Meet the Interns!
Presenting the 2024 DPF Peace Interns
Maggie B Lewis (she/her)
Maggie is a Junior at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana with a Major in Philosophy and a Minor in Catholic Studies. Upon graduation Maggie plans on going to seminary with the long term vocational goal of serving in congregational ministry.
Maggie grew up attending First Christian Church in Bedford, Indiana where her longtime pastor was the Rev. Bruce Ervin, the very first DPF Peace Intern nearly 50-years ago!
In a reference letter for Maggie, Rev. Ervin wrote, “Maggie’s convictions regarding peace and justice are grounded in the scriptures. She understands the inclusivity of God’s love as being that which embraces all people. This is clearly expressed in both her words and her actions.”
Fun Fact: As a kid Maggie earned a youth Screen Actors Guild card for appearing in the show “Most Terrifying Places in America!”
Ella Gordon (any pronouns)
Ella Gordon is a junior at the University of Oregon majoring in English. They grew up in the Pacific Northwest and First Christian Church Corvallis is Ella’s home congregation.
Ella comes to the Peace Intern program with strong teaching and mentorship experience having spent the past two summers on staff at Oregon State University’s KidSpirit Summer Day Camp teaching art as well as social/emotional skills to children and youth. Ella writes, “My commitment to peacemaking is one that asks me every day to consider how I can change someone’s life.”
As a Higher Education & Leadership Ministries Scholar, Ella’s Peace Intern Summer experience will begin with the HELM Trip to Japan!
Fun Fact: Ella is a gifted musician who plays guitar, violin and clarinet!
Allison Nash (she/her)
Allison was born and raised in Indiana, grew up going to church camp at Bedford Camp and Conference Center, and now lives in St. Louis, Missouri where she attends Union Avenue Christian Church.
She is an alumni of Earlham College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Allison works as an Elementary School Librarian and Generalist Teacher at the St. Louis Language Immersion School.
In her application Allison noted that Peace Interns were regularly on staff at her home church camp growing up. Describing her goals for the summer she wrote, “I would love to have a positive impact on campers in the same way that Peace Interns have positively impacted me.”
Fun Fact: Allison loves to travel and her first overseas trip by herself was to Japan at age 14!