AMDG Fellow
Major: Neuroscience

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has allowed me the opportunity to deepen my faith and the relationships around me. More than that, the Ignatian Center has provided the opportunities to get to know Jesus in a unique way by showing us the marginalized members of his family and our role in filling their hearts. Beyond that the mentorship has been so gentle, supportive, and nurturing. I could not be more thankful."

After Graduation: Working as a medical scribe in a community clinic and volunteering at a domestic violence shelter

Immersion Coordinator
Major: Finance

"The Ignatian Center changed how I see the world, and honestly, it started with a cup of coffee. On the Chiapas Immersion Trip, I visited Capeltic, a coffee cooperative fully owned by over 300 indigenous Tseltal families in Chilón, Mexico. What got me was that this was not just a business, it was a totally different model. One where the families own the whole economic cycle, and it gives them a stable income so they actually have the choice to stay in their community.

That experience followed me back to campus. I ended up being the lead student behind getting Capeltic into the Leavey School of Business, where it is now the coffee behind every drink and sold by the pound. I also got to take it to the Ignatian Family Teach In for Justice in Washington D.C. in 2025, leading a breakout session just on Capeltic and what makes it different. More than anything though, it shifted how I think about business. It pushed me toward fintech, because fintech at its core is about giving people access to things they never had before, which is exactly what Capeltic does. That is the kind of work I want to build my career around."

After Graduation: Consulting in Digital Core Modernization at SAP

Jean Donovan Fellow Intensive | Ignatian Fellow | Immersion Coordinator | Ignatian Center Lead Receptionist
Major: Psychology

"The Ignatian Center is the main thing I have been involved with at Santa Clara, besides my classes. I have met some of my best friends and wonderful people through my experiences with the Ignatian Center, have been able to develop my leadership skills through my job as Lead Receptionist, and have been able to have experiences that are so meaningful and impactful, both on and off campus."

After Graduation: Serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Detroit Michigan at the Pope Francis Center, an unhoused shelter and resources center

Jean Donovan Fellow
Major: Web Design | Engineering

"My experience with the Ignatian Center, especially through the Jean Donovan Fellowship, had a lasting impact on my time at SCU. Working with children with disabilities in Rajasthan deepened my understanding of empathy, inclusion, and the importance of meeting people where they are. When I returned to campus, I carried those lessons into my roles as a peer educator and research assistant by trying to create more supportive and welcoming spaces for others. The experience also shaped how I think about my future, inspiring me to approach technology and leadership in a more human-centered way."

After Graduation: Working as an IT integration Engineer Intern at Sally Beauty Holdings

Ignatian Fellow | Immersion Coordinator
Major: Environmental Science | French

"The Ignatian Center exposed me to the wider San Jose community and challenged me to think critically, be intentional, and reflect on my time and work at SCU. It gave me leadership opportunities which helped me build my confidence and essential skills I’ll take with me into the workforce."

After Graduation: Serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Anchorage, Alaska

Thriving Neighbors Fellow
Major: Computer Science

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has been truly transformative during my time at SCU. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it provided me to learn what it truly means to be part of a community and to engage meaningfully with the concept of social justice. Through my involvement, especially with the iPad program, I found genuine joy in connecting with the kids and striving to have a positive impact on their lives. The relationships I built and the lessons I learned have shaped my perspective and enriched my journey at SCU in ways I will always cherish."

After Graduation: Entering the workforce to begin professional career

Jean Donovan Fellow | Immersion Coordinator
Major: Psychology | Child Studies

"The summer following my freshman year, I had the opportunity to join the Costa Rica Immersion and it could not have come at a better time. Everyone involved in the Ignatian Center speaks with a certain grace, kindness, and respect that is not often found in other areas of campus; it is one of my favorite spaces on campus to tell people about! Since that summer, the Ignatian Center has supported some of my goals and endeavors in various ways and I could not be more grateful!"

After Graduation: Pursuing my Master's in Social Work at the University of Chicago

Jean Donovan Fellow | AMDG Fellow
Major: Neuroscience

"I’ve loved working with the Ignatian Center and getting to be part of communities that support social justice initiatives on and off campus!"

