From a thriving advertising career to a mission-driven role in student ministry, the Elon graduate embraces her new calling in Europe.
Marisa Moody’s journey, shaped by her time at Elon University and her early career success, highlights how a strong sense of purpose can lead to meaningful transformation.

As a Communications Fellow and strategic communications major, Moody thrived at Elon, excelling in academics and leaving her mark through extracurricular activities. She was integral to Live Oak Communications, leading the student-run agency to its first Gold ADDY Award. Beyond that, she was actively involved in Catholic Campus Ministry and the university’s American Advertising Federation chapter. Recognized as the school’s top strategic communications student, Moody also completed six impressive internships, including stints with BBDO, Wieden + Kennedy and Pace Communications.
After graduating, Moody began her career in New York City through Ogilvy’s prestigious Associates Program and spent four years working on IBM’s global business initiatives. Her journey then took her to Berlin, where she collaborated with Publicis on high-profile projects for Mercedes-Benz and Nivea. These early career achievements earned her the university’s Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award in 2023.

However, that same year, Moody made a bold decision, and she elected to step away from the advertising industry to pursue a new path.
“Elon really nurtured my excitement for the power and potential of advertising to impact culture,” Moody said. “I genuinely enjoyed learning about different industries and shaping creative strategies to approach business challenges. But I reached a point where I questioned where the ladder I was climbing was leading, and if that’s where I wanted to land.”
Shortly after resigning, Moody attended a retreat in Herrnhut, Germany, where she discovered a way to meld her talents and passions. Immersed in the legacy of the Moravian Revival and inspired by student ministry leaders, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. When she learned about an opening for a communications director with the Revive Europe movement, the timing and opportunity felt like a perfect fit.
Today, Moody is a missionary with Revive Europe, a ministry dedicated to empowering young adults across Europe to seek spiritual renewal. Based in Berlin, Moody is part of the inaugural class of Revive’s Discipleship Training School, created in collaboration with Youth with a Mission Berlin.

Over the past year, Revive Europe has hosted student retreats in Denmark, London and Budapest, connecting hundreds of young adults with a shared vision of revival. Moody played a key role in organizing a New Year’s Eve conference in Krakow, Poland, which attracted nearly 1,500 students from across Europe. Her work with a 50-member volunteer team spans mobile app launches, social media campaigns, video production, merchandise design, and public relations.
“When I first felt called into missions, I honestly thought my communications career was over,” Moody said. “But letting God take the lead has been so much fun, and He doesn’t waste a thing. It’s a dream I didn’t know I had – building a creative community of Jesus lovers committed to seeing the church healthier and more alive than ever amongst the next generation of leaders in Europe.”
To learn more, visit Revive Europe’s website or www.marisamoody.com to subscribe to Moody’s newsletter.