The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics invites applications from current Santa Clara University sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) for the Hackworth Fellowships in Applied Ethics.
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics invites applications near the end of the current academic year from Santa Clara University sophomores and juniors for the Hackworth Fellowships in Applied Ethics. Selection of Fellows will be made before the close of the current academic year. Students who are selected as Fellows will serve in the fellowship as juniors and seniors during the following academic year.
The goal of the program is to have Fellows engage more deeply with the application of ethics to a topic of concrete concern, to complete an important project related to that concern, and to grow as an ethical leader. In order to pursue this goal, Fellows are expected either to develop their own programs in an area of interest to them or to work with existing programs at the Ethics Center. These programs can be on as wide a range of topics and use as wide a range of methods as are of interest to each fellow.
The Fellowships are for the full duration of the academic year and fellowship recipients receive a stipend of $4,000.
The Hackworth Fellowships are supported by a gift from Joan and the late Michael Hackworth.
During the course of the Fellowship, Fellows are expected to spend four to five hours a week on Fellowship activities including a seminar that meets every other week throughout the academic year. Fellows are also expected, when possible, to participate in Ethics Center events. Some preparatory work may be required of Fellows during the summer before senior year.
Fellows are expected to be enrolled as students at SCU for the fall, winter, and spring quarters of their fellowship year.
During the application period students will need to complete a Hackworth Fellowship Application. More information will be available during the spring quarter for fellowship opportunities for the following academic year.
As part of the application process, students will be asked to provide:
- a statement of areas of interest and/or ideas for projects that might be pursued during their year as a Hackworth Fellow.
- a recommendation from a faculty or staff member.
- a transcript. Transfer students will need to provide a transcript from their previous college or university as well as their SCU transcript.
The Fellowship is open to students from all majors. However, a demonstrated interest in ethics is a factor in favor of an applicant.
This is a wonderful opportunity to do creative work at the intersection of ethics and many different fields of study and work. Fellowship projects might, for instance, engage with other students or with an on-campus organization on an ethical theme of great importance. Or a project might involve working on a topic in ethics with an off-campus organization. Or a project might involve doing a major research paper on a topic in applied ethics. Or a project might involve working closely with an Ethics Center staff member on a project in one of their respective fields (see below). Or a project might be something great that we haven't done before and that you come up with!
- Ethics and Campus Life: The Ethics Center is looking for a team of three to five fellows (a mix of current sophomores and juniors) who will work to engage the Ethics Center with students on campus. Think of the ethical dimension of big issues on campus now, or think of your interest in the ethical dimension of an issue that no one else is talking about.
- Business and Leadership Ethics
- Medical, Bioengineering/Biotech, and Public Health Ethics
- Journalism and Media Ethics
- Technology and Ethics
- Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
- Ethics and Homelessness
- Religious and Catholic Ethics
Meet the 2023-24 Hackworth Fellows
We introduce the 2023-24 Hackworth Fellows by sharing self-selected information about their academic achievements, career pursuits, hobbies, interests, influences, and favorite quotes. The Ethics Center looks forward to working and connecting with this extraordinary group of SCU students during the 2023-24 academic year and beyond.
Armando Abarca
Hello! My name is Armando Abarca and I am a Finance student entering my senior year. I grew up in Los Banos, located in the Central Valley of California. Countless hours spent doing outdoor, manual labor have modeled me into someone who values hard work and effort. I plan to use this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding on how to be an ethical leader and give back to the SCU community that has treated me so well. In my professional life, I will create a successful startup that will provide significant value and, one day, allow me to travel the world with the important people in my life.
"If you look at things through the lens of whatever it is that you are trying to achieve, then the world becomes your library and there is nothing that cannot be learned from anything" - Eve Ihca
Blaise Burbank
Blaise Burbank is a senior majoring in Religious Studies and minoring in Sociology. She is excited to research with the Campus Ethics team to promote an ethical SCU community. She is from Memphis, TN and enjoys camping and hiking in her free time!
"It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world." - Mary Oliver
Laura Clark
Laura Clark is a senior majoring in Philosophy and Religious Studies with an emphasis in Ethics and Values. Originally from Durango Colorado, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and trying new restaurants. Driven by a desire to improve equity, empathy, and community, she seeks to better understand issues of embodiment, human dignity, and human agency. After taking two courses on technology ethics and recognizing the impending impact that AI will have on the next generations, she was inspired to examine the ethical challenges ahead. Laura's research will additionally consider the relationship between technology and religion, specifically using a Catholic theological lens. Laura's interest in the sociological effects of religion and the intersection between religion and personal morality guides her project design. She will ask questions such as can AI be conscious, does AI have agency, can AI be religious, and what is "person-centered" AI? Laura hopes to educate herself, other students, and her community about the importance of embedding good values into the technologies we use, particularly that of AI.
