Elizabeth Brake ’08, M.Ed. ’16
With two degrees from Messiah, Elizabeth Brake has dreams for her future, and she’s working hard to align them with God’s plan. Brake has long envisioned a career in the disability services realm of higher education. Born with cerebral palsy, she earned a degree in education and family services from Messiah, where she interned at the Office of Disability Services. As a result, she created the Disability Services Fund, to help pay for needed resources for those with disabilities at the College.
Brake has also earned two master’s degrees, one in rehabilitation counseling from Edinboro University and another in special education from Messiah. Yet the accomplished student has found it challenging to find her niche in education.
“Statistically, the odds of people with disabilities becoming employed full-time is only 20 percent,” said Brake. “I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be a statistic. I thought that I would be one of the lucky ones because I’m very high functioning.”
Instead of focusing on the doors that have been difficult for Brake to open, however, she began the process to become a licensed pastor. In July, she will serve as the part-time pastor at Roxbury and Upper Strasburg United Methodist Churches.“I’ve found a passion for ministry,” she said.