Beyond the Border: A Queens Student’s Story of Hope and Resilience

As Milwaukee native Maggie Dineen ’25 prepares to graduate from Queens University, she reflects on her transformative journey to Charlotte. Through the years she has evolved into a global citizen, dedicated to amplifying the voices of migrants.

“While it may sound somewhat cliché, I really connected to the Queens motto, ‘Not to be served, but to serve,'” she recalls. “As a prospective student, I knew I wanted to be in a university that would guide me toward a life of purpose and helping others.”

During her sophomore year, an immigration class ignited a fire within Dineen, inspiring her to champion the cause of migrant rights. This prompted her participation in Queens’ border immersion trip to El Paso, Texas. Each year, the trip provides Queens students with a dynamic learning opportunity through engaged and enriching encounters with diverse people, cultures, and worldviews. Through direct engagement with asylum seekers, she gained firsthand knowledge of the challenges they face, including food insecurity, inadequate shelter, and the emotional toll of displacement.

“Through the Belk Chapel border immersion experience, students combine in-depth academic study with an immersive experience of life on the US/Mexico border,” said Queens Chaplain Adrian Bird. “These experiences and encounters are often deeply transformative, empowering students to envision new journeys of learning and discovery to make a positive impact in the world.”

Dineen recounts the impactful advice offered by Bird. “He told me, ‘Whatever you end up doing, just find what makes your heart tick,” she says. “I knew instantly that it was sharing the migrant experience.”

Dineen’s quest to help migrants did not stop at the border. In the early months of 2024, she learned about a grant provided by Projects for Peace, a prestigious global program that partners with educational institutions to identify and support young peacebuilders. With an application deadline looming, she submitted a project idea focusing on the voice of migrants. It was accepted and she became the first Queens student to receive this honor.

Driven by a desire to connect with those journeying through South America, Dineen spent three months in Guatemala during the summer of 2024. She immersed herself in the lives of people undertaking the arduous journey north, working closely with the team at The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA). This educational institution empowers individuals through training, accompaniment, and reflection spaces, serving women and men from diverse Christian backgrounds.

As Dineen listened to the stories of those she encountered, she sought to understand their deepest hopes and fears. One particularly poignant conversation centered around the concept of peace that Dineen had with a teacher from the Francisco Coll School, located just outside of Guatemala City. “Peace starts from within,” the teacher said. “And then extends to the family, then the community and beyond.” This simple yet profound statement underscored the enduring power of human connection, even amidst adversity.

Though fleeting, Dineen’s encounters with the migrants left an indelible mark. As a tangible reminder of their shared journey, she gifted Polaroid photos, capturing moments of human connection that would endure. “While it wasn’t much, it was a small gift that they could take with them to remember this moment of connection,” she recounts.

“I would love to talk to other students about this experience because it was genuinely life-changing,” she said. “I think the people my age are the people that should be getting into this. I want the voices of the migrants to be received, heard, and understood.”

After graduating, Dineen is eager to return to Guatemala, carrying with her the stories of the migrants she encountered. She envisions a future where young people, like herself, are at the forefront of social change, advocating for basic human rights and dignity.