After Graduation: Serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp in New York as a legal assistant for Catholic Migration Services

AMDG Fellow | Lunchtime Examen Leader
Major: Bioengineering

"The Ignatian Center served as the spiritual and social heartbeat of my time at university, providing a foundation of service deeply rooted in faith. Through the unwavering support of some of the most caring and reflective mentors I have ever known, I found a community that kept me steady; they were the ones who fueled my righteous anger in the face of injustice, yet knew exactly how to calm my spirit when I needed to reconnect with my purpose. This journey transformed me into a person of competence, conscience, and compassion, teaching me that true solidarity isn’t just about reaching out, it’s about the depth of listening and the commitment to advocating alongside people as equals. Because of this community, I don’t just carry a degree; I carry a mission to embody the Ignatian call to "go out and set the world on fire."

After Graduation: Going on the Camino Ignaciano in Spain, then pursuing a PhD in Nutrition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ignatian Fellow (two terms)
Major: Political Science | Environmental Studies

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has given me a sense of fulfillment in community service, and connected me with such passionate change-makers."

After Graduation: Studying Conflict Resolution and Political Science at the historic Charles University in Prague with Fund for American Studies

Jean Donovan Fellow
Major: Biology

"My experience with the Ignatian Center deepened my commitment to service by helping me understand the broader social factors affecting the communities I worked with and approach service with greater humility and intention. Through reflection and direct engagement, I was able to contribute more meaningfully to my community while strengthening my passion for a future in service-oriented, equitable healthcare."

After Graduation: Applying to medical school while working as a medical assistant or scribe in a healthcare setting

Immersion Coordinator
Major: Bioengineering

"The Ignatian Center Immersions program has helped me get involved with other students by demonstrating leadership and companionship by experience. I deeply appreciate the opportunities given by the Ignatian including the immersions and retreats. As a Bioengineering major, I knew that study abroad would be an extremely difficult option for me, however an immersion with the Ignatian Center fit perfectly into my schedule. These community engaged learning experiences have truly taught me what it means to teach the whole person. My time with the Ignatian Center influenced my perspective in leading and working with other students and community members. The retreats and immersions have led me to push beyond “participant” and become a “student leader” that isn’t afraid to speak up and influence others."

Arrupe Student Assistant
Major: Child Studies

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has positively impacted my time at Santa Clara. I am incredibly thankful for everyone I have met. The Ignatian Center holds a special place in my heart, and I am thankful to have the support of the staff."

After Graduation: SCU Master's program in Teaching (ECP) and Teaching Credential with Bilingual Authorization

Thriving Neighbors Fellow
Major: Computer Science

"My experience with the Ignatian Center  has helped me grow technically as an AI engineer, while also improving some of the most important professional skills, such as communication and collaboration."

Jean Donovan Fellow
Major: Psychology

"My experience with the Ignatian Center helped me to find likeminded individuals who want to lead a life of service and in connection greater to something than themselves."

Ignatian Fellow | Alpha Sigma Nu President
Major: Biology

"My experience with the Ignatian Center solidified my pursuit of a career as a physician-scientist studying and treating Alzheimer's and dementia. The Ignatian Fellowship provided me with experience working with dementia patients, which has informed my research, class projects, and the work I will do next year at the UK Dementia Research Institute."

After Graduation: Pursuing a master's by research degree in translational neuroscience at University College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute as a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grant

Ignatian Fellow
Major: Political Science | Sociology

"My experience with the Ignatian Center was amazing during my sophomore year! I had the chance to volunteer with the San Jose Family Shelter and met so many great people serving my community!"

After Graduation: Taking a gap year and applying to law school 

Jean Donovan Fellow | Arrupe Fellow
Major: Public Health Science | Psychology

"The Ignatian Center provided the framework for my most meaningful growth at Santa Clara. My journey began with the Arrupe Fellowship at the Independence Network, where walking alongside adults with cognitive disabilities taught me the profound value of consistent accompaniment. Over those two years, I came to view service as a process of building reciprocal relationships rooted in inherent dignity.

This foundation of solidarity led me to the Jean Donovan Fellowship, where I served survivors of human trafficking in San Diego. Supporting these women through the lens of trauma-informed care was a transformative experience that revealed how healing is often cultivated in the most ordinary moments—like the simple act of preparing and sharing a family-style dinner. Seeing my own life reflected in the women I served permanently shifted my perspective; I now move through the world assuming common ground first, recognizing that our shared humanity is far stronger than our circumstances.

