Ignatian Fellowship
The Ignatian Fellowship offers SCU undergraduates the opportunity to deepen their commitment to social justice through an in-person community-based learning experience over the winter quarter. This Fellowship was created in 2020 and is inspired by the Jean Donovan Summer Fellowship which has been offered for over 20 years.
Ignatian Fellows will participate in a fall quarter formation experience followed by weekly in-person work (~5 hrs/week) with a non-profit organization for weeks 2-9 of the winter quarter. Concurrent with their service work, Fellows participate in a twice-monthly reflective discussion group and 1-1 meetings with the program director. Central to the Ignatian Fellowship are the learning objectives outlined below and the hope that Fellows offer meaningful support to community-based organizations. Fellows may apply to extend their placement into the spring quarter.
Ignatian Fellowship Learning Objectives
Cultivate a greater understanding of the assets and challenges facing the community in which the Fellow works through accompaniment-based service.
Grow in commitment to specific key virtues of solidarity, compassion, and humility.
Develop a broader and deeper understanding of personal vocation.
Develop a deepened spiritual life.
2023-24 Ignatian Fellowship Schedule & Expectations
- Fall Quarter Formation: Thursdays 6:00-7:15 PM | November 9, 16, and 30
- Winter quarter in-person accompaniment-based work: 5 hours/8 weeks, starting the week of January 15, 2024 (Weeks 2-9 of winter quarter) with very limited options for hybrid or remote work
- Winter quarter reflection and formation group on the following Thursdays at 6:00-7:15 PM: 1/11, 1/25, 2/8, 2/29, 3/14
- Fellows will reflect upon and share their experiences through 4 blog/vlog posts and support with Ignatian Center donor stewardship events (these commitments will not exceed 10 hours)
- Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend ($500 paid by February 1 and $500 paid by March 1)
Please direct any questions to Valerie Sarma, Senior Program Director, Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education - vsarma@scu.edu
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Words used by Lilla Watson,
Aboriginal elder, activist, and educator from Queensland, Australia.
Suzan Amiri '24 | Philosophy Major | Project Anar
Zoe Barton '24 | Philosophy Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Maile Belnap '24 | Political Science Major | Asian Law Alliance
Mary Clare Broyles '26 | Computer Science & Engineering Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Josie Collier '24 | Political Science Major | Law Office of Kristin Love Boscia - Immigration Law
Quin Doughty '25 | Environmental Science Major | Garden to Table
Katie Duffy '24 | Economics & Political Science Major | Food Sovereignty SCU & La Mesa Verde
Grace Emmons '23 | Child Studies & Classical Studies Major | St. Leo the Great (Arrupe-Ignatian Fellow)
Lily Eribes '23 | Bioengineering Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Alice Fulton '25 | Psychology Major | College of Adaptive Arts(Arrupe-Ignatian Fellow)
McKenzie Himes '23 | Neuroscience Major | Hearts & Minds Activity Center (Arrupe-Ignatian Fellow)
Graciella James '26 | Environmental Studies & Political Science Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Juliet Kulusic '23 | Theatre & Psychology Major | Hearts & Minds Activity Center (Arrupe-Ignatian Fellow)
Maritza Pinedo '25 | Political Science & Communication Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Gabrielle Pitre '26 | Political Science Major | Law Office of Kristin Love Boscia - Immigration Law
C.J. Purdy '23 | Communication Major | Grail Family Services, Yes We Can...Read!
Sophie Rotter-Aboyoun '23 | Psychology Major | Amigos de Guadalupe
Jugraj Singh '24 | Accounting Information Systems Major | Jakara Movement
Willa Weinsheimer '24 | Political Science Major | Elevate
Grace Yonkers-Talz '24 | Child Studies & Religious Studies Major | tUrn @ SCU
Zoe Barton '24 | Philosophy Major | Elevate Community Center
Sparsh Garg '25 | Computer Science & Business Major | Maitri
Eemon Ghasemiyeh '22 | Philosophy Major | tUrn @SCU
Petra Glenn '23 | Political Science & Economics Major | tUrn @ SCU
Amanda Harvey '22 | Environmenta Studies & Communication Major | tUrn@ SCU
Jules Holland '24 | Political Science & Environmental Studies Major | Bail Project
Zeeshan Javed '22 | Biology Major | Palo Alto VA Medical Center
Catherine Joy '23 | Economics Major | Bay Area Wilderness Training
Arlin Lopez Rivera '22 | Finance Major | Katherine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Samson Lothschutz '23 | Communication Major | Actual Films
Ainsley Mowers '23 |Marketing Major | AAUW San Jose
Madi Moyhihan '25 | Political Science & Philosophy Major | Northern California Innocence Project
Audrey Mullarkey '23 | Political Science & Economics Major | tUrn @ SCU
Isabella Rea '23 | Communication Major | Skills Plus
Reha Shah '23 | Biology & Public Health Major | A Step Ahead Foundation
Jugraj Shoker '24 | Management Information Systems Major | Jakara Movement
Willa Weinsheimer '24 | Political Science & Communication Major | Northern California Innocence Project
Hydeia Wysinger '25 | Psychology & Public Health Major | Northern California Innocence Project
Grace Yonkers-Talz '24 | Child Studies & Religious Studies Major | tUrn @ SCU
Daniel Antillon '21 | Psychology & English Major | Action Aliance International
Afton Burrell '21 | Biology Major | A Step Ahead Foundation
Alexander Castro '22 | Public Health Science Major | The Healh Trust
Anthony Chen '22 | Computer Science Major | Code
Katherine Chen '22 | Public Health Major | Air to All
Joycelyn George '21 | Marketing Major | Oasis for Girls
Hope Olbricht '22 | Biology & Public Health Major | The Food Trust
Alia Orlowsky '22 | Philosophy Major | Katherine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Kate Rickwa '24 | Public Health Major | Bronco Urban Garden
Omar Medina '23 | Communications & Spanish Major | Bronco Urban Garden
Karla Santos '24 | Ethnic Studies Major | Bay Area Children's Association
Adele Velastegui '22 | Political Science Major | Immigration Institute of the Bay Area
Kimberly Wood '24 | Political Science & Dance Major | tUrn of SCU
From Fellowship to Full Time!
