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 2025-26 Hackworth Fellows
We introduce the 2025-26 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 2025-26 academic year and beyond.
Sahana Chandramohan '26
Sahana Chandramohan is a student researcher double majoring in Computer Science and Engineering (CSEN) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECEN). She has conducted research in the Human-Computer Interaction Lab under Dr. Kai Lukoff for the past ten quarters and recently also joined Dr. Kurt Schab’s Electromagnetics and RF Lab for her senior thesis.
Outside of classes and research, Sahana has served on the boards of several student organizations at SCU and works as a TA in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.
As a Hackworth Fellow, she will explore technology and internet ethics with the Markkula Center, focusing on accessibility, accountability, and equity in digital spaces.
In her free time, you’re more likely than not to find Sahana reading in the grass, talking endlessly with close friends or simply enjoying the company of her loved ones.
"யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்" "Every land is our land, every people, our people." - Kaniyan Pungundranar
Shelly Cormier '26
I'm Shelly Cormier a double major in Gender & Sexuality and Philosophy with a Pre-law emphasis. I'm originally from Bellevue, WA. I've been working as a student inclusion educator on campus for the OML & RRC, i've often approached with ethical consideration and reflect often on how to hold space for so many identities on campus. Additionally, at my time at Santa Clara I have been a student athlete on the Women's Cross country team and Track and Field. In the Hackworth fellowship I seek to uncover the ethics of land and moral responsibility specifically, the land we reside on within the context of the Mission and the moral debt owed to Native populations. I want to examine questions such as: What do we owe to Native communities after centuries of historical and ongoing oppression? Is a land acknowledgment enough? I'm super thankful to have this opportunity to explore these questions in the Hackworth scholarship and use this as a catalyst to make more change on our campus. For future aspiration i would love to continue my journey at law school continuing to ask question's of who's being included and what are we doing to bridge disparities that should no longer exist.
"For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change." - Audre Lorde referenced in her essay "Master’s Tools Will Never Take Down the Master’s House"
Nicole Davari '26
My name is Nicole Davari and I am a senior at Santa Clara University majoring in Accounting with a pathway in Applied Ethics. She is passionate about the intersection of business and ethics, particularly how corporate influence shapes public policy and democratic accountability. As a Hackworth Fellow, I will be exploring the ethical boundaries of political engagement by corporations, examining where influence ends and manipulation begins.
We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” - Mary Catherine Bateson
Tate Dominguez '26
Ayden Eways '27
Ayden is a third-year student double majoring in Political Science and Music, with a minor in Spanish. She is passionate about advocacy, the arts, and community-building. Outside the classroom, Ayden enjoys singing and playing the piano, performing with her university choir and a cappella group Audiosync. She also plays soccer and spends a lot of time writing and reading. This past summer, she served as a counselor at Camp Ramallah, where she helped create an enriching and joyful environment for Palestinian teens. She also worked as a peer advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences, supporting fellow students through academic planning and mentorship. On campus, Ayden is an active member of the Pre-Law Society, MENA (Middle Eastern and North African student group), and the College of Arts and Humanities Fellowship.
"Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore
Malia Hoey '26
Malia Hoey is a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Political Science from Santa Clara, California. She is honored to be selected as a Hackworth Fellow and is grateful to the Markkula Center for the opportunity to explore ways to reduce cultural stigma. Her project examines the ethical implications of the model minority myth and how it contributes to silence around mental health and disabilities within Asian American communities. She is especially interested in how cultural stigma and societal expectations influence whether students feel safe and supported in seeking academic and mental health resources. Her goal is to understand the barriers different students face and help create culturally responsive systems that address those needs. Malia has a strong interest in the intersection of science, ethics, and policy, with a deep commitment to public service. She hopes to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience, with a research focus on neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Alongside her academic work, she actively participates in community service, engaging with diverse populations and advocating for equity and inclusion. She is passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities by bridging scientific understanding and equitable public policy, especially within healthcare and education, including addressing language barriers.
