A Mini-Interview with Michael Warari
Where are you from? I was born & raised in Nairobi, Kenya. I came to the USA for my first
year of college at Northwood University in Michigan.
Where did you go to college and grad school? I transferred to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I started as a Business Major/ Hotel Recreation Management until I felt a
strong leading to change my major to Religion.
For graduate school I went to Grand Rapid Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters in Divinity with a Pastoral Emphasis.
How did you get your start in the field of residence life: I was an RA for my last two years at Cornerstone University. My junior year was a horrible experience, but I learned a lot, and my senior year was a great experience. I then worked as an ARD (Assistant Resident Director) for three years while going to Seminary. The ARD job was pretty much an RD position but with part-time pay and no benefits. That position was a challenging, good and growing experience.
After graduating from Seminary I took an RD job at Messiah College.
If you weren't an RD, what job would you have? I have just started my fourth year as the resident director of Miller Hall and Fry Apartments. I love being an RD and I couldn't see myself doing anything else at the moment (at least at this time in my life :-) I also think it's the best job in the world, and honestly I wouldn't see myself anywhere else but around a college environment, working with students. This job to me seems like a ministry, and i wouldn't trade this experience for anything else.
What is your vision for the students you work with? My biggest hope for the students living in both Miller Hall and Fry Apartments is that they may come to enjoy living in their spaces, growing alongside each other, and come to fully know and experience God's plan for them.
