Jill Anderson ’92 knew nothing about Southwestern before she received a letter from the Admission Office. “I was a financial aid kid. Southwestern was just perfect. It welcomed good students, regardless,” she says. After three to four majors, Anderson settled upon psychology. “I knew that I wanted to work with people.” Anderson’s bachelor’s degree in psychology led to her doctorate in developmental psychology and to her current position as the director of Hope for Houston, a faith-based outreach program designed to assist low-income families in the Houston area.

While at Southwestern, Anderson’s internships helped develop her skills of working with others, which have proven invaluable in her career. “After working at the Austin State Hospital, I came out ‘thinking.’ I now have daily exposure to people with mental illnesses.” Her experience in the Child Life Department at the Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital provided her with a chance to take what she was learning in the classroom and put it to work in the real world. “It solidified what I knew, and more importantly, what I didn’t know before I went into a job. Both were eye opening experiences.”

Two Southwestern professors also affected Anderson’s perspective on psychology. “Doug Hooker, professor emeritus of psychology, helped students find out who they were as individuals. He pushed us to develop into people who give back to society.” Jesse Purdy, professor of psychology, identified Anderson’s strengths in research. “After I graduated, Dr. Purdy asked me why I was not going to graduate school. I rolled my eyes at the time, but despite my own objections, I ended up going two years later.”

After graduate school, Anderson was on the research faculty at Baylor College of Medicine for eight years and then at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. “I always wanted to do something that not only mattered on an abstract level, but also impacted people right away,” she says. “Research makes an enormous impact, but it can be a long time before it directly affects the public. In my current job, I get to meet people where they are in their need and assist them with their everyday lives.”

Hope for Houston began in 2001 as a developing program for inner-city families. The goal was to someday open an independent family resource center. “Hurricanes Katrina and Rita really catapulted us into our current functions. Our hurricane response effort, Operation Hope, provided shelter and/or supplies for over 35,000 people in a six-week period. As a Red Cross Shelter, we housed as many as 165 people at one time and delivered supplies to other local overburdened shelters as well as storm-affected areas in east Texas and west Louisiana.” After the storms passed, Hope for Houston continued to work with displaced families and hosted a giant outreach event targeting hurricane evacuees and Houstonians living in poverty. “Our guests that day received groceries, clothes, shoes and household items, all free of charge. Altogether, over 100 tons of groceries and $1,250,000 of new clothes and shoes were distributed to more than 4,000 people.”

Anderson shares, “Working at Hope fur Houston puts everything into perspective for me on a daily basis. Things that we take for granted are most appreciated by those in need. After the hurricanes, toilet paper was like gold. Yesterday, two men came in and their biggest request was for shoe strings… Everyday, I am so appreciative of the blessings in my life. At the end of the day, it’s not the stuff; it’s the people that you have in your life that matter most.”

Anderson still plans to further develop Hope for Houston into a multi-purpose family resource center. “We continue to build a wonderful network with other social service programs. Eventually, we will have the resources to do full family assessments and anticipate future needs. With our network of service partners, we are building a community-based program that allows us to meet almost any given need. Our motto is pretty simple. If we have it, we give it. If we don’t have it, we’ll find out who does. Compassion is not a competitive sport. It is a contact sport. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty to make a difference.”

Anderson shares with current Southwestern students, “The things that matter most are usually right in front of you. Live your life on purpose.”