Christine Emery '93 has spent her life volunteering and couldn’t be prouder of her decision. She has given back to her community through several roles in non-profits, and with Elon University helping to establish Elon Volunteers.
Christine Emery ‘93 started her journey into nonprofit work early at Elon University, where she played a pivotal role in helping to establish Elon Volunteers, a group dedicated to providing service opportunities and helping to foster community within the university and surrounding towns.
Emery’s enthusiasm for service allowed her to help create a home for others at Elon wanting to give back. Her passion was ignited through projects like Habitat for Humanity.
“Working side by side with the family we were striving to get in their new home for the holidays was inspiring and empowering,” said Emery.
Through Habitat for Humanity, Emery met John Barnhill, now associate vice president for University Advancement, a great friend and coworker who would eventually convince her to change career paths and help her start Elon Volunteers.
“This project and friendship with John Barnhill set me on a path to switching my major from Business to Social Sciences, where I could study human services, psychology and business together,” said Emery.
Her north star
After graduating from Elon in 1993, Emery initially entered the corporate world, working for an investment banking firm in the Washington, DC area for five years. Then, she felt a pull back to her north star: service. She took on the role of director of program services at the Arlington, Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1999, she and her husband moved to Colorado, where she transitioned back into the private sector, working for a communication program company.
Her commitment to community service remained strong, leading her to start a food allergy-friendly baking mix business in 2006, donating a portion of each sale to local nonprofits. In 2015, she became the volunteer manager for a local performing arts nonprofit, which evolved into a larger role in 2017 with a sister nonprofit, Ovation West Performing Arts. There she helped found a children’s performing arts non-profit that is flourishing today. In 2020, she was promoted to Managing Director at Ovation West, guiding the organization through the challenges of COVID-19 and leaving it in a stronger financial position than when she started.
In 2022, an opportunity arose for Emery to return to her human services roots with EChO (Evergreen Christian Outreach), and she embraced it. Now serving as the director of finance and operations, she works across multiple departments, including the food pantry, client services, shelter, and ReSale Store. Her role involves ensuring that facilities, human resources, finance and administration align to best serve the community.
“My team and I are proud to play a key role in serving 20% of the residents in our community who rely on us for food, firewood for heating their homes, financial assistance and shelter,” said Emery.
“The most rewarding part is when a client feels empowered to take those next steps toward success,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the big wins when they receive housing, or the small ones, assisting with that interview outfit and helping them feel confident.”
Nurturing the next generation
Emery said she’s proud to be part of an organization that treats people with dignity and offers personalized support. But “the constant change” can be challenging.
“The truly most touching part is when our clients share their journey with us and tell us how our staff treating them with dignity and respect gave them the power to move toward their personal success goals,” said Emery. “No day is like another, and we deal so much with crisis management, plans for the day often get derailed and we deal with the issue at hand and then circle back to the original plan.”
However, these moments also foster teamwork and connection, reinforcing her dedication to the nonprofit sector.
Looking back, Emery credits her time at Elon for shaping her path. The experiential learning opportunities, unique at the time, helped her develop critical thinking skills that proved invaluable throughout her career. She is proud to have played a role in fostering a culture of service at Elon, knowing that Elon Volunteers continues to empower students today.
“It’s amazing to see where Elon is today and I feel very proud that something I helped nurture is empowering the next generation of students,” said Emery.
Emery said her favorite service projects at Elon were Habitat for Humanity, the first Pre-Serve session, Conferences on Service, the park rehabilitation project, and Week of Service. These events and projects were community-building experiences, challenging me mentally and often physically.”
For those interested in nonprofit work, Emery advises choosing a mission that aligns with personal passion. She says the work can be mentally and emotionally stretching, requiring creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to go beyond a job description.
“Seeing the impact of your work on others is tremendous,” Emery said. “I love seeing a child get on the stage for the first time and light it up, celebrating when you coach a team of kids to compete and grow. Seeing that dog placed in their forever home. I have been there to hold the hand of a woman who just lost her home in a fire and provided her with assistance with clothing and food. I want to be there to support the stressed mother in need of food and show her that we have her back so she can take that next step on her path to success.
What connects us
Emery continues to volunteer with arts organizations and the Salvation Army, staying true to her lifelong commitment to service.
“It teaches you to do more with less and I continue to learn and grow as a person,” said Emery on why she still chooses to volunteer.
Apart from the work, Emery also values her coworkers just as much.
“One of my favorite things to do is to chat with our volunteers around the building,” she said. “They are a tremendous source of light and inspiration. I feel incredibly honored that hundreds of community members choose to be part of our mission and share their time with us.”
It’s that connection with others that always brings Emery back to service.
“We live in a world where there is less personalization and more detachment, I like being part of what connects us and brings us together, and that’s what volunteerism and nonprofit work is all about,” said Emery.