Just one look at Frank Marino’s resume could give anybody a heart attack. The 20 year old is the Director of Administration of Slow Food Northeastern, Executive Director of Peace through Play and a Resident Assistant on campus. Plus, he volunteers as a tour guide through the Husky Ambassador group and is a member of the Progressive Student Alliance and NU Pride.
“At first I wanted to have such a huge impact on Northeastern that they would name a building after me,” joked Frank. “But then I found out there was already a Marino center, so I gave up on that plan.”
“But in all seriousness, the real reason I’m so involved on campus is because I love having a good time,” explained the motivated Northeastern middler. “Whatever I can do to make other people’s experience more awesome, I want to do it!”
The most recent addition to Frank’s schedule has been his commitment to Slow Food Northeastern, which recently attained status as an official student group on campus.
“I was hesitant to take on another commitment in my already over committed schedule, but I saw it as a great opportunity for me to engage in dialogue around food issues with other people and as a clear way for me to effect positive change regarding food on my campus,” explained Frank.
There are so few educational opportunities that involve learning about food issues, including nutrition and sustainability, Frank felt that pushing for Slow Food to become an official student group on campus was an important use of his time. “We faced a lot of opposition from the student board that governs student groups, despite much support from other students, faculty and even the head of NU’s dining services,” he explained. “However, we were adamant about our group and the cause, and did everything we could to prove that Northeastern students wanted this group.”
Because of his commitment to Slow Food, Frank thinks a lot more about food than the average Northeastern student. He even gets a Google news alert to his email just for food. Though the dining halls on campus are one of the ongoing battles the group is facing, he notes how receptive they’ve been in regard to a push for healthier options. “This year I’ve seen a lot of local foods pop up here and there,” he said.
When it comes to Peace Through Play, Frank has been involved since he was a freshman. “I was in search of a group through which I could meet people who shared my interest in social justice,” he said. “Little did I know that I would fall head over heels with the group’s mission, its work, and its members!”
The group works with young children in schools across the city by implementing games in the classroom to emphasize peaceful interactions. Frank taught a kindergarten class at the Nathan Hale school in Roxbury where the curriculum was based on teaching the children why they are special and unique. “Getting to sing the “I Am Special” song with an adorable group of five year olds every Wednesday was not only an awesome way to escape from the stresses of college life but one of the most fun and rewarding things I’ve ever done!”
Don’t worry – it’s not all work for Frank all the time. On his off days, you can catch him swimming at the beach (he’s a Jersey native) or longboarding. And even with his packed schedule, ask Frank what his claim to fame is and he’ll tell you all about his four minute appearance on MTV.
“I interviewed Alan Khazei, the CEO of City Year, for an mtvU spot called ‘My Shot With…’. I like to think I’m proud I ended up on this MTV show and not a certain other show about my beautiful home state…”