Get to know the Peer Ministers!
Akosuah Agyei
I’m a senior here at CNR
and am majoring in Chemistry and Biology. I am also in the Honors Program. Besides
Peer Ministry, I am a Resident Assistant, a member of SAMS, and I serve as president of CNR's Model UN.
This is my second year as a Peer Minister. With guidance from Campus Ministry,
I have been able to strengthen my faith in Christ. Being a peer minister has
been and will continue to be a blessing for me because I am given the
opportunity to serve others. I hope to be able to touch the lives of
others so that they may know of Christ's love for us all. One of my favorite activities
is the Midnight Run where we bring clothing and food to the homeless on the
streets of Manhattan. I also had a transformative experience this past
summer when I “plunged” in the West Virginia Appalachians during a Service
Trip helping coordinate a summer camp for 10 year-old girls. I hope to see you
in Campus Ministry, at our events, or around campus!
Angelique Avin
I am a sophomore at the College. I am double
majoring in Biology and French, with a minor in International Studies. Besides
Peer Ministry, I play Basketball and Softball. In the little free time that I
have, I enjoy listening to music, reading random things about science and the
world around us, and exercising. Being taught the Catholic LaSallian tradition as
a student at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, I’ve come to
understand the importance of service as an integral part of my faith. I
volunteered at veteran’s hospitals, soup kitchens, daycare facilities, and safe
houses. With CNR Campus Ministry, I am able to continue living my faith by
being of service to others. I hope you’ll be able to volunteer with one of the
many opportunities organized by Campus Ministry here at CNR!
Julissa Daboin
I am currently a sophomore
in the School of Nursing. This year, I am the treasurer of WILDE. When I am not
studying, I spend time with my family. I live right around the corner in
Yonkers. I graduated from Sacred Heart High School. I became involved with
Campus Ministry last year by taking part in the Hunger Banquet and Midnight
Runs. This is my first year as a Peer Minister, giving me opportunities to encounter
people I would have otherwise never met. I have to budget my time wisely, but
taking time for prayer is an important part of my daily schedule. As a Peer
Minister, I take part in Spiritual Direction with the Campus Ministry
professional staff. These meetings have deepened my faith life. Feel free to
ask me any questions about being a Peer Minister, a commuter, or a nursing
student!
Denise Dailey
I
am originally from the Commonwealth of Dominica. I moved to the New York in
2009. I first came to CNR during one of Enrollment Management’s Café Friday
events. Currently, I am a Junior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Biology
and I commute daily from home. The most important parts of my life are my
family, my relationship with God, and my education. This is my first year as a
Peer Minister. I wanted to become a Peer Minister because I like working
closely with Campus Ministry and their mission. It gives me the opportunity to
talk freely about my spirituality and to deepen my relationship with God. For
fun, I write poetry, sing in the CNR Gospel Choir, dance, and spend time with
my family. Much of my spare time on campus is spent either in the Campus
Ministry office or in the Chemistry lab. Feel free to say “hi” if you see me
around campus!
Jazmin Davis
I am a senior nursing student here at CNR. I was born
in a small town in North Carolina but was raised and attended school here in
New York. I chose to attend CNR because of the size and intimacy of the College.
I appreciate the fact that my teachers know me as a person and not as a number.
I was also interested in the fact that the nursing program has a good
reputation. This year, I am a mentor for sophomore and junior nursing students.
This is my second year being a Peer Minister. I serve as a Eucharistic minister
at the masses held at the chapel here on the New Rochelle campus. I became a
peer minister because there was a time when I wanted to deepen my faith and
improve my relationship with God. I knew that Campus Ministry would guide me in
that journey and it still does! I also wanted to have the opportunity to share
my faith and help others do the same. I am a resident so much of my time is
spent on campus. I am available to anyone who wants talk or learn more about Campus
Ministry!
Juana Karina Hernandez
I’m Juana but you can call me Karina. I’m from
Mt. Vernon. My major is Psychology with certification in elementary and
early childhood education. I hope to eventually earn a Master’s degree in K-6th
Grade education. I was involved at my home church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I taught
in the Sunday school program and was an altar server for 12 years. I love volunteering
at elementary schools. Besides being involved with Campus Ministry, I am a
new member of LAWs. I
became a peer minister because it allows me to help other students grow
spiritually. The idea of being able to engage people in my age group who
share a similar spiritual path is very important to me. My
relationship with God has definitely grown over the years, but I also
realize that I have so much more to learn. With the help of Campus Ministry’s
spiritual leadership, I will continue to deepen my faith.
Hellen Konyango SAS '11
I'm originally from Nairobi, Kenya. I am a
Graduate student at CNR majoring in Communication Studies. As an undergraduate student
at CNR (class of 2011), I majored in International Studies and Communication
Arts. I became a peer minister
because I wanted to work with Campus Ministry and take part in community
service projects. I see serving others as a way of deepening my relationship
and commitment to God. After graduation, I hope to spend a year
volunteering with a non-profit organization in a developing country. I enjoy working with other
students who have taken time to participate in the Midnight Runs and the Plunge
Service Trips in the U.S and abroad. I also love the events that focus on
social justice such as the Hunger Banquet, the Sleep Out and Stuck in Traffick.
