Alumni & Family Engagement

In 2012 Marco graduated from Hope College with a double major in chemistry and Spanish. After graduation, Marco worked as the men’s program coordinator at Pioneer Square Transitional Housing in Seattle before starting medical school. He earned his doctor of medicine in May 2017 from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Then Marco moved to Boston for residency training in both internal and preventative medicine. In 2021 he furthered his education by earning a master’s in epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health. Utilizing his skills, he is now stationed in South Carolina with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service, an elite applied epidemiology fellowship. Marco joined the U.S. Public Health Service and serves as a lieutenant commander. He has deployed with the CDC to serve Afghans after many were repatriated to the United States and to Southern Africa to assist in polio eradication. “The theme of service continues to be a guiding light in my work, from a public health doctor in Boston to my work for the CDC with monkeypox in South Carolina,” Marco writes. Marco continues to serve as a light of hope as he uses his expertise across the globe.

Hope College is proud to honor Marco Tori ’12 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.

In 2014 Samantha graduated from Hope College with degrees in international studies and political science. Samantha went on to attend Wake Forest University School of Law where she earned her juris doctor in 2018. Following her time at Wake Forest, she became a judicial law clerk/attorney advisor at the Chicago Immigration Court for the Executive Office of Immigration Review. Most recently, she serves as general attorney for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. She has also used her law skills to volunteer at CARPLS, a legal aid hotline that provides free legal services for qualifying Cook County residents, and with the DePaul Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic. She currently volunteers with Soul Trak Outdoors, an organization that connects communities of color to outdoor spaces. “Being a student at Hope helped me to better understand myself in a world around me that often looked very different from me and held different values than my own,” she said. Her intelligence and understanding in her field challenge others to consider new ideas and perspectives.

Hope College is proud to honor Samantha Poon ’14 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.

In 2013 Alecia Ivery graduated from Hope College with a degree in exercise science. Alecia worked at Girls in the Game from 2013 to 2022, serving in a variety of roles such as a citywide initiative manager, senior program manager, and director of training and innovation. Now she is the Midwest lead consultant and national trainer for the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport. Outside of her career, Alecia is the apostolic expansion team director for Word Up Ministries Apostolic Church where she reintroduces church to community members. Her passion for sharing her faith was cultivated in college. “Being able to come to Hope and actively seek opportunities to learn and grow in my faith was an awesome experience,” she said. Alecia’s incorporation of her career and faith is an encouraging example for students and alumni. 

Hope College is proud to honor Alecia Ivery ’13 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.

In 2012 Eden graduated from Hope College with a degree in studio art. Her first jobs included working as a loan specialist for Wells Fargo & Company and as a program advisor for Capella University. Eden shifted her career and earned her master’s of fine arts from University of Texas at San Antonio, where she eventually worked as an adjunct faculty member in the art department. She then became an assistant professor of art at Stephen F. Austin State University where she continues to work. Outside of teaching, Eden has held numerous roles in Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. She first served as the volunteer development program chair, where she focused on developing programming to equip alumni volunteers to better support active student members with their chapter operations. Currently, she is the advisor to the Nu Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at Stephen F. Austin State University; a Generation Jacks (GenJacks) success coach for incoming first-generation college students; and an advisor to the art alliance student organization on campus. As Eden reflects on her time at Hope she said, “It was evident that Hope not only cared about its students, but it cared about all its people.” Through her creativity and openness as an advisor, Eden exemplifies a wise and motivating leader.

Hope College is proud to honor Eden Collins ’12 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.

In 2017 Joshua graduated from Hope College with a political science major. He has worked in a variety of roles on democratic political campaigns during the past few years. His most notable roles include: strategic communications advisor for U.S. Rep. Val Demings; deputy vetting director for the Biden-Harris White House transition; and doing research in his home state of Illinois for both U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. He currently serves as the voter protection director for the Democratic Party of Illinois. As a Hope graduate, he said, “I have never once questioned whether or not I was competent, qualified or that my experience was applicable in my professional, spiritual or philanthropic endeavors.” He continues to share his experience with Hope and speaks highly of his college years. 

Hope College is proud to honor Joshua Cooper ’17 with the 2022 10 Under 10 Award. The 10 Under 10 Award honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaging in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and using their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity. Award recipients also communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, these awards are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today.