Jean Donovan Fellowship 2024 | Arrupe Engagement Fellowship 2024-25
Major: Biology | Public Health Science
Awards: Magna Cum Laude | University Honors Program

"The Ignatian Center was one of the best parts of my time at SCU.  I found a community of people who shared in my values and drive for the pursuit of social justice. I explored my passions and vocation with the support of staff but also my communities in Santa Clara and at home in Long Beach."

After Graduation: Gap year to apply to nursing school

Ignatian Fellowship 2022-23 | Arrupe Engagement Student Assistant 2023-25
Major: Psychology

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has been amazing. I have learned so much from being engaged within the Ignatian Center and it made my Santa Clara experience."

After Graduation: To be determined!

Jean Donovan Fellowship 2024 | Arrupe Engagement Fellowship 2024-25
Major: Political Science | Child Studies
Awards: Dean Scholarship | Bronco Scholarship | Graduating with Honors

"My experience at the Ignatian Center has given me the opportunity to get more involved both in the wider Bay Area, as well as in my hometown. It has also allowed me to connect my academic experience at SCU to what is going on in other communities and how I might be able to apply my education to the real world. Overall, the Ignatian Center has made my Jesuit education much more prominent and relevant to my future beyond SCU."

Ignatian Fellowship 2024-25
Major: Neuroscience | Bioethics
Award: Cum Laude

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has been one of the most meaningful parts of my time at SCU. It helped me connect what I was learning in class to real issues in the world, and pushed me to think more deeply about how to use my education to support others. Whether through service work, ethical reflections, or conversations around justice, the Center gave me space to grow - not just academically, but personally. It’s really shaped how I see my future and made me more intentional about the kind of impact I want to have."

After Graduation: Santa Clara University Law School

Ignatian Fellowship 2023-24 | Immersion Coordinator 2023
Major: Finance | Real Estate
Award: Dodge Ackerman Award - SCU Boxing Club

"I've never been able to ignore my concern for different marginalized communities. It's fed into a sense of responsibility to help create lasting change. I think more than anything, the ICJE has helped me recognize the power I have to contribute meaningfully to causes that challenge the status quo fueled by fear and greed. ICJE has shown me that my education and the skills I’ve gained aren’t just tools for personal advancement. They’re part of a toolkit I can use to build something better for others, not just myself."

After Graduation: Affordable Housing Development in the California Bay Area

Ignatian Fellowship 2023-24 | Ignatian Fellowship 2024-25
Major: Communication
Awards: Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society | Phi Sigma Tau Philosophy Honor Society | Graduating with honors 

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has been deeply meaningful, making me feel both welcomed and valued. It was the first community where I truly felt a sense of belonging at Santa Clara University and remained a constant throughout all four years on campus. The Center gave me the space to explore my passions, challenge my perspectives, and grow personally. I will always be grateful for the experiences and connections I’ve made through the Ignatian Center."

After Graduation: Language School in Mexico City

Ignatian Center Marketing Student Assistant 2023-25
Major: Marketing

"The Ignatian Center has helped me to not only grow in my career interests but it has also strengthened my faith and contribution to the community."

After Graduation: Enter the retail industry with focus on marketing

Jean Donovan Fellowship 2023 | Ignatian Fellowship 2023-24
Major: Biology | Public Health
Awards: Whitham Family Collaborative Scholarship Award | Real Experience Applied Learning Grant | Magna Cum Laude | Tri Beta - Biology Honor Society 

"My experience with the Ignatian Center as a Jean Donovan and Ignatian Fellow has greatly impacted my time here at Santa Clara University. I had the privilege of working with three incredible organizations: Kesem at Santa Clara, Grail Family Services, and Hearts and Minds Activity Center. Through these experiences, I connected with many like-minded individuals and built lasting friendships, not only with fellow students from SCU but also members of the San Jose and Santa Clara Communities. Thank you so much for this meaningful opportunity."

After Graduation: Brown University, Master of Public Health

Ignatian Fellowship 2021-22
Major: Psychology | Public Health
Awards: Magna Cum Laude | Alpha Sigma Nu | Psi Chi | Psychology Honors | LEAD Scholar of the Year | Theta Alpha Kappa (Religious Studies Honors Society) | Student Leadership Award for the Black/Pan-African Multicultural Recognition Celebration

"My experience with the Ignatian Center deeply shaped my time at Santa Clara by grounding my education in values of justice, reflection, and community engagement. As an Ignatian Fellow, I had the privilege of working with the Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP), where I supported the reintegration of exonerees by researching housing and employment resources. This experience helped me see the real-life implications of systemic injustice and inspired me to approach social issues with both compassion and strategy.

Through biweekly reflections with other Ignatian Fellows, I was constantly challenged to think critically about how our work aligned with the Jesuit values of accompaniment and solidarity. These conversations pushed me to consider how I could not only be of service, but also listen deeply and stand alongside those impacted by injustice. It reminded me that justice work is relational, not just transactional.

