The Agapé Center Professional Staff
The Office of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement is comprised of professional staff who are committed to supporting students, employees, and external partners who want to pursue service-learning or credit-bearing off-campus experiences. Whether through the curricular or co-curricular avenues, we seek to foster opportunities for student learning and development to fulfill the mission of Messiah University.
Director of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
Paula Holtzinger
Director of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
pholtzinger@messiah.edu 717-796-1800 x.6089
Paula (’18) strives to embody the mission of the Agape Center in everything she does. Her educational background is in peace and conflict studies and restorative justice, trauma and resilience in educational environments. The transformative experiences she had as a student leader with the Agape Center influenced her decision to pursue international work through the English Language Institute where she facilitated experiential learning opportunities and taught English in Vietnam, Lebanon, Hong Kong and Cambodia. Shortly after completing undergrad at Messiah, Paula served as an Emergency Response Assistant for Lebanon and Syria with Mennonite Central Committee working to provide humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, and trauma healing in response to the Syrian Crisis. From there, Paula joined Journey’s End Refugee Services in Buffalo, NY as the Gainful Employment Training Program Manager. Paula is passionate about engaging with and learning from other cultures and is thrilled to be able to incorporate the many lessons she’s learned throughout her own local and global service into her role supporting students and the broader community alike to engage more deeply with one another!
Associate Director of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
Caleb Miller
Associate Director of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
cdcmiller@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 Ext. 7235
Caleb is a graduate of Messiah from 2014. During his time as a student, Caleb found that some of his most transformative memories were through off-campus experiences. He enjoyed service-learning trips to Harrisburg, to Georgia, and even to Panama. He travelled to the National Championships for Club Volleyball in Houston, Kansas City, Dallas, and Reno (the team was National Champs in Dallas and Reno!). Caleb also studied abroad in China for a 3-week May Term course. Caleb recognizes how experiences like that are important for learning and growth, and is excited to partner with students and student leaders for a number of different exciting opportunities through the Agapé Center.
Coordinator of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
Gina Hale
Coordinator of the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement
ghale@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 Ext. 2131
Gina is a 1983 graduate of Messiah and has thoroughly enjoyed working at Messiah since 2004. She has worked with faculty, multicultural students, international students and students who have pursued off-campus study programs. She is excited about her new opportunity to work in the Agapé Center for Local and Global Engagement and helping students pursue options off-campus in service and credit bearing experiences.
Graduate Assistant for Service Trips
Emma Narber
Graduate Assistant for Service Trips
servicetripsga@messiah.edu 717.796.1800 Ext. 3898
Emma is the graduate assistant for service trips. She recently graduated from Messiah in May, 2023. Emma was a Double Major in Peace & Conflict Studies, along with Digital Media: Digital Video & Story. She served as a Resident Assistant in the Mellinger Apartments and as an Outreach Coordinator with the Agapé Center. Throughout the previous few years, Emma has had the opportunity to serve and learn from multiple service experiences all over the world. Multiple organizations and non-profits like that of Won By One to Jamaica, Grain of Hope, One Collective, Nea Zoi, the Penns Valley Youth Center, and Central Detroit Christian Community Development have been extremely influential in developing her heart for service learning, reconciliation and empowerment along with holistic help. Emma has loved learning more about the importance and value of service and how The Lord continues to call each of us to serve and love like Him.She is excited about this new role in the Agapé Center to build relationships with students and help them experience some of the great benefits that serving others can offer.
Contact Emma if you are interested in participating in an International Service-Learning experience or have questions about what it means to participate as an Advisor or Student Team Leader in an International Service Trip.
Graduate Assistant for Off-Campus Programs
Jenna Landis
Graduate Assistant for Off-Campus Programs
offcampusga@messiah.edu 717-796-1800 x.7160
Jenna is the graduate assistant for off-campus programs. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA and graduated from Messiah University in December 2020 with a major in psychology and a minor in pre-counseling and therapy. She is so excited to be back at Messiah to work at the Agapé Center for Local & Global Engagement, where she can help students interested in studying off-campus.
Contact Jenna if you are a student interested in studying off-campus for a semester!