Meet Maddie, new Beloved

Learn more about future Beloved Maddie below! Please hold her in prayer as she prepares to venture forth to Tucson! For more information on Beloved in the Desert, click here.

Maddie (she/her or they/them)

Hi! I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana— geaux Saints! Because of New Orleans, I love good food, good times, and good people. I firmly believe that there is always a reason to celebrate, and Southern hospitality is one of my most important values.

I attended the University of Notre Dame, which was a wonderful experience, but I’m very excited to be back in warm weather. I majored in Notre Dame’s Great Books program so I would be happy to chat with anyone about books, philosophy, or history—or the problems with narrativizing or canonizing history in Great Books programs (either works)! In any case, my favorite book is Moby Dick.

I worked as a summer camp counselor in Nashville for several years so I have a “second home” there; I love kids, the outdoors, and ice-breaker games. Part of being a summer camp counselor means that I am a Fleetwood Mac fan, as well as the Chicks, Joni Mitchell, and the Eagles. I also love to hike, camp, swim, and run— this summer, I hiked a short part of the Appalachian Trail. I’m a huge board game person, an INFP, and an enneagram 4w5. I studied abroad in Jerusalem at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and researched queer theory, religion, conflict, and peacebuilding during my time as an undergrad.

This year, I am very much looking forward to getting to know the people and places of Tucson. This is the furthest west I’ve ever been, and I have heard wonderful things about the city. Personally, I am looking forward to re-embracing the joy and excitement of change and the unknown, especially after the hard year everyone had. I hope that this year will give me time to reflect and re-set in a new place and learn with a new community, and I hope to bring whatever gifts I can to allow others to do the same. I want to re-invigorate my own adventurous spirit and help others do the same while we build trust in community together!