Class Notes

Maryn Olson ’02 serves as director of Lutheran Disaster Response, the humanitarian assistance ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a role she has held since November 2022. In her role, she oversees the LDR global grants and programs; works with ELCA area desks in responding to disasters; collaborates with synods, nonprofits, and community-based organizations; and represents the ELCA with ecumenical partners.

Sally Messner ’02 is director of worship and music at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan, where she plans and leads congregational singing with organ, piano, voice, and a variety of other instruments. She is also the founding musical director of the Elm Ensemble, a liturgical project that brings together professional and amateur musicians with great sacred music and creative worship planning to help keep the church in dialogue with diverse voices from Christian history. She currently serves as director of music for the Institute of Liturgical Studies at Valparaiso University.

Maryn Olson ’02 and Angela Fulton were married in St. Louis, Missouri, on Oct.19, 2019. Valpo was well represented among the guests, including graduates spanning multiple decades. Maryn serves as the program director for Pathways to Progress — a program of St. Francis Community Services — a position she started on July 1, 2019. Pathways provides long-term, intensive case management services to families living in poverty in north St. Louis County and the northern part of the city; the program focuses on strengthening the community, educating and empowering families, and advocating for systemic change. Maryn and Angie live in St. Louis.

Josh Messner ’02, who works in marketing and communications at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, helped to launch a video series designed for elementary school children called “All about Coronavirus.” The brief video teaches kids about the virus, providing basic ideas for how they can stay safe and help out during the pandemic. A companion family guide helps parents and guardians prepare to watch the video with their children and have a constructive conversation around the video’s content and the questions it might raise. Both the video and the family guide are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, German, and French.