Dec. 19, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- When the state government decided to place a specialist on Grand Rapids Community College’s campus to help students connect to outside resources, it turned to Marjri Weller.
As a specialist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, she’s familiar with state and local sources that help with housing, food and child care. As a GRCC alumna, she’s familiar with the struggles that students face as they work toward a college education.
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“What caught my eye about this new partnership is being able to help students in whatever they need because I was once a student here at GRCC,” she said. “I have always wanted to give back, and this is the best way that I can.”
Weller plans to draw on her GRCC experiences in her new post.
“The staff, professors and counselors were so kind and patient, and they taught me how to navigate through this big world as a young adult,” she said. “I was not familiar with filling out financial aid paperwork or how to go about signing up for the right classes, but it did not matter. They walked me through everything with patience and understanding. There was no judgment; they were so nice, and no matter how small I felt asking them all these questions, the staff kindly assisted and did it with a smile.”
After earning her associate degree in 1999, Weller earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Aquinas College and a master’s degree in communication from Grand Valley State University.
GRCC is the only college in the state to have a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services staff member assigned to it. Weller, who has worked for the state for 12 years, is located on the Student Center’s third floor, where she handles 150 to 200 cases.
“GRCC is where my career and love for people and customer service began,” she said.
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