Martha Villegas-Miranda’s job is watching students transform.
“I like seeing people change because of community service,” the Coordinator of Outreach and the Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Services said. “Students open up because of the impact that the service has on them and it encourages me to keep doing my work.”
At Lewis, part of her job is to plan outreach opportunities for Lewis students. She has gone on mission trips to Bolivia, Mexico and Appalachia. “Traveling and living like the native people has forever changed me, because I learn from the native people and how they survive,” Villegas-Miranda said. “Many students make a lifelong commitment to help other people in need after participating in outreach programs.”
She has also done multiple community service projects like building homes for the underprivileged and work with at-risk youth.
Villegas-Miranda takes her daughter with her when doing service. “I want my daughter to learn from my volunteer experience,” she said. “When I go on these mission trips I like to live like the people do.”
When Villegas-Miranda is off for two months in the summer, she lives without material things, such as a cell phone and TV. She also travels to Mexico to see her family and to Bolivia, where her husband’s family lives. “I like to stay in tune with my culture,” Villegas-Miranda said.
Villegas-Miranda cites Mother Teresa as her inspiration to be kind, understanding, loving and helpful. “When I look back at what I have done, I think about what I could have done,” she said.
How did she get in the business of helping others? “My parents were involved with the community. They traveled to a lot other countries and saw a lot of poverty in those countries, so it influenced and motivated me to study social work,” Villegas-Miranda said.
Those that are thinking about service can contact University Ministry. “We can’t rebuild a nation overnight, so remain hopeful,” Villegas-Miranda advised.
Crystal Koetz, Staff Writer / Natalie Schutz, Religion Editor
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