Alumni Spotlight
Kristina Schmidgall (’03)
Major: Social Work
Occupation: Re-entry Program Case Manager at AIDS Partnership Michigan in Detroit, Michigan
All of her life, Kristina dreamed about attending Evangel. Both of her parents are alumni as well as her aunt, several uncles, and many cousins. When her two older sisters, Erica and Monica, went to Evangel, Kristina begged to be left in Springfield with them, at the age of 11. Finally, in 1999, it was her turn. As her father is a faculty member at Michigan State University, she could have attended MSU at a greatly discounted cost but realized the importance of faith with education. Kristina greatly enjoyed her four years at Evangel, including attending with her younger sister, Joanna, for the last two. Kristina earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a minor in psychology.
During her sophomore year at EU, Kristina discovered her calling: working with individuals with HIV/AIDS. One of her professors had a few individuals living with HIV/AIDS come into the class to speak about their experiences living with the disease. Kristina had previously thought she wanted to do church counseling but could not get these individuals’ stories out of her head or heart. She realized God was calling her to work with people in the same situation. That summer she volunteered with Lansing Area AIDS Network (LAAN), in Lansing, Michigan, an organization assisting individuals living with HIV/AIDS; her calling was confirmed. Her senior year social work practicum was at AIDS Project of the Ozarks in Springfield, a similar organization to LAAN.
A week after graduation from Evangel, Kristina began a Master of Social Work program at Michigan State University. Kristina was able to complete the Advanced Standing Program at MSU, a one year program, because Evangel’s social work program was accredited, rather than the traditional two year program.
After earning her Master’s, Kristina stayed in Lansing and was employed by Citizens for Better Care as a long-term care ombudsman. Kristina advocated for the rights of individuals in long-term care facilities in a six county area in south central Michigan. Along with this work, which was not within her calling, she renewed her volunteer work at Lansing Area AIDS Network, performing HIV testing and assisting with the coordination of the AIDS Walk. She also joined the HIV/AIDS Special Interest Group started by National Association of Social Workers, Michigan Chapter. Kristina contributes articles regarding HIV/AIDS issues to the monthly newsletter which is distributed statewide to social workers and legislators. While in Lansing, she began attending Trinity Church and became active with the young adult group, Green House. Kristina served on the leadership board and coordinated community services events for the group.
In June 2006, her calling culminated into her dream job, her current position as Re-Entry Program Case Manager at AIDS Partnership Michigan in Detroit, Michigan. Kristina works with individuals living with HIV/AIDS that have been recently released from prison or jail. Kristina assists her clients in transitioning back into the community with a focus on medical care. Many of the clients re-enter society with very little or no medical care, identification, housing, clothing, substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and medication. “I absolutely love my work. It is very challenging but also rewarding.” While she never dreamed of working with this population and even tried to run from it at first, she now cannot imagine doing anything else.
Kristina currently lives in Detroit and has enjoyed seeing the city experience a rebirth as it tries to shake off the negative connotation associated with Michigan’s largest city. She continues to look for a church where she can become involved and find community.
Kristina believes that Evangel University taught her how to integrate her faith, learning, and living- a slogan of Evangel that she now realizes is true. “Many social workers who I encounter have a difficult time talking with clients about matters of faith, but my social work professors at EU taught me how to deal with these sensitive and important issues.” Kristina’s social work professors and her fellow classmates encouraged and assisted in the development of her calling. Kristina considers her four years at Evangel invaluable as they helped to shape her into the person she is now.