HEATHER PARKIN – Rooted in Justice, Growing in Community

For Heather Parkin, a second-year graduate student in the Master of Library and Information Sciences program, Wesley has become a place of connection, reflection, and purposeful engagement. Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, she first found her way to Wesley while looking for a United Methodist church close to her apartment—only to discover a community that offered much more than proximity.

From the beginning, it was the sense of welcome that stood out. “I felt welcomed by the community, and I was encouraged by all the services for students,” she shares. That encouragement quickly grew into a deeper investment in the life of Wesley, where relationships and shared experiences have shaped her time in graduate school.

As a peer minister, Heather is especially excited to deepen those connections—both with fellow student leaders and with others involved in the community. She approaches leadership with curiosity and intentionality, hoping to better understand how programs are imagined, organized, and brought to life.

Heather brings a strong commitment to justice and inclusion to everything she does. She is passionate about ensuring that these values are reflected not only in big-picture ideas but in everyday actions and decisions. Whether in conversation, planning, or community life, she seeks to help create spaces where people feel respected and valued.

Outside of Wesley, Heather enjoys quieter rhythms of rest and creativity—crocheting, solving puzzle games, and unwinding after a full week of study and work. Earlier in life, she dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, fascinated by deep-sea exploration—an early glimpse of the curiosity that continues to shape her today.

Her faith remains an anchor in a complex and often challenging world. Drawing inspiration from the prayer of St. Francis, she seeks to focus outward in compassion and service. “Faith has offered me solace when I feel like the world is becoming a darker and more hateful place,” she reflects. “It lets me keep going.”

With her thoughtful presence, commitment to justice, and desire to build meaningful community, Heather brings both depth and intention to her leadership at Wesley.