Skip to Content
  • facebook
  • X
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • flickr
  • WAGNER.EDU
  • A-Z
    A
    • Academic Advising & Accessibility
    • Academic and Cultural Enrichment
    • Admissions
    • Alumni & Friends
    • Anthropology Department
    • Arts Administration
    • Athletics
    B
    • Biological Sciences Department
    • Bookstore
    • Business, Nicolais School
    • Business Office
    C
    • Calendar
    • Campus Life
    • Campus Safety
    • Campus Services
    • Career Planning & Development
    • Center for Intercultural Advancement
    • Center for Leadership & Community Engagement
    • Center for Spirituality
    • Children & Teens Programs
    • Commencement
    • Communications & Marketing
    • Conference Services
    • Continuing Education
    D
    • Dance Program
    • Dining Services
    E
    • Early Childhood Center
    • Education Department
    • English Department
    • Expanding Your Horizons
    F
    • Film & Media
    • Film & Photo Shoots
    • Financial Aid
    G
    • Gender Studies
    • Government & Politics Department
    • Give to Wagner
    H
    • HawkTalk Blog
    • Health & Wellness
    • History Department
    • Holocaust Center
    • Honors Program
    • Human Resources
    I
    • Information Technology
    • Institutional Advancement
    L
    • Library
    • Lifelong Learning Department
    M
    • Math & Computer Science
    • Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures
    • Music Department
    N
    • Newsroom
    • New Students Hub
    • Nursing, Evelyn L. Spiro School
    P
    • Performing Arts
    • Philosophy & Religious Studies Department
    • Physical Sciences Department
    • Physician Assistant
    • Planetarium
    • Pre-Health Science Program
    • Pre-Law Program
    • President’s Office
    • Provost’s Office
    • Psychology Department
    R
    • Registrar
    • Residential Education
    S
    • Sociology Department
    • Student Engagement and Activities
    • Student Government Association
    • Study Abroad
    T
    • Theatre
    • Theatre Season
    • Title IX
    V
    • Veteran’s Resources
    • Visual Arts Department
    W
    • Wagner Fund
    • Wagner Magazine
    • WCBG Student Radio
    • Writing Center
  • QuickLinks
    ONLINE
    • Directory
    • Follett Discover Access
    • Handshake
    • Mailport
    • Moodle
    • myWagner
    • OneLogin
    ON CAMPUS
    • Events Calendar
    • Job Opportunities
    • Library
    • Registrar’s Office
    • Theatre Season
    • Visit Us
    • Webcam
    MORE RESOURCES
    • For Employees
    • For Faculty
    • For Current Students
    • For New Students
    • For Community
    • For Alumni
    • For Parents
Wagner College Newsroom
  • Wagner In the News
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Newsroom MENU
    • WAGNER.EDU
    - Prev Article Wagner grad volunteers at Greek refugee camp - Next Article
    February 1, 2016 Share
    Share on facebook
    Facebook
    Share on twitter
    Twitter
    Share on google
    Google
    Share on linkedin
    Linkedin
    Share on pinterest
    Pinterest
    Share on email
    Email
    Text Size

    After getting her degree in English from Wagner College in May 2015, Mallory Lee did what most college students do: She got a job. For several months, she worked for Zomato, a global restaurant website, where she wrote and edited content for its app.

    When Zomato had to downsize its corporation and lay off employees, Lee made a major life decision to follow her heart, first travelling to Turkey in early December, and then from there to the island of Lesvos, Greece, to volunteer as an aid worker at the Moria refugee camp. Since the intensification of the crisis in Syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees have found their way to such camps established by the European Union, the United Nations and transnational aid organizations.

    Group 1
    Left: Mallory Lee (center) with coworkers at Moria Refugee Camp. Right: Mallory Lee shares a moment with refugee family.

    When Lee first arrived in Lesvos, she had no place to live and did not know where she would be working. Paying her way out of her own pocket, she soon began working with an organization called Better Days for Moria.