As I graduate, I carry a commitment to let compassion precede judgment and to always elevate stories of resilience. The Ignatian Center provided a vocation of empathy that will guide my future path in clinical psychology, serving as a constant reminder that we are all, truly, far more alike than we are different."

After Graduation: Pursuing my Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy

Jean Donovan Fellow | Ignatian Fellow | Thriving Neighbors Fellow | Immersion Coordinator | Immersion Student Assistant | Ignatian Center Student Receptionist
Major: Psychology

"Through the Ignatian Center, I have found one of the best communities, filled with like-minded people who are passionate about learning about social injustices both locally and abroad and who want to make the world a better place. The Ignatian Center transformed my college experience for the better, and I am so blessed to have been part of this community."

After Graduation: Pursuing my Master's in Social Work 

Ignatian Center Marketing Student
Major: Web Design | Engineering

"My time at the Ignatian Center while at SCU has helped me expand my skills in marketing and design, and has helped me understand how to manage my time better."

After Graduation: Hoping to work in New York City!  

Immersion Coordinator | Ignatian Center Student Receptionist
Major: Political Science | Sociology

"The Ignatian Center has provided me a support system that has felt both very welcoming and intentional. It has been a space where I have been able to explore and recognize different forms of service and giving back, which has in return helped me grow as an individual and gain different perspectives of the world. The Ignatian Center has provided me a support system that has felt both very welcoming and intentional. It has been a space where I have been able to explore and recognize different forms of service and giving back, which has in return helped me grow as an individual and gain different perspectives of the world."

After Graduation: Pursuing my Master's in International Affairs in Berlin, Germany as a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grant

Thriving Neighbors Fellow
Major: Counseling Psychology

"My time at the Ignatian Center been one of the best experiences I've had at SCU."

After Graduation: Working as an Associate Therapist at a MediCal clinic with mostly Spanish-speaking Latinx clients 

Thriving Neighbors Fellow
Major: Bioengineering

"My experience with the Ignatian Center has been a defining part of my time at SCU, especially in shaping how I lead and engage with the community. As Co-Chair of SWE++ (a nine-week program that introduces middle school girls to coding run by a committee of SCU Society of Women Engineers students), I was able to significantly increase engagement and expand our outreach efforts with the Center’s support. Through their guidance and resources, we strengthened our ability to connect with underprivileged girls and broadened the impact of our programs. The quarterly leadership meetings were particularly valuable as they created a space to collaborate with other fellows doing community outreach, exchange ideas, and learn from the challenges others were facing. Hearing different perspectives pushed me to think more critically about our own initiatives and how we could improve them. Just as importantly, the emphasis on self-reflection helped me grow as a leader by being more intentional, adaptable, and empathetic in my approach. Overall, the Ignatian Center not only amplified the reach of SWE++ but also helped me become a more thoughtful and effective leader, grounded in service and committed to creating meaningful, lasting impact in the community."

Ignatian Fellow | Thriving Neighbors Fellow | Ignatian Center Student Receptionist
Major: Communication

"I became involved with the Ignatian Center in Elementary and Middle School through the Thriving Neighbors program. As a young girl I understood the value of education and how to make a small idea into something achievable. Now, working alongside the Ignatian Center staff as a student worker has opened opportunities for me to learn my passions and a plan a career based on my experiences. I have built a new 'family' that I get to carry with me and share all experiences with, in both a personal and professional manner."

After Graduation: Pursuing a career in public relations and marketing

Immersion Coordinator | Ignatian Center Student Worker | Arrupe Student Assistant
Major: General Engineering

"My experience with the Ignatian Center shaped the heart of my time at SCU. Working as an Arrupe Student Assistant taught me the meaning of accompaniment — being present for students as they navigated Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ), community partners, and their own growth. Coordinating the Costa Rica Immersion deepened that understanding by grounding me in stories of environmental justice, migration, and community‑led transformation.

Through reflection circles, community work, and the relationships I built, I learned to see education as a pathway toward justice, and engineering as a tool for service. The Ignatian Center helped me slow down, listen deeply, and recognize our shared humanity. It shaped my values, my leadership, and the type of professional — and person — I hope to become."

After Graduation: Working with summer engineering seminar then starting a business