The beginning of a new semester is an exciting time — but it can also be an anxious and stressful experience for some.
In addition to the many resident assistants, each residence hall has a hall minister to provide pastoral care and be a spiritual presence for all residents and building staff.
In collaboration with the staff, hall ministers are charged with helping form a residential community that expresses the university’s Catholic, Jesuit mission, while accompanying individuals dealing with stress, illness, loss, loneliness, relationships, spiritual and emotional health and more.
In this Q&A, Ellie Marino, hall minister for O’Donnell Hall, talks about what she likes the most about Marquette University and Milwaukee.
What was your undergraduate degree in? Why did you pursue that discipline?
I majored in psychology because I have always thought the brain was fascinating. It’s crazy that a three-pound organ controls everything about us, and there is still so much we don’t know about it! This also informed my decision to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience, which I just received this past summer. I also hold minors in biology, neuroscience and music. I took a lot of science courses in undergraduate, but my music courses might have been my favorites!
Why did you want to be a hall minister?
In my undergraduate years, I was a resident assistant and was also involved in Campus Ministry. Although I continued my involvement with Campus Ministry throughout my doctoral education, I really missed getting to work, live and grow with students in the dorm setting. I also loved the education and mentoring aspect of my Ph.D. and wished I could bring that more into my everyday life. Hall ministry is the perfect blend of those elements of student life! I’m very excited to be able to give back to the Marquette community in a faith-filled way this year as a hall minister.
What makes Marquette special to you?
I am going on my ninth year of working at Marquette, and throughout my time here I have seen that this university truly fosters a sense of family and community. I have felt so held and supported in every department, organization and office that I have been a part of here, which is so unique and special! I think this really comes back to Marquette’s dedication to Jesuit values; specifically, the core principle of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, and our commitment to servant leadership.
What is your favorite memory made at Marquette or in Milwaukee?
It’s so hard to pick just one! In my undergraduate education, probably move-in day as a first-year RA. It was so special getting to watch my residents take their first steps into their new home and get to begin their Marquette experience. In my doctoral education, probably my public defense for my Ph.D. The community truly showed up for me on one of the most important days of my life, and I felt so blessed to look at the audience and see so many friends and colleagues.
What is one thing you’re looking forward to this academic year?
Getting to watch my residence hall community grow! I am working in O’Donnell Hall, which is an all-first-year hall. I am so excited to watch students integrate into the Marquette community and go through all the wonderful chaos during their first year of college. As someone who lived in McCormick Hall as a first-year student, I have seen firsthand the community that builds amongst new students and am really looking forward to facilitating that as a hall minister in my own residence hall!
Favorite book, movie or podcast: My favorite book at the moment is The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo. Favorite movie(s) of all time are the Lord of the Rings trilogy!
Favorite location on campus: The reading room in Sensenbrenner Hall! However, I am also very partial to my research lab in the basement of Wehr Life Sciences.
Favorite hobby: Reading and film photography.
Favorite restaurant in Milwaukee: I could never pick just one, so here are some food-specific favorites: Steny’s Tavern (cheese curds), Zaffiro’s (pizza), Kopps (custard), Stone Creek (coffee), Poppy Bakery (pastries), Tauro Cocina (pasta) and Easy Tyger (ramen).
Favorite dessert: Tiramisu! The bakery inside the Public Market has my favorite tiramisu in Milwaukee.