    For the past six weeks, Lee has been reporting on her work and her experiences with sensitivity and grace. Her friends, colleagues, former teachers and family members who have had the privilege of reading her reports on social media have benefited from her insight and thoughtful writing. Responding to the intense emotions of such tragic circumstances, her instinct is always to acknowledge the complexity of the conditions that motivate refugees to leave their homeland and the humanity that they all share. As she told one journalist, "everyone thinks I'm doing something sacrificial, and I hardly see it as a sacrifice. It's a gift to work here; my mind has been opened in ways unimaginable." Each day, she witnesses the frustration of the refugees, but together they also find joy in their shared life together. Her own account of her experience — quoted at length in an on-line story you can read here — is inspiring and full of wisdom.

    Group 2
    Moria refugee camp

    Recently, a network of aid organizations (including the one Lee works with) has been nominated for a Nobel Peace prize — but as Lee acknowledges, she doesn't see conditions improving anytime soon. More needs to be done, not only to help the refugees but also to combat ignorance about them.

      • English Department News
      • Homepage Feature
      • Wagner News

    Popular Stories

    • Ladenburg table Ladenburg table

      Wagner College Represented at International Psychology Summit

      July 15, 2025

    • Report card Report card

      Fall 2024 Dean’s List

      February 5, 2025

    • Allstate e1696561513290 Allstate e1696561513290

      If you’ve watched these movies, shows and ads, then you already know Wagner College

      October 9, 2023
     

    Related Stories

    Ladenburg tableHidden Image July 15, 2025 Wagner College Represented at International Psychology Summit Earlier this summer, Wagner College reached the global stage when psychology Professor Laurence J. Nolan participated in an exclusive international roundtable on emotional eating research.
    rb resize 1Hidden Image June 27, 2025 Wagner Alum, Former Chairman Robert O’Brien Passes Away at 81 The Wagner College community is mourning a former trustees chairman who devoted much of his life to bettering his alma mater and his community.
    Wagner College stone sign1Hidden Image June 17, 2025 Higher Ed Authority Carnegie: Wagner Graduates Earn More The newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education has designated Wagner College a “higher earnings” school for alumni.
    annfrank artHidden Image June 13, 2025 Teens Create Artworks Inspired by Anne Frank Students from public and parochial schools across Staten Island were invited to submit works of visual and written art to the Wagner College Holocaust Center in honor of the “life, courage and spirit” of Anne Frank.
    career activator 1Hidden Image June 10, 2025 Career-Prep Program Blends Class, Employer Experiences Now preparing its fifth cohort of Wagner College students, the Career Activator Program has helped numerous students with professional career development over the years.
    Wagner College stone sign1Hidden Image June 2, 2025 Wagner Student Named 2025–2026 Newman Civic Fellow The prestigious yearlong fellowship recognizes student leaders who are committed to creating positive change in their communities.
    PT108146Hidden Image May 23, 2025 Spotlight on Student Success at Senior Awards Wagner College recognized the academic achievement, leadership, and service of its graduating seniors during the 2025 Senior Awards Ceremony.
    wagner graduation 8Hidden Image May 22, 2025 Wagner College Bids Farewell to the Class of 2025 Despite the rain, spirits and smiles were bright upon the hill last Thursday and Friday, where the commencement ceremonies for the Wagner College Class of 2025 proceeded with much enthusiasm.
    IMG 3396 1 scaled e1747837528133Hidden Image May 21, 2025 In Perfect Harmony: A Life in Lessons and Lyrics Skill builds some careers, while passion builds others. For Wagner College alum Charles Poveromo, more commonly known by his stage name of Charlie Romo, he’s blessed with both.  
     
    • Wagner Magazine

      Stories from alumni around the world.

      Read the magazine

    • Contact the newsroom

      communications@wagner.edu

    • Visit Campus
    • Explore Majors
    • Library
    • Make a Gift
    Wagner College
    Work One Campus Road
    Staten Island, NY 10301
    • CONTACT US
    • Privacy Policy
    Back top