Where (in the world) are they now?

It is remarkable to note how many Alumni are living and learning abroad. It seems to me that this is a sign of the way that UCM fosters an environment where exploration, questions, and curiosity are encouraged. UCM's annual Friendship Missions are a great example of the ethos of this ministry; UCM calls for all of us to engage in our communities, local and global, to work for social justice and to build relationships. Here are a few ways that ethos has stayed with Alumni after they leave NU's campus.

Francey Wattman Rosenau (2003) is currently working as Associate Minister in a church in Edinburgh. Francey was ordained in Oklahoma just last November. She and her husband, Zach, will be in Scotland through summer 2009, and plan to return to the U.S. after that.

Elena Tsinikas (2006) and Shom Dasgupta (2005), engaged, are coming to the end of their year in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala. For the last year, Shom and Elena have been working with a group of community health workers in several villages surrounding San Lucas (to read about their work, you can visit www.loqoqej.blogspot.com). The two will be moving to Boston in June 2008.

San Lucas Tolimán was the site of UCM's Friendship Mission in 2006 and 2007. While Guatemala will be sad to lose Shom and Elena, it won't have to wait long for some more UCM love. Ellen Cantrell (2007), UCM's Peer Minister (2006-08), will teach elementary students in a school in Xela, Guatemala from September-October, 2008.

Last year's Alumni Board member, Jon Marino (2006), has arrived safe and sound in Kampala, Uganda, where he and Lauren Parnell (2007), engaged, will be living for a year. During this time Jon will be working with Ugandan communities to research post-conflict issues and displaced communities, and Lauren will be working with a women's fair trade craft store.

In August, 2008, Sam Pickerill (2006) will move to Shanghai, China, for a year to conduct research on TB diagnostics appropriate for poor communities in China and around the world.

For more updates, check out http://ucmalumni.blogspot.com/. (If you have an update to share, please e-mail becca.hartman@gmail.com.)

Welcome!!!

Hi friends - as the intro. says above, this site is intended to be a virtual meeting space for our UCM alumni congregation. I hope that you will introduce yourself, catch us all up on what's happening in your life, include some pictures, share your joys and concerns, and enlighten us with your insights. In peace,
Becca