Applications open
Feb 28 - April 9
Immersion Coordinator Application
Immersions Coordinators
Role and Responsibilities
The primary role of the Immersion Coordinator is to meet the needs of the student group in helping them grow in awareness of themselves and the issues of the world, often drawing from the collective wisdom of their own and others’ experience. The Immersion Coordinator helps to prepare their group for immersion and handles the majority of the logistical components and facilitates daily reflections during the immersion.
Expectations:
- Must be available for formation meetings during the quarter prior to your immersion plus a meeting week one of the quarter following your immersion (usually tuesday 5:45-7:15, but this can change)
- Participate and engage in leadership retreat on Spring Quarter (May 12-13) and Summer formation (online on Camino)
- Model respectful, patient, and engaging behavior in being a bridge builder between the Ignatian Center and its students and partners
- Model mature and honest sharing during reflections (students will follow your lead in sharing)
- Consistent communication with Ignatian Center staff, particularly your mentor
- Participate in miscellaneous activities outside of meeting times
- Tabling to promote immersions (2/hrs quarter)
The Ignatian Center will cover all costs for Coordinators associated with the immersion, including travel, lodging, food and any program fees. Additionally, Immersion Coordinators will receive a $750 stipend split up into 3 payments based on the evaluation of the above objectives.
Immersion Coordinators begin their role after being selected and wrap up the formal role the quarter after their immersion.
Commitment Time Frame:
- Summer 2022 Coordinators: Spring Quarter Formation + Immersion (June 16 - 25, 2023) + Spring and Fall Quarter
- FYI Coordinators: Summer prep + Immersion (September 10-13, 2023) + Spring and Fall Quarter
- Winter Break Coordinators: Summer prep + Immersion (December 9 -16, 2023) + Fall and Winter Quarter
- Spring Break Coordinators: Summer prep + Immersion (March 23 - March 30, 2023) + Winter and Spring
Specifically, Immersion Coordinators are expected to engage in the following activities:
Summer prep and leadership training | 1-2 hours weekly:
- Complete coordinator assignments through Camino and communicate with ICJE staff
- Meet virtually with the Immersions Team two/three times via Zoom
Quarter Prior to Immersion | ~5 hrs./week including meeting time:
- Weekly 2 hour coordinator meetings (~1.5 hr. in group and 30mins. w/ mentor)
- Review applications (end of Week 3), and, with mentor (beginning of Week 4), select participants
- Meet with immersion groups 5-6 times prior to departure from 5:45-7:30PM one day a week (usually Tuesdays)
- Assist in program management, including:
- Reviewing pre-immersion meeting itinerary
- Set up the space for meetings
- Check immersion prep assignments
- Record and relay attendance to staff
- Check in and greet students
- Clean and organize meeting space afterwards
- Meet one-on-one with your immersion companion at least once prior to the immersion
- During finals week, meet with Immersions staff to review itinerary and all trip details
- Be available for 1-1 mentoring and support to participants as the need arises
During Immersion:
- Handle itinerary and logistical components of the trip
- Lead and frame all immersion activities including group reflections
- Model appropriate attitude and behavior throughout the immersion experience - Immersion Coordinators are expected to follow the immersion conduct agreement and to support the group in holding students accountable to the conduct agreement
- Create safe and welcoming space for all participants
- Communicate with companions regarding evening reflections and needs of the group
- Possibly drive one of the rental vehicles during the immersion (Not applicable for all immersions)
- Alongside the companion, communicate with the ICJE staff any emergency situations that may arise
- Monitor and record expenses for immersion
Quarter Following Immersion:
- Attend and lead Welcome Back Event Week 1
- Host 2 post-immersion meetings held in the quarter following the immersion to help students integrate the experience into life back on campus
- Spearhead the Solidarity Action Commitment
- Be a conversation partner with students upon return as they deal with the challenge of integrating their immersion experience into their lives at SCU and beyond
- Assist in the process of evaluation of the program
Immersion Coordinators
2022-23 Immersion Coordinators

Kate Rickwa
Major:
Public Health Science and Biology Major
Spanish Studies Minor
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Spring Break Immersion, Appalachia
“I’m so excited to facilitate such a phenomenal learning and reflection experience, as well as to connect with and grow alongside my fellow students. I’m also really looking forward to witnessing social justice work in action and hearing directly from some of the community members most affected by the climate crisis and labor injustice in Appalachia.”

Shakira Asuncion Perez
Major:
Political Science Major
Ethnic Studies Minor
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Spring Break Immersion, Dominican Republic
“As a first-generation Dominican American and the capital being home to my family, I am extremely excited to begin the journey of unpacking anti-black and its intersections with daily life and culture in the Dominican Republic. I am especially looking forward to holding a safe space for inclusive and thought-provoking discussions and reflections on the important work being done to address such intersections.”

Paulina Ursua
Major:
Environmental Studies and Ethnic Studies Major
Women and Gender Studies Minor
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Winter Break Immersion
"I am most excited to meet new people and have challenging conversations that will broaden all of our understanding."

Karla Santos
Major:
Ethnic Studies Major
Urban Education and Sociology Minor
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Winter Break Immersion
"I’m really looking forward to creating a safe and inclusive environment for people to explore the greater world around us and the own world within themselves, too. "
Madison Smith
Major:
Management Major
Journalism and Political Science Minor
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Summer Immersion, Costa Rica
"The opportunity to learn more about social justice issues and participate in a larger global community always excites me. And doing so with fellow students allows me to see things from other points of view and get even more out of an immersion than if I had gone on my own."

Esmeralda Rodriguez
Major:
Spanish Studies and Latinx Studies
Immersion Cycle and Location:
Summer Immersion, Nogales
"I'm extremely excited for the privilege of partnering with Kino Border Initiative! I'm most excited about creating a safe space to reflect on the emotionally taxing activities that we will engage in, as well as the harsh realities/struggles/stories of our migrant brothers and sisters."
2021-2022 Coordinators
Lorena | Delgado '22 | Appalachia |
Maryam | Khatoon '22 | Appalachia |
Darcy | Phillips (Staff) | US/Mexico Border |
2019-2020 Coordinators
Ava | Fulweber '22 | San Jose First Year |
James | Grom '21 | Mexico |
Gabe | Hernández '21 | Ecuador |
Emma | Hokoda '20 | Appalachia |
Aya | Kanan '21 | San Jose First Year |
Javier | Ortega '20 | Arizona |
Angelica | Scott '20 | East Los Angeles |
Mary Claire | Simone '20 | San Francisco |
Amanda | Sits '20 | Dominican Republic |
Emily | Yekikian '20 | Oakland |
2018-2019 Coordinators
Kristin | Anderson '19 | Ecuador |
Evan | Chen '19 | Dominican Republic |
Arelí | Hernández '19 | Appalachia |
Isabel | Ibarra '19 | East LA |
Lizzy | Kamya '19 | San Jose Urban Plunge |
Megan | Kenney '19 | San Jose Urban Plunge |
Ricky | Matthews '19 | L'Arche |
Sierra | Mink '19 | Redwoods Monastary |
Isabella | Rios '19 | Arizona Border |
Sophia | Sparagana '19 | San Francisco |
Madeline | Wilcox '19 | East LA |
"This past winter, I led a group of my peers as we immersed ourselves in the social justice realities of East Los Angeles. I was constantly challenged as I had never had this type of leadership responsibility before. However, I learned the beauty of being uncomfortable and humbly living without all the answers."