As an Ignatian Fellow, Afton Burrell '21 spent the winter quarter of her senior year working with A Step Ahead Foundation. The experience was so fulfilling that she stayed on with the non-profit organization and upon graduation was offered her current position as Marketing Communications Manager.
This Fellowship is significant in my life, my SCU experience, and in light of the covid-19 pandemic. In my life, I am extremely passionate about a variety of social justice issues. I believe completing this Fellowship allowed me to gain a worldwide perspective of the injustices that go on in the world, but it also provided me hope that I can be a part of the change and create a more equal and equitable society. I believe that this Fellowship will also greatly aid me as I continue to take courses at Santa Clara University and grow academically, spiritually, and socially. I will take the lessons that I learned through the Ignatian Fellowship as well as through my work with NCIP, to become more kind and empathetic. We as a society must continue to uplift one another and embrace one another when we fall.
- Hydeia Wysinger, Northern California Innocence Project
At Skills Plus, I worked with stroke survivors and helped them with their mobility, independent living, and communication skills. Although it was an amazing feeling to see the students progress, they taught me so much more than I taught them. They showed me how to never give up, stay persistent, be okay with failing, and get up even stronger. I learned that although they are disabled and may not be stronger than me physically, they are much stronger than me mentally. The class always encouraged one another and cheered for everyone’s successes, despite their own struggles. I will continue to carry their same mentality wherever I go, and hope to be as resilient as them one day. Their community is one that I am so grateful I was able to be a part of, and made my SCU experience even that more memorable.
- Isabella Rea, Skills Plus
In light of my SCU experience, this fellowship aligns completely. One of my main reasons for choosing SCU was its focus on the community around it, and its value to help the community. This fellowship experience allowed me to do exactly that but also become a fuller person internally.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this fellowship was an opportunity for me to actually contribute to my own community after coming to college. Even in a time of social distancing, and virtual work, it brought me closer to my peers and allowed me to immerse myself in self-growth while contributing to something larger than myself.
-Sparsh Garg, Maitri
The Fellowship served as a way for me to get more exposure to healthcare needs, especially with the Veteran community which I had little experience with. I learned what the Veterans Association was capable of and how truly important it was for healthcare in veterans' lives. It also helped me put into context the health consequences COVID-19 had on veterans overall quality of life and helped me connect my knowledge within my public health science classes on healthcare inequities to current issues that veterans face. I also found the research I did very eye opening, I was able to identify underlying issues that I had not known were problems for healthcare for veterans.
-Zeeshan Javed, Veterans Administration
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Dina
Berhan '27
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Pragna
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Karla
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Kate
Dobak '24
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Mia
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Gabriella
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Graciella
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Erica
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Anna
Keenan '26
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Elsa
Kinney '25
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Angela
Lomeli '25
Major:
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Mailloux-Beauchemin '24
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Yes We Can Read + / Dorsa Elementary School
Celeste Marina
Mancilla '26
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Estefana
Mejia '27
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Undeclared
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Stephanie
Molina '26
Major:
Sociology & Communication
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Alicia
Nelson '26
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Psychology
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Arturo
Pacheco Martinez '25
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Management & Entrepreneurship
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Maria
Perez '24
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Public Health Science
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Catholic Charities - Emergency Food Distribution
Maritza
Pinedo '25
Major:
Political Science & Communication
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Catholic Charities - Emergency Food Distribution
Cacia
Roy '25
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Communication
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Yes We Can Read + / San Antonio Elementary
Charles
Silver '27
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Undeclared
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Catholic Charities - Emergency Food Distribution
Allison
Thigpen '24
Major:
Sociology
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Yes We Can Read + / Dorsa Elementary School
Sean
Tsang '27
Major:
Finance
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Caroline
Wing'24
Major:
Communication & Art History
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Catholic Charities - Emergency Food Distribution