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” - Henry David Thoreau
Arianna Javid '27
"Dwell on the Beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them." -Marcus Aurelius
Taara Khan '27
My name is Taara Khan, and I’m an undergraduate student at Santa Clara University studying Political Science and Philosophy under a pre-law track. As a daughter of two Muslim immigrants, I understand firsthand how cultural identity can shape one’s sense of purpose, belonging, and responsibility to community. Growing up within the Middle Eastern and North African diaspora, I’ve witnessed how gender, faith, and heritage intersect to influence not only how we see the world, but how we choose to act within it. These experiences have grounded my academic and ethical interests in amplifying the voices of those navigating overlapping systems of marginalization. As a Hackworth Fellow, I will examine how MENA women engaged in political life draw upon their identities to shape their activism, values, and visions for change. By conducting interviews and engaging in ethical analysis, I hope to elevate voices that are frequently overlooked and contribute to a richer understanding of resilience and representation. I aim to highlight how stories at the margins can challenge dominant narratives and reimagine the possibilities of civic engagement.
“We suffer from an incurable disease: hope.” - Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish
Noah Kisiel '26
Noah is a senior majoring in Philosophy and Political Science with a Classics minor. He intends to apply to doctoral programs in Philosophy, specializing in normative ethics grounded in ancient philosophy in Greco-Roman and ancient Chinese traditions. As a Hackworth fellow he hopes to explore ethical uses of AI within academia, as well as the underlying teleological conditions that motivate students to abdicate authentically pursuing learning in favor of AI doing their schoolwork. This involves examining product and grade-based relationships with school versus a commitment to the processes through which learning occurs.
What goes too long unchanged destroys itself. The forest is forever because it dies and dies and so lives. ― Ursula K. Le Guin
Sahana Kumar '26
Sahana Kumar is a senior studying a double major of Computer Science and Mathematics and French and Francophone Studies and a double minor in Political Science and Responsible AI. She is passionate about the intersection of technology and humanity, and wants to make sure we avoid a Matrix-like situation in our future. Outside of debating politics and whether or not we’re in an AI bubble, Sahana is president of SCU Scriptless Improv and DJs at KSCU.
Asha LaManque '27
Asha LaManque is a rising junior majoring in Environmental Science, with minors in Biology and Computer Science. In this fellowship, she is excited for the opportunity to examine the ethics associated with using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predicting climate risks (such as wildfire or flood exposure), modeling air quality, or prioritizing species for conservation. She looks forward to a future career that combines her interests in the life sciences and technology. Asha is from the Bay Area and in her spare time likes hiking, traveling, and cooking.
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall
Aris Ozark '26
Aris is a senior majoring in electrical engineering with an emphasis in neuroscience and semiconductor technology. On campus, they are involved with research in computational neuroscience and brain-inspired semiconductor devices. The motivations for this interdisciplinary work are twofold: the first is emulating some of the brain’s features to create low-power computer hardware. Secondly, because brain-inspired hardware can accurately simulate the dynamics of neurons and the emergent functions of the brain, this creates to potential to better understand and treat elusive mental illness.
By making clear the origins of consciousness and mental illness, this research has the potential to change the way we understand our existence as Humans. Turning these insights into positive change requires researchers to posses a profoundly well-developed ethical, spiritual, and humanistic background. As a Hackworth fellow, Aris will investigate the ethical frameworks required to meaningfully conduct research in this field. Combining bioethics and novel technology ethics research, their goal is to compose a thesis that serves as a guide for conducting responsible, impactful research at the frontier of neuroscience and engineering.
After graduating from Santa Clara, Aris hopes to pursue a PhD combining brain-inspired computing, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and patient-centered neuroscience.
