Profiles

Biography

What were your responsibilities at your internship with Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, SVCN
As the policy intern, I participated in candidate forum on housing affordability, advocated for Measure E on the San Jose ballot and tracked grants.  I also helped organize the annual fundraiser, “Be Our Guest”.   My other responsibilities included researching and communicating information and importance of the 2020 Census, as well as researching virtual fundraising.   I also helped communicate and survey the impact of COVID-19 on nonprofits.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to SVCN?
I believe I contributed to SVCN through the additional research I was able to accomplish which was later shared with their nonprofit clients. My research included: grant requirements, COVID-19 impacts and legal changes, effective fundraising, ballot measure breakdowns, Census importance and information, housing affordability in Silicon Valley, and more. I also was able to attend additional events and share what I learned with staff. I helped with the requests of my other coworker in departments such as training and HR. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend to the next Community Fellows, who are trying to make a difference, to use their research to be advocates inside and outside of their workplace. The needs nonprofits address reach beyond the needs of the SVCN office. Apply what you learned to your everyday life and be an advocate for others everywhere you go.

 

Biography

Accounting Major
Home Town:  Pittsburg, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, HFSV?
My responsibilities at HFSV were catered to my interests and to the needs of the foundation. To begin, I mostly worked on the preparation for our Charity Ball and then did research on programs in San Mateo County for students, parents, and professional development. I used my own judgment to decide how we should reach out to potential new partners and what direction we should move in. I then moved on to preparing our scholarship book that is provided to college students who are looking for more financial aid, and students looking for aid to pay for grad school. The scholarships I found were unique and most students would not normally find these on their own. I then proceeded to finding a partnership with Upwardly Global, a nonprofit that serves refugees and immigrants looking for employment. They have a #NextGen program in which DACA students can receive free professional development. Some recipients have been offered jobs at companies like Accenture so that was exciting. To conclude I organized and moderated a virtual panel for incoming first generation, first year college students. The panelists were HFSV scholars who have gone through college and they offered amazing insight and tips on college readiness for those who watched.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
My tips to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community is to immerse themselves in issues/topics that they care and or are passionate about. Working for a cause that matters to you will allow you to love what you do and see the benefit that it makes in the community. Don’t be afraid to do the unexpected, challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone and you will see how rewarding it is.

Biography

Marketing Major, Filmmaking Minor
Home Town:  Vista, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Catholic Charities?
I worked on general marketing and communications projects which involved researching local media outlets, researching peer agency communication, assisting in copywriting and design for outreach emails and posters and coordinating with various departments to make sure the content we send out was accurate and fits with what they want.  I was also responsible for Social Media, including graphic design and copy for posts, scheduling and posting and creating interactive games.  My other tasks included photography and website updates.  As needed, I also helped with administrative tasks.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Catholic Charities?
I think I made positive contributions by being an effective middleman between the various departments and the communications team. Before I came, the departments would tell me that their content wasn’t always 100% correct or not entirely representing what they wanted to send I also believe that I helped organize the team by putting more emphasis on using a shared Google drive to send out and share files.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I think that for any LSB student wanting to make a difference in the community, they should 100% apply to be a Community Fellow. 

 

Biography

Economics Major, Art History Minor
Home Town:  Portland, Oregon

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
As the business outreach intern at the San Jose Office of Economic Development, you will engage in extensive research of local businesses and their needs––through direct outreach to companies and supplemented by independent analysis. You will attend meetings with companies, site visits, and conferences that offer insight into the industries that make up the business fabric of San Jose. You will engage in projects that support the OED team’s work––from updating the city’s map of all ongoing development projects, to gathering information on employment numbers from local businesses, to even analyzing the economic viability of potential new uses for underdeveloped sites. While these are some examples of the types of projects you might work on, the work will vary widely based on current events and current needs––much of OED work is about reacting quickly to what’s happening locally and nationally, so flexibility is key!

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
The work that you will do as an intern at the OED is ultimately invaluable to the team. I was never given “busy work” or “intern work”––every task and project I completed had a concrete, real, and measurable value to the team and to my supervisor. More than that, there were clear stakes with my work––the research I conducted and compiled was often cited as the primary research on a topic or report given to politicians, companies, and other critical figures.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
To any LSB students who want to make a difference in their community, start getting involved in any way you can! There are so many programs offered and facilitated through SCU that will allow you to get out into the local community and start serving. While these are all critical programs doing invaluable work, there is minimal overlap as a business student between what you learn in class and the nature of your service work. The LSB Community Fellows Program is an extraordinarily unique opportunity because it allows you to serve your community in a manner that directly reflects and applies the skillset you are learning every day in your business core and major classes. I personally can see no better way to serve than at the overlap of what this community needs and what skills you have to offer. 

