Sister Spotlight: Josie Marcum

Josie Marcum is entering her junior year at Ball State University. She is an Organizational Communication major with minors in Management and Social Work.

In the beginning, Josie thought she was going to Purdue. Her father as well as her friends chose Purdue, so she thought that was her path as well. As time went on and she visited the campus, Josie realized it just wasn’t for her. To Josie, it just didn’t feel like home. When she toured Ball State, however, it drew her in right away. She loved the campus, the opportunities, and everything that Ball State had to offer her.

Josie always loved philanthropy. In her junior year of high school, she had to do a research paper, in which she read two books that had different stances and compared them. She read and researched about the downsides of philanthropy, such as hindering the advancement and development of communities that need it, while philanthropy can do so many great things, such as helping those in poverty, for example, who need it. After doing this project, she knew she was destined to create a career path of philanthropy. One goal Josie has is helping people get out of generational poverty. She would love to work for a nonprofit and work to make philanthropy more sustainable. Josie always knew what she wanted to do, yet she didn’t know what major to choose to align with her dreams. After meeting Laura O’Hara, a woman in the Ball State Communications department, Josie found her major. Laura made an impact on Josie and helped her choose a major that would align with her future goals. After she had chosen her major, Josie originally chose minors in management and sustainability, however, it was more of environmental sustainability and she needed more economic sustainability, so she tailored her minor to include social work instead.

Josie has been loving her internship at Northern Indiana Community Foundation, or, NCIF. NCIF does donor wishes where they put the donor’s money into stocks so their gifts can continue to grow, these gifts being philanthropic based. This is Josie’s second summer with NCIF. Josie said, “If you want to give money, donate. They will find out the best way to give it.” If an individual wanted to start a fund in someone’s name or even give money to a fund that already exists, NCIF can help you.

Josie loves shopping, getting her nails done, and enjoys doing her makeup and playing with it. Josie is a hamster mom to Basil, describing, “I absolutely love animals. All animals I am in love with. I love my hamster. I play with her all the time.” Josie loves to travel whenever she can. Currently, Josie has been enjoying hiking and visiting national parks.

Josie is Kappa Kappa’s Community Service chair. This is her second year in the position. Josie said it was perfect for her, explaining, “It aligned with what I love and what I’m passionate about.” Josie’s freshman year of college, she ran for the position and has been loving it ever since. Josie loves having the opportunity to reach out to the community and talk to sisters on how they can get involved locally. Josie wanted to run for the position again this past election term because she loves it so much. Josie explained, “It really goes along with my passion so it works out perfectly.” This past spring, she wanted to do more one-time events, but unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented these service-based events from occurring. One of Josie’s favorite parts of being Community Service chair is AOServes week. AOServes is a week-long opportunity for community service and outreach. Josie said, “It’s fun to get together with sisters and be able to help out in the community and get out into Muncie.”

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