Pursuing her passion for peace
Chiana Roman, Nursing ’19, has always wanted to help others. One of the reasons she was excited to come to Marquette was because she knew there would be opportunities to work for social justice both through volunteering and academics.
She decided to pursue a major in nursing because of her desire to care for others. This also influenced her interest in the Center for Peacemaking.
During the first week of her freshman year, Chiana applied for and was hired to be a Catholic Relief Services (CRS) student ambassador. In this role, Chiana coordinated efforts across campus to educate her peers about issues including human trafficking, migration, and climate change.
Chiana also attended the SOA-Watch vigil in Ft. Benning, GA during her first semester on campus. During this experience, the Center for Peacemaking helped her find a community of students who shared her interest in peace and justice.
As the only freshman to attend the vigil, Chiana was inspired not just by the weekend activities, but also by the examples set by the upperclassmen on the trip. It gave her confidence to do more with her Marquette experience.
Chiana took on a leadership position as a CRS ambassador. She also recognized that peace studies classes would pair well with her nursing major. She declared a minor in peace studies after taking the introductory course.
By her junior year, Chiana had become a role model and mentor to the new group of underclassmen frequenting the Center for Peacemaking who desire to work for peace and justice through their academics and extracurricular activities.
At the start of her final semester at Marquette, Chiana was honored with the Pedro Arrupe Award from the Marquette University Alumni Association (MUAA). This honor is given to one student from across the entire university who exemplifies leadership and commitment to service.
Chiana is excited to discover what her future holds. She feels that all of her experiences through the Center will continue to guide her throughout her life. “My involvement with the Center for Peacemaking has challenged my perspective,” she said. “It helped combine my love for Milwaukee and community with a social justice focus.”