 

 

 

 

Biography

Marketing Major, Digital Filmmaking Minor
Home Town:  Honolulu, Hawaii

 

What were your responsibilities at your internship with Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, SVCN?
My main responsibilities included updating the website on a daily basis with new job openings and community calendar events within the SVCN- affiliated nonprofit community, crafting e-newsletters that would be sent out to SVCN members, creating social media graphics, compiling data for a company infographic, and general brainstorming for marketing initiatives.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to SVCN?
My main contribution to SVCN was maintaining the circulation of up-to- date information for the company and the Bay Area community through SVCN’s website. Regulating job postings, calendar events, and just recently, COVID-19 resources has allowed for SVCN to remain a valuable resource for the Bay Area community. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Consider looking into the Fellows program! Hearing my other colleagues speak about the great work they’ve done in their respective placements has been nothing short of inspiring, and it really goes to show how valuable this program has been for both us and the surrounding community. 

Biography

Economics Major
Home Town:  Fort Collins, Colorado

What were your responsibilities at your internship with Office of San Jose, Mayor Sam Liccardo?
Over the course of my fellowship, I researched policy issues across a diverse set of fields including drug addiction resources, transportation, homelessness, and crisis response. I provided analysis on how San José could best serve individuals experiencing homelessness and Methamphetamine addiction. I analyzed potential future governance structures for Caltrain and advised Mayor Liccardo on the best options for continued growth. I also tracked and analyzed volunteer needs for the Silicon Valley Strong program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Office of San Jose, Mayor Sam Liccardo?
I believe that a good portion of my research was used to develop meaningful policy which will impact the residents of San José. As an example, I know that my findings related to drug addiction and the homeless population was used to develop a centralized hotline to allow individuals living on the street, social workers, and police officers to get up-to-date information on treatment options and availability. Other recommendations I crafted will go on to help continue to make San José a great city to live in.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
For LSB students hoping to make a difference in our community, I would recommend researching advocacy groups related to your passion. There are dozens of local groups fighting to improve everything from voting rights to the environment, and they would love volunteer help. This is a great way to get involved and use your Santa Clara education to make a positive impact on the greater community.

 

 

 

Biography

Accounting Major, Ethnic Studies Minor
Home Town:  San Jose, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the City of San Jose’s Office of Economic Development ?
As a fellow in the City of San Jose’s Office of Economic Development I was mainly tasked with the continued success of the Storefront Assistance Grant. I was in constant contact with various small San Jose businesses in order to process their application for grants. These grants are for storefront improvements so that small businesses can improve their aesthetic appearance. I was also given projects by my supervisor, Sal Alvarez, ranging from assisting meetings to visiting grant sites to talk with business owners. 

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the City of San Jose’s Office of Economic Development?
Working at the Office of Economic Development I have gained a wealth of experience and have also been able to meaningfully contribute to the department. The Office of Economic Development is a very inviting place open to ideas and new perspectives. I was able to share my ideas and with some initial guidance was eventually given autonomy to work on projects that helped the office. One such example was talking with various small businesses in order to understand the impact of COVID-19. This independent project helped the department’s effort to assist businesses facing the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
In my position I was given a core set of projects to work on like the Storefront Assistance Grant. However, this experience is what you make of it. If you are interested in a certain issue or are passionate about something this position will be a great way of learning more about it. Working at the city I became interested in public transportation and the issues the city of San Jose faces with transportation. Because of this I spent time learning about the city’s public transportation system and how the city is trying to improve it. 