"Education is the most important weapon you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela
Tatum Diemer
Tatum Diemer is a finance major with additional minors in business analytics and sustainability. Born and raised in Colorado, he was inspired by the development of various ecological movements and sustainable initiatives founded by local businesses. He is excited to work with the Markkula Center as a Hackworth Fellow and the opportunity to explore the ethical intersections of business and sustainability as it unfolds on the global stage.
"All generalizations are false, including this one" - Mark Twain
Sparsh Garg
As a Computer Science and Finance double-major at Santa Clara University and an active contributor to diverse fields, I'm excited to bring my multi-disciplinary approach to the Hackworth Fellowship in Applied Ethics. Having already gathered experience in ethical and practical challenges through my roles at NASA Ames Research Center, Santa Clara University, and DoBid, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to delve deeper into the realm of ethics.
My keen interest in and understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality, backed by practical experience in creating simulations and digital platforms, make me particularly interested in exploring the ethics related to these areas. I believe in the power of technology to drive societal change, but also recognize the profound ethical dilemmas that can arise in this intersection.
I bring to the table a vibrant mix of technical skills, teaching experience, and an aptitude for communication in multiple languages, along with a desire to investigate ethical conundrums at the heart of our digital world. I am thrilled at the prospect of being a Hackworth Fellow and undertaking a project that delves into these critical areas of AI and VR ethics. I look forward to fostering open dialogues on campus and potentially creating an ethical framework that helps navigate the uncharted waters of advanced technology.
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking." -Steve Jobs
Kinsey Hall
I am a Senior majoring in Economics with a Data Analysis emphasis and Political Science. I am from Boulder, Colorado, and in my time at Santa Clara I have been involved with the Women's Cross Country and Track team and the Economics Student Association. I have found a passion for understanding homelessness and investigating policy solutions throughout my internship with Palo Alto City Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims and my research in the Santa Clara Urban Issues Lab, and I can't wait to learn more about the ethics of homelessness throughout my fellowship. I love doing anything outdoors in my free time, including rock climbing, snowboarding, and backpacking!
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine
Daisy Halaszyn
“Take these broken wings and learn to fly / All your life / You were only waiting for this moment to arise." - Paul McCartney / John Lennon
Francis Lai
Francis Lai is a senior public health major and biology minor from Cupertino, CA. He is interested in addressing health disparities and how this intersects with bioethics. Francis is excited to further develop his ethical toolbox through his project! In his free time, he likes to play basketball and work out.
"Character is what you are in the dark" - Dwight Moody
Chisomaga Nlemigbo
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius
Xiomara Quinonez
Xiomara is a senior majoring in Computer Science and Engineering and minoring in Technical Innovation, Design, & Entrepreneurship, originally from San Jose, CA. She is passionate about raising awareness of the way that AI systems can be developed in a biased manner. She will research ways AI systems — particularly biometrics facial recognition — can negatively impact minorities and ways that these systems can be developed more ethically. Outside of school, Xiomara enjoys hiking, baking, and trying new coffee shops.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ―Theodore Roosevelt
Isabella Reyes
I am a rising senior Neuroscience major and Biology minor and part of the University Honors Program. Growing up with a sibling with Asperger’s Syndrome and volunteering with disabled individuals has made me curious as to why disability is commonly overlooked in the diversity conversation. My mission is to open up spaces and platforms for students with disabilities, promote greater community awareness, and see how we can better accommodate the needs of current and future SCU students. With the Office of Accessible Education and my other amazing faculty mentors such as Dr. Molly King, I work as an ally of the disabled community on special projects to bring disability awareness to the forefront on campus.
On campus, I am also involved as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Benjamin Stokes’ Lab, studying the design and synthesis of promesogenic ligands. Additionally, I am the co-president to the Health Professions Peer Advising program. Outside of work and school, I enjoy playing piano, am an avid flyer, and Advanced Ground Instructor. I have a love for mentorship and teaching the next generation. One way I able to do this is through my free ground school curriculum for aspiring pilots.
“You can't change the world alone - you will need some help - and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.” - William H. McRaven
Kendall Schrohe
Kendall Schrohe is a Philosophy major with a minor in Entrepreneurship minor and is originally from Riverside, Connecticut. Starting at Santa Clara as a freshman in 2020, Kendall quickly began to notice how difficult it was for individuals to create deeper and more meaningful connections on campus and how much effort it took for people to feel like they were part of a community. This inspired Kendall to become a Hackworth Fellow in efforts of understanding the causes behind these problems and also in hopes of creating stronger bonds on campus. In her free time Kendall enjoys painting, being in nature, finding new music, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family. Kendall is so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to work with the Markkula center and the other fellows!
"Freedom lies in being bold." - Robert Frost
Ben Shiverdaker
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious," -Albert Einstein
Justin Sun
"Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it." - Stephen Hawking
Willa Weinsheimer
Willa is a senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Journalism. She is from Whidbey Island, WA and loves to spend time adventuring outside with friends. Throughout this fellowship she hopes to build a greater understanding of the role that journalists play within democracy, and how they can best harness their power to influence positive change.
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu
Hydeia Wysinger
"Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives." —Michelle Obama