“A technological and economic development which does not leave in its wake a better world and an integrally higher quality of life cannot be considered progress.” - Pope Francis, Laudato si’, Paragraph 194
Annie Schloss '27
Emily Serrato '27
Emily Serrato is a junior at Santa Clara University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Religious Studies. As a first-generation college student and daughter of Mexican immigrants, she draws from personal experience to explore how language barriers in healthcare can compromise core ethical principles such as autonomy, justice, and beneficence. Through the Hackworth Fellowship, Emily will examine the ethical dimensions of language accessibility in medicine. She hopes to elevate underrepresented voices, contribute meaningfully to the Markkula Center’s mission, and grow as both an ethical leader and student.
Amy-Elyzabeth Torrico '26
"Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14
Zander Rafalovich '26
Zander is a senior majoring in Neuroscience, Philosophy, & Psychology. On campus, he is heavily involved with research, studying the mechanisms behind synaptic communication in neurons, and how we derive meaning from our intimate relationships. He is also an active part of SCU’s music community, as a pianist for our school’s jazz ensemble/combos, President of Chess Club, and is the Mentorship Co-Chair for the Psi-Chi Honors Society. In his free time he enjoys reading, mixed martial arts, meditating, unionizing the squirrels on campus, and sitting in the Mission Gardens when no one else is there.
For his Hackworth project Zander hopes to extend his research from SCU’s Intimate Relationships Lab to help benefit anyone hoping to foster a meaningful relationship. His initial study aims to uncover which dimensions of relationship quality correlate with overall relationship satisfaction, overall meaning in life, and most importantly, meaning derived from the relationship. Further, this study will examine the effects of short term reflection on these three elements. Following this, he hopes to do further work in the realm of reflection and developing meaningful relationships by hosting workshops based on his research to explain both what constitutes a meaningful relationship, and how we can develop meaning in our relationships.
“When I look at my life and its secret colors, I feel like bursting into tears. Like that sky. It's rain and sun both, noon and midnight. ... I think of the lips I've kissed, and of the wretched child I was, and of the madness of life and the ambition that sometimes carries me away. I'm all those things at once. I'm sure there are times when you wouldn't even recognize me. Extreme in misery, excessive in happiness—I can't say it.” ― Albert Camus, A Happy Death
Griffin Warren '26
Griffin Warren is a senior majoring in Political Science and concurrently pursuing a Master's in Finance and Analytics. Before transferring to Santa Clara University, he spent two years abroad in both London and Florence. Through these transformative global experiences, he became more attuned to the complex political and financial systems that differ markedly from those of the United States. His desire and passion to engage with the world strengthened as he witnessed how foreign economic and political policies shaped society, ethics, and access to opportunities.
On campus, he co-founded the Ethics of Democracy Debate Forum, a space for facilitating debate-style events that highlight the ethical dimensions of current issues while underscoring the values of cordial debate. Additionally, he serves as an executive board member of IMPACT and oversees a chapter of SCU Greek Life. For his Hackworth Fellowship, he aims to explore the ethics of Greek Life at SCU, which occupies a unique space, playing a significant role in student social life and philanthropy, yet remains largely unrecognized by the university.
To be treated well in places where you don’t expect to be treated well, to find things in common with people you thought previously you had very, very little in common with, well that can’t be a bad thing - Anthony Bourdain
Saron Weldemariam '26
Saron Weldemariam is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in International Studies from Milwaukee, WI. As an immigrant from Eritrea, she brings a deeply personal and global perspective to her academic and ethical work. Saron is passionate about immigration justice and policy, especially the ethical responsibilities of nations toward asylum seekers and displaced populations. She hopes to use this fellowship opportunity to explore the ethical dimensions of global asylum systems and how national policies shape the destinies of people seeking refuge, drawing from both international frameworks and her own lived experience.
Saron hopes to pursue a career in advocacy, research, or law that bridges human rights and policy, grounded in ethical reflection and community voice. She believes that ethics must not only call out injustice but actively reimagine the systems we've come to accept as normal.
"Never refuse any who ask you for help; if your pockets are empty, give them hope. Your every action must be born of kindness, your every word spoken with love."
- Immaculée Ilibagiza, Left to Tell