 

 

Biography

Makreting & Communication Double Major
Home Town:  Hayward, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
When arriving at Cristo Rey, my supervisor asked me about the type of work I enjoyed doing, so the tasks I completed were largely due to my preference. My responsibilities/tasks that I completed while a Special Projects Intern included the following: assist with CWSP event planning and preparation, post engaging content on school’s LinkedIn, create visually appealing slide decks for board meetings and school events, pitch proposals for new ideas or improvements for the program.  I was also responsible for auditing CWSP drivers’ biweekly timecards, creatively putting together celebratory content for the Class of 2020 (due to COVID-19), designing the monthly CWSP supervisor newsletter.  My other tasks included project management (I specifically managed a revamp for CWSP’s section of the website) and attending bi-weekly check-in meetings with supervisor.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
I believe that the contributions that I’m most proud of include consistently posting on the LinkedIn accounts, as well as the work that I was able to complete while managing the website updates. A decent amount of CWSP’s section of the website had needed to be updated for a while now, and I enjoyed being able to propose my ideas and then strategize on how to complete the vision. Lastly, I think the contributions I made for different events throughout the year-- Work Team Meet-Up, The CWSP Heroes Luncheon and College Signing Day/Graduation-- allowed me the opportunity to meet other staff at Cristo Rey, and felt very meaningful because I was able to create content that was very forward-facing and crucial to the event. It’s always great to feel important!

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
For LSB students who want to get more involved in the community, I think that this program provides an interesting way to at least become more educated about the issues and work being done in the community that immediately surrounds you. I always say that at SCU, we live in a bubble that is really nothing like the community around us, so it is so important to be active off-campus. Especially as business students, there aren’t many learning opportunities centered around nonprofit business work, which involves business that may more closely work with members of different communities in the Bay Area. This program provides a working opportunity, but volunteering and meeting people while doing so represents a more active way to ensure you’re not sitting idly while the world outside passes you by.

 

 

Biography

Finance Major
English Minor
Home Town: Los Angeles, California

Tyler's final thoughts on his internship:  My fellowship enhanced my classroom education at LSB. I learned a great deal of technical skills in finance, business, and communication and was able to apply it to the real world and understand how my education is readily applicable. My fellowship helped further uncover the importance of experiential education.

Watch Tyler's Vlog

 

Biography

Finance Major
Spanish Studies and Retail Studies Minors
Home Town: San Diego, California

Adrianna's final thoughts on her internship:  This experience has allowed me to actually apply what I am learning in the classroom to real life situations. In my coursework at SCU, I have learned how to analyze data, effectively communicate professionally, manage projects, etc. SCU gave me the basic skills needed to do these things but having an opportunity to actually apply these skills to my work at the OED office has given me insight into my own working style and helped me to work on both my strengths and weaknesses. SCU gave me the foundation I needed to connect and serve the greater community we live in. The greatest part of this experience was having a wonderful manager.  Throughout the past 9 months, l my supervisor has helped me to grow both professionally and personally. This experience has given me a lifelong mentor! 

Watch Adrianna's Vlog

 

 

Biography

Finance Major
Management Information Systems Minor
Home Town: Bellevue, Washington

Allison's final thoughts on her internship:  I believe this fellowship allowed me to further identify the connection between government/public service and the business world, which is an interconnectedness that is not often explored in the business school. The most beneficial aspect of this experience was the organic personal interest in politics and public policy that emerged whilst being emerged in a government environment. Furthermore, I know can identify areas of intersection between business and government, specifically concerned with real estate development, city zoning, alternative housing solutions, etc. that I would like to eventually pursue a career in - which is something that certainly would not have occurred without this experience at this time in my life.

Watch Allison's Vlog

 

Biography

Accounting
Home Town: Pasadena, California

Dana's final thoughts on her internship:  My internship opened the door for me to explore other opportunities with my career that I didn’t know I had. I think it’s super important to give back to the community and make it a better place, and, it can be hard to see a path where you can do that kind of work. 

Watch Dana's Vlog

 

Biography

Marketing Major
Communication Minor (Digital Filmmaking Track)
Home Town: Vista, California

Casey's final thoughts on his internship:  Through this Fellowship, I got to appreciate how much work really is done behind the scenes and open my eyes to some potential, future careers that I would not have considered before. I think the most beneficial part of the experience was my professional development skills. This Fellowship really supplemented my Business Communication class and taught me to write concise but informative emails and memos to people in the industry. Being able to sit in on interviews also was a huge boost to those skills as I could get into the mindset of others and listen to what worked for each applicant.

Watch Casey's Vlog

 

Biography

Finance
Home Town: LaPorte, Indiana

Rowan's final thoughts on his internship:  This was a huge learning experience for me. This program reminded me that there are greater applications to my business background and skills than just making money. I loved the fact that we got involved with the community. I never really fully appreciate how awesome of a city San Jose is until I started working there and interacting with people involved in the city. 

