Just weeks before starting college, Liberty Anderson stepped into a role that took her into the heart of Walla Walla, where she lent a hand with yard work for elderly residents and helped local nonprofits with big needs and small budgets. "I got to see so many sides of the community that I never would have known about," she says. “It really gave me a sense of belonging, even when I was so far from home.”
As a freshman from Orlando, Florida, Anderson was unsure what her major would lead to or how she would find her place on the other side of the country. However, she was driven by a desire to be part of something bigger than herself. That "something bigger" turned out to be the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) at Walla Walla University.
During her four years with CHE, Anderson took on more responsibilities over the years. She learned to plan large-scale service days, collaborate with city partners, and connect with people facing real challenges. She brought dedication, compassion, and leadership to every role she held—mentoring fellow students and building lasting relationships across the community.
One memorable experience came from leading a group of students on a disaster relief trip after a hailstorm hit the city of Wallowa. This time, she also brought a friend along, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone. By the end of the trip, her friend was hooked on service too and later applied to work at CHE. Experiences like that reminded Anderson why she loved the work. "Even when the work was hard—sleeping on floors, cooking meals together, clearing debris all day—it was worth it, because it really helped people," she says.
Working at CHE didn’t just help Anderson help others, it also helped her discover who she wanted to become. The experience revealed the importance of community, the fulfillment of giving back, and her love for building something meaningful alongside. Her time at CHE shaped her decision to pursue a career in humanitarian work and community impact. Upon graduation, she took those lessons into a new chapter—joining the Abbott Health Leadership Residency, with the long-term goal of working in development and fundraising.
Reflecting on her four years at Walla Walla University, Anderson says that her time at CHE prepared her for life after college more than anything else. "I learned how to lead, how to work on a team, how to plan big events and projects, and how to build real relationships," she says. "It gave me so many opportunities to take ownership and grow."
For Anderson, CHE turned a campus into a community. It was a place that instilled purpose beyond the classroom and built skills that will last beyond graduation day. “If you see a need, CHE is the place where you can make it happen. It’s a place you can shape, and it’ll shape you, too.”
Walla Walla University is a home for your ideas, your passion, and your heart for helping others. Discover how much you can grow through building community and making an impact—it’s never too late to be part of something bigger with CHE.
Posted Jan. 13, 2026
