From an early age, Glorymar “Glo” Mendez-Perez had a heart for helping others. She recalls a story her mother loves to tell—one that, in hindsight, foreshadowed the calling God had placed on her life.
“I was five years old when I heard my mom crying, and I ran to her, asking what was wrong. Then I began giving her an entire counseling session on why she didn’t have to feel sad anymore and how God could heal her pain,” Glo recalls. “From that moment on, my mom knew God had placed a gift inside of me to counsel others and help them through painful experiences.”
That early instinct to help others, paired with a deep fascination with psychology, led her to pursue a path that merges faith, mental health, and ministry. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to understanding how the mind works,” she says. “I’d spend my free time learning about mental disorders, and I’ve always been intrigued by true crime stories—not just to understand the crimes, but to look deeper at the trauma and experiences that shaped the people who committed them. So often, there’s a deeper wound.”
Glo’s heart for redemption and healing took root in high school, when she felt called to become a correctional psychologist—a career dedicated to helping incarcerated individuals process trauma, seek healing, and ultimately, experience the transformative love of Christ.
“I believe every single person deserves to feel the unexplainable love of Jesus, including prisoners,” she says. “We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. I want to be somebody God can use to bring light into a broken and vulnerable population.”
Faith, psychology, and the call to serve
For Glo, faith and psychology don’t just coexist—they strengthen each other. “I feel like God has helped me see prisoners through the lens that He sees them—full of love and mercy,” she explains. “So many people in prison are forgotten by the world, completely shunned, as if they’re beyond hope. But Hebrews 13:3 reminds us, ‘Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.’ God didn’t give exceptions. He calls us to love and walk alongside them, no matter what they’ve done.”
This perspective shapes her approach to psychology. Beyond diagnosing disorders or developing treatment plans, she sees her future work as a way to plant seeds of hope and redemption. “I want prisoners to experience the kind of love that is free of judgment and full of hope,” she says. “Psychology gives me the tools to help them heal, but it’s God who can truly transform hearts.”
In a perfect world, she envisions her role expanding beyond therapy sessions. “I would love to lead worship in prisons, have Bible studies, and even see prisoners baptized,” she says. “I pray that one day, prison populations will be restored with hope for a brighter future.”
A leap of faith to NCU
Glo’s journey to North Central University is a testament to her deep trust that God will provide. “I used to watch NCU Worship Live at my youth camp and thought it was my dream school,” she says. “But when it came time to apply for college, I only applied to NCU as a joke. I thought it was too expensive, too far from home, and simply not realistic.”
But God had other plans.
“After I got accepted, I felt the Lord leading me to take it seriously. I had no way to afford it, but I trusted Him and paid the deposit anyway,” she says. “Everyone thought I was crazy, but I just knew God would provide.”
And He did.
She discovered the Regents Scholarship, a full-tuition award given to just one incoming freshman each year. “The Lord told me to apply, and I did,” she recalls. “After about a month, I got a letter saying I was the recipient. My family and I burst into tears. God made a way for me to go to my dream school.”
Since arriving at NCU, her experience has only confirmed her calling. “The professors here don’t just teach—they invest in you,” she says. “Dr. Andy Schuttinga, my professor and advisor, has had an incredible impact on me. His classes have deepened my love for psychology, and he intertwines faith and science so beautifully. I’ve been brought to tears in his lectures because of the realness and vulnerability he brings.”
The respect between student and professor is mutual
“Glo is possibly one of the sunniest and most genuine personalities of any student I’ve had over the last seven years,” Dr. Schuttinga says. Beyond her warmth and signature pink sweatsuits, he saw something deeper—a serious backbone, grit, and a calling from God.
“Working with incarcerated people is a unique challenge,” Dr. Schuttinga shares. “As we talked together about the difficulties, I could see her resolve growing stronger. She’s tough enough for this work, and she’s truly called to it.”
A heart for worship and leadership
Glo’s time at NCU hasn’t been just about academics—it’s also been about worship. As a chapel worship leader, she’s seen firsthand how passionately NCU students pursue God.
“The atmosphere in chapel is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” she says. “Leading worship at NCU has deepened my faith in ways I never expected. I get to pour into the student body, but I also receive so much from them.”
This year, she stepped into a leadership role for Worship Live. “It’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “Now, I’m not just thinking about leading worship—I’m leading a team and making sure we serve our campus well.”
Restoring hope, one life at a time
Looking ahead, Glo’s vision is clear: She wants to be a bridge between psychology and ministry, helping incarcerated individuals find healing—not just emotionally, but spiritually.
“I want prisoners to know that this doesn’t have to be the end for them,” she says. “They can change. They can heal. They can be forgiven.”
She also hopes to shift public perception of those who are incarcerated. “So many people see prisoners as lost causes, unredeemable,” she says. “But that thinking is completely unbiblical. No amount of sin separates us from God’s love. I want to show prisoners that they are children of God, deeply loved and never beyond redemption.”
She believes the NCU community, alumni, and supporters can play a role in this mission through prayer.
“Pray that we’ll have the strength and resilience to handle the hard moments,” she says. “That we’ll become the people prisoners need—people who see them with compassion, not judgment. And that God will open doors for healing, transformation, and new beginnings.”
For Glo, this calling isn’t just about helping people—it’s about restoring hope. And she can’t wait to see what God will do next.