Watch Rowan's Vlog

 

Biography

Accounting, Ethnic Studies
Home Town: Los Angeles, California

Alexis' final thoughts on her internship:  The fellowship experience really brought into perspective the vast experiences you can have, while still using your skills as a business student. At HFSV I recognized the constant use of industry and organizational knowledge that it takes to be a successful non-profit. The most beneficial aspects of this experience were the relationships I was able to cultivate in the HFSV office. They treated me like another team member and were always genuinely interested in my personal and professional development. It was helpful to know that I was being mentored and supported throughout my senior year.  

Watch Alexis' Vlog

 

Biography

Accounting and Information Systems
Home Town: Salem, Oregon

Joseph's final thoughts on his internship:  The most beneficial aspect for me was learning how to effectively communicate my own knowledge to people who haven't developed the fundamental understandings in specific areas I have been able to throughout my education and life in general. These students come from a different background than myself and haven't been exposed to everything I have experienced, and this fellowship has allowed me to understand that I shouldn't have any assumptions about what others may know, This will help me in the working world when I interact with colleagues and clients.

Watch Joseph's Vlog

Biography

Finance Major, Management Information Systems Minor
Home Town:  Bangalore, India

What were your responsibilities at Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School?
As an intern for the Advancement Team, our team only consists of three other team members. Being a part of a smaller team required me to take up more responsibility, which at the end helped me gain more skills. I learnt how to contact vendors and donors myself helping me improve my communication skills. Having to be more hands-on meant that I had to speak to new staff members everyday which helped my networking skills as well. I also had to attend webinars regarding different softwares we were using and take notes for my supervisor. These were just a few of my tasks in the internship.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School?
I believe that since it was such a small team, my voice mattered. I believe that coming into work with a positive attitude always helped make an impact in this organization. I also believe that along with another intern, I had a lot of technical responsibilities. I was able to help with many technical problems and troubleshoot when need be. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I think that the Community Fellows program is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community. I am someone who has always been very into community service and after seeing that I had an opportunity to be a part of this program, I was exhilarated. Compassion is one characteristic that I believe every single employee has in common with one another at Cristo Rey SJ. Going to work and being around my team made me feel as though I was a part of a great cause.

Biography

Finance Major, Business Analytics Minor
Home Town:  Saratoga, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
This year, I worked as a Business Outreach Intern at San Jose Office of Economic Development. Unlike the normal job description, this year, I worked a lot with small businesses including making small business pulse surveys, having phone calls with small business owners in order to better support them during the pandemic. 

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
Even though this pandemic has raised many challenges to small business owners, it has also brought us closer. With my work at OED, I believe I had positive contributions in helping the organization better understand local small businesses’ climate with the charts and data analysis work I have done and taking initiative by sharing my ideas and thoughts on projects that I think I could implement.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend LSB students to join the community fellows program because it has allowed me to devote my skills, learned from the business school, to make our community a better place. I would also say that sometimes it is hard to find the “difference” you have made while working for technical jobs. However, taking initiative in what you want to do and looking into the indirect impact of your work will help find the meaning of your work in the end.  

 

 

Biography

Accounting and Information Systems Major, Music Minor
Home Town:  Lisle, Illinois

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
As a Downtown Business Development Management intern, I was able to work on several initiatives affecting local businesses in the San Jose Downtown Core. Since this year was plagued with economic crises related to the pandemic, I assisted with the grant process for small businesses, understanding and outlining the Al Fresco outdoor services requirements, and publish weekly city sponsored small business webinars on the website. 

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
Through this fellowship, I was able to contribute my knowledge and adaptive problem-solving skills as an undergraduate accounting major to have both an analytical mindset as well as be a people connector.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
For those of you like me who want to make an impact on the community, I recommend getting involved in issues that are important to you and find a way to use your skillset to best tackle some of these issues. For me, this was related to learning more about the issues small businesses face in a large city. As the daughter of an entrepreneur, I was really excited to dive headfirst into the policies and grants available to small businesses and learning how a city government can best benefit these companies. It was truly an amazing experience to have during my senior year as I learned more about what I am passionate about and how I can make an impact.

 

Biography

Marketing Major, Retail Studies Minor
Home Town:  Eugene, Oregon

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County?
My main responsibilities as the Marketing and Communication Intern for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County were in regards to social media management, as well as some work regarding press releases. At the beginning of each week, I would meet with my supervisors, and we would go over the social media schedule for the week and potential press opportunities. I would leave the meeting with a set of social media concepts for which I needed to design a graphic, draft a caption, and schedule to be posted on various platforms. In addition to drafting captions, designing graphics, and scheduling posts, I also had the opportunity to work on the analysis and reporting of social media and email statistics. Every once in a while, I had the opportunity to work on a press release, which was also so interesting and fun!

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara?
One of the amazing parts of the Community Fellows program is the opportunity to intern on a small team where you are given a great deal of responsibility and ownership over your work. Nonprofits tend to be chronically understaffed, so as an intern, we get to take on projects and opportunities that are highly impactful for the team and organization as a whole. Every day, I felt like I was making positive contributions to my team, as I took charge of projects like press releases and social media series, and initiated the development of ideas.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would encourage any LSB students who want to make a difference in the community to apply for the LSB Community Fellows program. This fellowship is an amazing opportunity to escape the SCU bubble and better understand the needs, struggles, and realities of the Santa Clara County community as a whole. This internship lets you get involved and make a difference in our community, learn and practice valuable business skills, and understand how these skills can be applied beyond the corporate world to spur real change in our society. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biography

Finance Major, Political Science Minor
Home Town:  Chicago, Illinois

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley?
As the Education Programs Intern at HFSV, I worked in the Hispanic Foundation College Success Center (HFCSC) modeling our Cradle to Career Latinos in Technology Initiative. So as an overview of some projects I worked on, I created and updated our HS/College Scholarship Book as an ongoing project, developed a Financial Literacy Workshop Series for HS Seniors, researched and centralized information regarding COVID-19 resources for Latinx communities in the Bay Area, helped to advance the offerings of our growing Conexiones Program, and contacted schools and community members across the Bay Area to increase engagement and involvement with HFSV; all alongside one of San Jose’s kindest and most intelligent teams ever!

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley?
As much as I have learned from our HFSV team and community, I hope to have contributed as well. As a dependable, proactive, and communicative intern, I was able to support my team through small and large tasks and attempted to build community both in structured meetings and team-bonding events held in-person once we were all vaccinated! Through my own knowledge of the Latinx First-Gen experience, I hope to have made a difference in the lives of my team, and especially the students we serve, as HFSV provided many opportunities for me to engage and create for them!

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
There are endless opportunities and possibilities to better the world around us! We are so capable of impacting our communities, both through our education and experiences. Aside from contributing as much of our energy and time as possible to our neighbors, what we learn through them is even more valuable and crucial to identifying new ways to help them thrive.

 

 

Biography

Economics & English Majors
Home Town:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits?
I worked on a variety of different projects this past year as a public policy intern. My first few weeks I spent a lot of my time watching and taking notes on webinars to learn about the rules and regulations surrounding nonprofits. Later, I was given a few projects to take on. First, I hosted a Meet and Greet with Council member Matt Mahan. I loved having the experience of planning and executing an event all on my own. I also worked on an agenda tracker/database, and I created policy and advocacy webpages for the website. Additionally, I aided my supervisor in taking notes on specific agenda items for the city council and Board of Supervisors. 

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits?
I think that it is important to have a variety of voices within the nonprofit community, and I believe that I was an adequate young voice that contributed positively to discussions. Specifically, I was a part of the REAL community, which was a coalition that was based in discussing racial equity. I was able to contribute positively in these discussions by engaging with other community members about my own experiences and my own insights. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend that LSB students continuously ask questions and ask for work. There is so much work to be done within the nonprofit community, and sometimes making it clear that you are ready and willing to help is the best way to make a difference. 

 

Biography

Accounting Major
Home Town:  Sacramento, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
This year I worked with Cristo Rey San Jose High School in their advancement office. In this role, I worked on several projects surrounding fundraising events, grants, and spreadsheet organization. My main project was to be lead spreadsheet organizer of the digital literacy grant, a grant dedicated toward decreasing the digital divide seen in Silicon Valley by giving personal hot spots to low income families during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was also involved in interviewing students for Cristo Rey’s Rey of Hope fundraiser video in the year CRSJ became the first Cristo Rey school to raise over $1 million in a single event. In addition to these main projects, I contributed to the weekly newsletter by creating infographics and writing alumni articles. I also became involved with the Ambassador Program as I had prior ambassador experience at Santa Clara.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
I believe I made positive contributions to Cristo Rey by entering the role with an open mind and an adaptive attitude. In a year with many variables, I knew the role could change given the need of the school at any moment during the year. I never declined a project and became comfortable adapting on the fly with each project Katie and Lydia, my supervisors, gave me. I contributed to the advancement team by leading the spreadsheet organization for the digital literacy grant, which gave 120 personal WIFI hotspots to families in need. With the trust and support of my team, I was also granted the opportunity to lead several interviews with students, alumni, and faculty for various advancement events, grants, and newsletters.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
My recommendation to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community is to not be afraid getting involved and to get comfortable being uncomfortable in your role. There may be a point when you might think you are biting off more than you can chew, but you can always rely on your team members to help you. Practice clear communication and don’t be afraid to take the lead on a project if granted the opportunity. Becoming a part of the Cristo Rey family taught me so much about how purposeful work can feel so meaningful and I recommend anyone to get involved in any service/fellowship opportunities if they feel drawn to it!

