The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

The Student News Site of Saint Louis University

The University News

Let Us Introduce You: Emily Burghoff

John+Schuler+%2F+Photo+Editor%0ADancing%3A+Two+students+celebrating+at+the+Dia+de+los+Muertos+event%2C+hosted+by+HALO.+
John Schuler / Photo Editor Dancing: Two students celebrating at the Dia de los Muertos event, hosted by HALO.

Head of Habitat dedicated to education, service

John Schuler / Photo Editor
John Schuler / Photo Editor



Emily Burghoff is a woman with a passion for service. She currently serves as one of the two co-presidents of SLU’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity and has been a big sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for the past three years.

An English Education and Urban Affairs major, Burghoff seeks to use her degrees to better the city she grew up in.

“I originally went into Urban Affairs to try to better St. Louis, and then realized that one root to many urban problems is a lack of education, so I added the second major to attempt to attack the origins of the problem and create real change,” she said.

As a senior, she will student-teach grades five through seven in language arts next semester at De La Salle Middle School. Burghoff explains that she is thrilled “to actually and finally be going into the classroom. I realize it is going to be one of the most difficult tasks I will ever take on, but I think it will be one of the most rewarding.”

Story continues below advertisement

Beyond her love for education and service, Burghoff loves to discover new places in St. Louis. She explained that even though she grew up in the city, there is still so much that she has not explored. She explained that she sometimes “drive[s] around the city for hours and examine[s] the architectural beauty.”

Indeed, it is the passions for architecture, education and service that have led to her work with SLU Habitat for Humanity. As a freshman, Burghoff traveled to Hilton Head, S.C. over spring break to help build homes. After that week, she was hooked. She ran for an executive board position, and served as the Vice President of Fellowship as a sophomore.

Last year, she served as the Vice President of Education and Advocacy. This is where she found her niche educating the SLU community about the issues of substandard housing in the city and around the world. She encouraged club members to advocate for these issues, often bringing petitions to Monday night meetings to send to members of Congress, and bringing speakers such as Habitat homebuyers and the editor-in-chief of What’s Up St. Louis to Habitat events.

Burghoff explained that this position was important to her because “it is so vital to Habitat’s mission.

“It’s really easy to get caught up with strictly fundraising, but education and advocacy are equally as important. Without educating people on the issues of substandard housing, no one will know to advocate. Without advocacy, we can build as many houses as we can, yet the underlying issues will still be there,” she said.

Burghoff loves sandwiches and, on weekends, you can find her at Blues City Deli in Benton Park, Legrands in South City or Snarfs in Central West End. A Diet Coke aficionado, Burghoff estimates she drinks around eight cans per day and can describe the exact differences between Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke. She also promises that she successfully completed the saltine cracker challenge — six crackers in a minute — twice.

Leave a Comment
Donate to The University News
$1410
$750
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Saint Louis University. Your contribution will help us cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The University News
$1410
$750
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All The University News Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *