From the president
Ben Heinlein, a junior transfer student at West Virginia University, majors in International Studies and minors in Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. He studied abroad in Morocco for a year where he studied Arabic and taught English in the community. He grew up participating in annual service trips to San Luis, Mexico, where he learned his passion for international and community development, education, and working with children and refugees. On campus, Ben is an active member of various clubs and organizations, including the Muslim Student Association and Peace Corps Prep Program, and is a Sustainable Development Intern with the WVU Center for Resilient Communities, working on economic development in West Virginia. Off-campus, Ben is a member of Rotary International and part of a community diversity network, where he has planned summer camps for children of immigrants. All of these experiences have made Ben a strong advocate for immigrants and he seeks to create welcoming and supportive communities at home. Ben plans to expand existing services for immigrants in our community, particularly by strengthening and expanding English language learning programming.
Personal Statement
My family instilled in me the importance of giving back to both the local and global community. I tagged alongside my parents and older brother in various service projects, whether it was a food drive or a 5k for charity. When I was 11 years old, I began participating in service trips to San Luis, a border town in Mexico. Our trips consisted of construction and humanitarian projects, such as building schools and medical clinics and working in the migrant center. These experiences were extremely impactful for me, and they have influenced my life by igniting my passion for international and community development, specifically within the population of refugees and forced migrants. On campus, I am a Peace Corps Prep Program member and am currently an Intern for the WVU Center for Resilient Communities, working on community development in Appalachia. Outside of campus, I am an active member of Rotary International and my community's diversity network. I look forward to utilizing and expanding my leadership skills by working within my communities with refugees and migrants, particularly in education and resettlement.