Overall, the Ignatian Center helped me root my academic and career aspirations in a greater sense of purpose. It reminded me that change begins with intentional relationships, and that advocacy, when done thoughtfully, can be both healing and transformative."

After Graduation: Gap year and applying for graduate program in Counseling Psychology

Thriving Neighbors Tutor 2024-25
Major: Biology
Awards: Cum Laude

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has connected me with people I wouldn't see in my classes normally, and given me an opportunity to interact with the community at large."

After Graduation: Vanderbilt University, Master of Nursing

Jean Donovan Fellowship 2023
Major: Public Health Science | Anthropology
Awards: Real Experience Applied Learning Grant | Lambda Alpha Anthropology National Honor Society | Theta Alpha Kappa Religious Studies National Honor Society

"My experience as a Jean Donovan Fellow was one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at Santa Clara University. I had the privilege of working in community with La Mesa Verde, a food justice organization based in San Jose. There, I witnessed the transformative power of grassroots organizing and the vital importance of equitable access to fresh, healthy food. This experience deepened my understanding of food justice and strengthened my commitment to community-based solutions. I am especially grateful to my fellow Jean Donovan Fellows and the Ignatian Center staff for their unwavering guidance, encouragement, and the sense of belonging they cultivated throughout this journey."

After Graduation: Yale University, Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences on an Implementation Science Track

Immersion Coordinator 2025
Major: Public Health Science

"Immersion experiences at SCU opened my eyes and heart in ways that I could have never predicted. They have shaped how I choose to walk through life, and they have led to me to being in community with the most authentic people that I will forever cherish. I was able to discover what drives me, and I couldn't be more thankful."

After Graduation: Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Washington D.C. at Joseph's House

Ignatian Fellowship 2021-22
Major: Philosophy

"In 2021, I was an Ignatian Fellow at the Northern California Innocence Project. This experience undeniably strengthened my understanding of the legal system and encouraged my desire to pursue law in the future. While at SCU, I joined the Associated Student Government to fight for change on campus for students. I graduated early in December and have begun a job at Tradeweb as a legal assistant before I head to law school in a few years! The Ignatian Fellowship was a highlight of my time at Santa Clara."

After Graduation: Associate Legal Assistant at Tradeweb

Jean Donovan Fellowship 2024 | Immersion Coordinator 2024 | Ignatian Fellowship 2024-25
Major: English

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has shaped me to be more intentional in everything I do, amplifying my voice and allowing me to amplify the voices of others."

After Graduation: Jesuit Volunteer Corps | Oasis Center of Nashville, TN

Ignatian Center Marketing Student Assistant 2023 - 25
Major: Marketing

"Working on the Ignatian Center’s marketing team has deepened my connection to SCU’s mission by allowing me to learn and amplify stories of service, justice, and community. It’s been incredibly rewarding to use my skills to promote initiatives that inspire meaningful engagement both on and off campus."

After Graduation: Moving to New York to work for Hays Recruitment

Ignatian Fellowship 2022-23
Major: Environmental Science

"I started my Ignatian Fellowship with Garden to Table of Silicon Valley in winter 2023. During the time I have developed a passion for sustainable urban agriculture and have continued to volunteer weekly for the past two years. I was lucky enough to met my mentor Trinity Tomsic and become friends with lots of other volunteers coming to the farm. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be involved with the community and have enjoyed continuing volunteering with them even after my fellowship ended."

After Graduation: Continue work in sustainability abroad and community food systems

Thriving Neighbors Fellowship 2023-25
Major: Counseling Psychology Master Program

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has allowed me to work directly with Latina women who are committed to improving their well-being—not only for themselves, but also for the benefit of their families. Being part of a project that uplifts and empowers our community has been both meaningful and inspiring."

After Graduation: Work in a community-based mental health organization supporting the Latinx community

Ignatian Fellowship 2021-22
Major: Computer Science | Finance

"I did the Ignatian Fellowship my freshman year, and it really set the stage for the rest of my time at Santa Clara. It was my first real exposure to the Jesuit tradition of reflection and community-based learning—and it changed the way I saw my role on campus and beyond. Through that experience, I became a more aware, more community-focused person. I learned to slow down, to listen, and to center the voices of those most impacted by the issues we often only discuss in classrooms.

The Fellowship challenged me to connect what I was learning academically with the realities faced by marginalized communities. It planted a seed of responsibility—what Jesuits might call cura personalis or solidarity—that grew throughout the rest of my college experience. Whether I was doing research, mentoring peers, or working on social-impact projects, that foundational experience reminded me that the work is not just about outcomes—it’s about people.

Looking back as a senior, I’m grateful that the Ignatian Fellowship wasn’t just a one-time program. It became a lens through which I approached the rest of my college journey—with intention, humility, and a commitment to serve."

After Graduation: Working full time at a startup