As the new year starts, NW welcomes new and returning students ready to begin the next chapter of their educational journey. NW also welcomes back new and returning faculty members who are vital for students’ success. The thing is, some of the new faculty would almost be defined as returning students but in a slightly different light. This year, there have been a couple students who graduated in the class of 2025, but are still around campus now under new management. Two examples of this are Marissa Leraas and Abby Noonan.Marissa Leraas is working multiple jobs as the Theatre Department’s Costume Studio Supervisor, the Honors Program Administrative Assistant, and the Graduate Professional Studies Counseling Program Administrative Assistant. When asked about what it is like to work on campus after just graduating, Leraas said that she finds it interesting since her previous professors and higher ups are now her colleagues. In her own mind, she knows that she is qualified because of her degree, but is also growing in trusting herself in her confidence and skills that she has. She says she was drawn to work on campus by the people and has loved the opportunity to keep working alongside them even though it may look a little different. When asked why she chose to work at NW, Leraas said it is great to work in a faith-based environment and the college is very welcoming to everyone around them. Leraas said the staff that she now works with are amazing in that they see her as an equal no matter how much experience she has.Abby Noonan is welcomed back on campus as the new Resident Director of Christy Suites. When asked her favorite parts about being back at NW, she said that overall, it’s still very fun. Since she is still living in the dorms, it almost feels like being a college student just without having to go to classes. She still gets to make connections and sees it as a blessing to give back to the place and community that poured into her when she was a student. She was drawn to work at NW because she is working in a place that she already knows and gets to partner with the mission that she appreciates. According to Noonan, working at NW is a cool learning experience where she now knows the things that you don’t always know as a student, such as what higher-ups like Julie Elliot and Nate Phinney do on a daily basis. Overall, she has more respect for the school and the institution itself and is excited for what the future holds in God’s plan for her.Talking with current students, they also have a positive response to these new hirings. Raquel Yoder and Jess Schulmeister are both involved in theatre with Leraas and also live in Christy with Noonan. Yoder stated that it is very positive to have them both still on campus, and it is such a good opportunity to have a friendship with now higher-ups. Yoder said that both Leraas and Noonan are each very capable when it comes to their jobs and that she loves having them around because both have unique experiences in their lives that they can share. Schulmeister agrees. She said that she doesn’t mind having recent graduates work on campus. She knew Leraas and Noonan before they graduated, so it is still a joy to have them around because they are both sweet and fun. Schulmeister is excited for both Leraas and Noonan to see how God works through both of them in their new positions on campus.
