? – “First year of my Grad school.”
Describe yourself – “I would describe myself as reliable and empathetic. I value deep relationships and authenticity.”
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? – “I enjoy having friends over my house and hosting get-togethers. I try to stay active and get fresh air when it is sunny. A friend of mine has the cutest dog, and I love taking the dog for walks and hanging out with my roommates.”
What made you want to be a Coordinator? – “I was an RA for two years on campus in my undergrad, and I loved it. A friend told me about the position and I realized there was a gap in serving and engaging commuter students. I wanted to be a part of the team that serves and develops new programs for commuter students.”
What event are you looking forward to most? – “I am most excited about the tavern cave exploration day. It’ll be a unique experience.”
Why should students get connected if they haven’t already? – “I truly care and value a connection with those I interact with, and I want to see the students I serve succeed. I will do my best to walk alongside them in their time as commuters. I love listening to other people’s stories, sharing a laugh, and encouraging others in their seasons of transition. Whether it’s becoming a commuter or life beyond Liberty for seniors!”
Advice to commuters – “The semester is in full swing now! I recognize that in life it can get busy quickly and it doesn’t seem like there is enough time to finish tasks. Even in the midst of the hustle and bustle, I encourage you to surround yourself with believers who will uplift you and encourage you! Share how you are truly doing and ask for help and prayer. Know that you are not alone. I will be happy to pray for you or help you get the necessary resources!”