Loyola University Chicago

Campus Ministry

Division of Mission Integration

Rev. Emily Heitzman, M.Div, M.A.

Campus Minister for Faith and Justice

Terry Student Center, Room 301C

312.915.6467

eheitzman@luc.edu

Rev. Emily Heitzman (she/her) serves as the Campus Minister for Faith and Justice and is at based at Loyola University Chicago's downtown Water Tower Campus. In this role, she provides pastoral care, support, and faith formation opportunities for students, plans and directs faith and justice-based activites, and coordinates Labre, a ministry where Loyola students build relationships with their neighbors who are experiencing street homelessness.

Emily came to Loyola in the spring of 2024 after working at National Louis University as the Associate Director of Campus and Community Resources. There, she managed the Food Pantry and basic needs hub for students experiencing housing and food insecurity and coordinated voter engagement, advocacy, and volunteer opportunities. Prior to her time at NLU, she served as the shared Pastor with Youth and Households at three Lutheran (ELCA) congregations in the neighborhood of Edgewater, where she founded and led a multicultural and ecumenical youth and young adult ministry for 11 years. 

Emily received her BA in Vocal Music Performance at the University of Nebraska and her M.Div. and M.A. in Music Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 2013, she was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church-USA. For over a decade, Emily has partnered with interfaith and grassroots organizations that build community and collective power to elimiate bigotry and injustice. Some of these organizations include: ONE Northside, Edgewater Community Religious Association, Daughters of Abraham, Chicago Coalition for Welcoming Churches, and the Interfaith Roundtable on Homelessness. She has a strong passion for creating safe and brave spaces for youth and young adults to explore, express, and live fully as their authentic selves. In her free time, Emily serves as the part-time pastor at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, where she preaches and presides once a month and leads the Youngish Adult Ministry. She loves hiking in the mountains, listening to live music, participating in drum circles, biking along Lake Michigan, and singing opera and musical theatre.