Lifting up others

One of the first to graduate from Northwestern with a social enterprise major, Jillian now facilitates volunteer programs and fundraising efforts for The Next Door Recovery, a nonprofit treatment center for women struggling with addiction.

What led you to pursue a social enterprise major?
For most of my college career, I had been piecing together different majors and minors to include all the areas of study I was interested in. When the social enterprise major became an option, I recognized that an interdisciplinary major in business, theology and entrepreneurship would be the best choice for me. Studying these distinct, yet connected, fields has taught me to challenge my assumptions and be in awe of who God is and how God works through others, myself and creation.

What did you learn from the social enterprise major that you are now using in your day-to-day work?
Northwestern’s social enterprise major taught me how to use business systems for more than just generating profit. Economics drives so much of the world and understanding how to harness it for the public good is vital to my work in development. The major’s emphasis on practical theology and servant leadership also taught me to lead with integrity, always striving to lift up those around me.

How do you integrate your faith into your work?
I enter my work with a passion that comes from standing side by side with others, just as Jesus did. I often reflect on Jesus’ call to care for the “least of us” and feel honored to advocate for women struggling with substance use. My humanity is bound up with theirs, and I have learned so much from their bravery and resiliency.