Samir Khalil, ’20 and ’21, hadn’t planned to attend Southern nor to follow in his father’s footsteps as an employee of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), but God showed him an alternate path through connections and opportunities beyond his imaginings.

Feeling what he describes as a “divine push,” he arrived on Southern’s campus three days before classes began in 2015. Still undecided about a major, he considered studying psychology, education, or physics, but then a conversation with Annette Heck, ’01, social work professor and Bachelor of Social Work program director at the time, led him to declare an area of study and quickly find his niche. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the School of Social Work, and, shortly after graduation, began serving as an emergency response assistant at ADRA International based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“I realized after watching my dad in his work for ADRA that I, too, was passionate about helping people,” Khalil says. As part of the emergency management unit, Khalil and his teammates are responsible for providing immediate support following global disasters due to natural elements–– hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, and famine––as well as manmade conflicts and war zones in the Americas and Ukraine. In fact, ADRA invited Khalil on board to respond specifically to the Ukrainian crisis.

Khalil’s current responsibilities are focused on background support, including coordinating the acquisition and distribution of funds for areas in need. He also assigns individuals to support financial needs, communication, human resources, project implementation, logistics, and other areas of help on the ground.  

“I am certain that my work is helping the people who need it most, because all of our efforts are focused on the beneficiaries,” Khalil adds. “Southern’s School of Social Work taught me that the people being served are always the experts who best understand their needs in any trying circumstance.” In addition to asking questions, he explains that listening to clients is key. “I may notice that someone doesn’t have shoes so I decide to buy him shoes, but maybe that person really needs a shirt.”

During his years on Southern’s campus, Khalil discovered that he enjoys looking for people’s strengths and empowering each one to improve. His experience with a group of first responders to clear debris and assist local churches following Hurricane Florence in 2018 was the catalyst that sparked his interest in countering traumas and emergencies. He was also inspired to search for advocacy efforts on a larger scale, including preparation and response, as well as how to champion effective policies.

Khalil’s assigned practicum placements in Chattanooga were at locations providing services to refugees, managing county government, and counseling students in elementary schools. These complemented his classroom learning and taught him about the inner workings of systems. He worked as a graduate assistant in the School of Social Work and later served as an adjunct instructor for undergraduate classes after completing his master’s degree. Citing what he believes are the highlights of Southern’s program, he notes that he’s now putting into practice the core principles he learned, whether about developing programs, working with individuals and groups, or thinking critically on his feet.  

He offers specific praise of the social work program at Southern, giving the school credit for his understanding of how to “reach the most vulnerable without marginalizing other groups, embrace differences without stepping on toes, lead with empathy, take a strengths-based approach, and coordinate with local offices whose ideas often mesh best with the culture. My teachers in the program were the best I’ve ever had, going above and beyond my expectations.”

His advice for current students? “Branch out, ask for help, and talk to people, including your professors. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to either turn you off or hook you. Also, be willing to do something you don’t necessarily enjoy, just for the experience and to help confirm your long-term goals.”

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