Besides Campus Ministry, I am also involved with CNR’s Model United
Nations, the school newspaper, Tatler, and the Wellness Coaches. In my
spare time, I’ve edited two videos for Campus Ministry about the Plunge Service
Trips to New Orleans and Ecuador. Please check them out on the Campus Ministry
web site. I hope to see you at Campus Ministry or during our events on campus!
Praniece Little
My
mother would say that I was born twenty-three years ago with a pen and Bible in
my hand. I agree since my relationship with God and writing has become a
crucial part of my life. I am currently a junior Psychology major with a minor
in Religious Studies. I seek to live fully, to laugh and to love in all that I
do. At six years old, I held a children’s Bible study in my backyard for all of
my friends and practiced sermons in my grandmother’s long closet mirror. Later
on, it hit me that those days of playful ministry would instead become my
life’s ministry. This is my second year as a peer minister, and I have loved
every minute of it. I have grown spiritually with all of my peer ministry
family as well as with our spiritual directors. I hope to continue God’s work
in Campus Ministry through Midnight Runs, our Prayer, Reflection & Fellowship
Group, and just by being here to talk with anyone in need. As my grandmother
says, “I love you, you, and especially YOU!”
James
E. Lott
Peace and blessing! I am currently a sophomore at the School of New Resources here at the main campus. I am a social science major. I am also a combat veteran of the U. S. Army. The love and support Campus Ministry has shown me has given me a renewed sense of camaraderie to serve my campus, my community, and my God in a different capacity! When I’m not on campus, I am usually helping out veterans at the Veteran Affairs, speaking to them about making better health conscience decisions for their lives. I started participating in Midnight runs last semester. Going out into the community and making an impact delivering food and clothes to the homeless has ignited a fire in my heart to better serve God and my community. It is essential to not just be hearers of the word, but also doers of it as well. Feel free to ask me about any opportunities Campus Ministries has to offer.
Mariyum Luqman
I
am currently a junior with a double major in Chemistry and Education. As I
started my first semester at CNR, I felt somewhat disconnected from people, my
faith, and anything that wasn't my school work. My close friend, who was a Peer
Minister, advised me to check out Campus Ministry’s offerings. She was always
so happy and amazed when she talked about being a Peer Minister. She took me to
my first visit and it left a lasting impression on me. Everyone there was very
God-conscious. I enjoy the warm, open, and helpful atmosphere I feel when I
walk into Campus Ministry’s offices. As a Peer Minister, I have been encouraged
to strengthen my faith and my relationship with God. I love to share my
faith. During the Wellspring Prayer Ritual with the freshmen class this
past September, each of the Peer Ministers was asked to write a prayer for the
new class. This was mine: “My hope is that God
opens your eyes, your minds, and your hearts to things that will benefit you
the most, that make you a stronger better person, and close them to that which
deters from doing good, and from things that can weaken your character.”
Mary-Elizabeth Smith-Mitchell
I am
majoring in English and Sociology. Having a double major has allowed me to
realize there is a lot to learn. That is why I want to become a Philosophy
professor. Currently, I am the BSU treasurer, the Volleyball Team Manager, a
member of the Tennis Team, and a SAAC member. Last Spring and Summer, I was in
an off-Broadway musical. I enjoy singing, acting and traveling to Queens to
spend time with my faith community. I love learning and school. This year is my
first year being a Peer Minister but since my Freshman year, I have been
involved with Campus Ministry. Last year, I went on almost every Midnight Run. I
became a Peer Minster because I saw it as an opportunity to mature my faith
while helping others to do the same. My relationship with God is very important
to me because He is the head of my life and I want to be aligned with the plan
he has for me. Being a Peer Minister, I hope, will strengthen this relationship
that I value so much. Never be afraid to say, “Hello!” I hope to see you on a
Midnight Run or around campus.
Tazmin H. Uddin
Peace! I am currently a junior
here at The College of New Rochelle. I am an English major, Religious Studies
minor, and am pursuing a legal studies certificate. I have been a Peer Minister
for almost two years and enjoy talking to people about their faith experiences.
I became a Peer Minister in order to learn about
other faiths while teaching others about mine. Being a part of Campus Ministry
has allowed me to build lifelong friendships which, in turn, allow me to be
involved in important issues of social justice. For example, last year, Campus
Ministry hosted the Hunger Banquet in order to raise awareness about hunger
worldwide. My relationship with God is one that is ever-changing and I hope it
is ever-evolving. It is a relationship that has strengthened me as an
individual and has made my personality what it is. With that being said, don’t
ever underestimate the consequences of a random act of kindness! I
love finding the commonalities in different faiths, sharing my religious
experiences, and I look forward to building bridges in order to create a space
for interfaith dialogue with each and every one of you.