Resident Ministry

Julie Hurst was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Southern California during her childhood. Her career in higher education spans more than 20 years and has consisted of working in spaces of learning outside of traditional classroom settings. This has included working in housing and residence life as well as in study abroad at both public and private institutions. In addition to serving as a Resident Minister in Bellarmine Hall she is the Director of Campus Engagement at the Center for Community Engagement. Julie is passionate about working with students at all stages of their educational paths, listening to their stories (especially learning what led them to SU), and assisting them with connecting to opportunities and to others. She collaborates with various SU offices to offer quarterly gatherings designed for Redhawk students of color to gather and share in community together. Julie also enjoys music, movies, traveling, sports, soaking in sunshine, and the gift of having conversations related to reflection and spirituality. She received her M.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington, Bothell and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine (Zot!).

Gina Lopardo was born and raised in Rhode Island and only left that state when she moved to Seattle twelve years ago. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University. She directs the Education Abroad Office in addition to serving as the Resident Minister in Xavier Global House. Gina is passionate about accompanying students along their journeys and contemplating life’s paths. She is devoted to her two dogs, Lacey and Diego, loves to read, cook, eat good food and spend as much time as possible near bodies of water. Some of her favorite topics of conversation include her home state, life on the other (East) coast, tasty recipes, being a first generation college student, searching for spiritual and religious connection, travel, and her time studying abroad in Siena, Italy.

An alumnus of Seattle University, Dr. Susan Meyers grew up selling corndogs, balloons, and cotton candy on the carnival circuit and has since become an international leader in writing studies. In addition to serving as Resident Minister for South Campus, she also directs the Creative Writing Program in Seattle University's English Department. Her novel Failing the Trapeze won the Nilsen Award for a First Novel, and her field study on education in rural Mexico, Del Otro Lado: Literacy and Migration Across the U.S.-Mexico Border, was supported by a Fulbright Fellowship and grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Association of University Women. When she's not at her writing desk, she's likely out at one of Seattle's many arts events or going for a run through the winding, wonderful parks near Capitol Hill.