 

 

Biography

Accounting & Information Systems Major and International Business Minor
Home Town:  Elk Grove, California

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
During my fellowship I worked with Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School in the Corporate Work Study Department(CWSP) and the Finance Department. In the CWSP department, I worked on website updates, beautification and adding additional sections, I developed and created an alumni toolkit where CRSJ alumni could come to this section of the website to get career prep guidance (resumes, networking, interviewing, etc) and learn about open job opportunities. Each career prep guide was created by me in addition to the design of the  3 sections of the website. I was also responsible for weekly posts to LinkedIn. Every Wednesday I created a “Worker Wednesday” post that showed CRSJ’s gratitude and pride for its students and its CWSP partners. For CWSP, I also designed and formatted the annual CWSP partner awards and I put together the graduation slide deck. For the Finance department I worked in QuickBooks to issue credits/refunds to all applicable student accounts and I worked in collections.

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Cristo Rey High School San Jose?
I think I made a positive contribution is alleviating a lot of pressure from the team in such a hectic school year, by taking on projects that had been pressing their departments for many years. I believe I created solutions that will be able to be used for many years to come and for many classes of alumni and I left the organization with a guide on how the next LSB Fellow could continue my work without having to start from scratch.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend that you find an area that you are passionate about, match that with your natural talents or professional interests, and pursue the change you want to see in the community.

 

Biography

Economics Major and Environmental Studies Minor 
Home Town:  Portland, Oregon

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the San Jose Office of Economic Development?
During my time as a business development intern at the San Jose Office of Economic Development, the main project I worked on was the storefront grant assistance program. Mainly my time was spent on the storefront grant program because it requires a lot of daily work. In total, I assisted twenty businesses on their grant application and process. These businesses included a vet clinic, coffee shops, restaurants, insurance agencies, and a children's theater. I worked with them from the initial introduction of what the grants were, to the end when they received their reimbursement. It was a lot of fun meeting with so many business owners and hearing their stories. I also worked on a project updating the city’s project development map, which is how the city tracks potential and ongoing construction development around the city. This was my first experience using GIS tools, so it was a very exciting opportunity for me!

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the San Jose Office of Economic Development?I think the most positive and important contribution I was able to make to the Office of Economic Development was my meetings and presentations that I had with members of the Mayor’s office about the storefront grant assistance program. After my supervisor, Sal Alvarez, and I conducted these meetings with them, the budget for the grant program was increased at the next city budget meeting. We were so excited when this happened! This means that many more San Jose businesses will have access to the grants and it will continue to have a positive impact on the community.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
There are many ways that people can get involved with the community to enact positive change. As a Santa Clara University student, I would recommend people to even just go out into the surrounding community and interact with the people. Sometimes, we can get sucked into campus culture and be very stuck in the Santa Clara bubble. But it only takes a few minutes to walk or drive to go explore the beautiful surrounding community. The Leavey School of Business and the university itself has many opportunities for students to get involved and either work or volunteer for organizations. I recommend students to take advantage of that and enjoy those opportunities while they can. 

Biography

Marketing Major and Communications Minor
Home Town:  San Gabriel, California

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I'm excited to meet new people who share a passion about social justice and nonprofits.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far? 
Business Ethics, Phil 26. It was both conceptually challenging and interesting, and it had so much relevance to corporations in the business world today.

What is your favorite quote?
"Your friends are meant to build you up; not break you down." Melanie Wong

 

Biography

Economics Major and Political Science and International Business Minors
Home Town:  Seattle, Washington

What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Office of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo?
My responsibilities included helping scale up a pilot blight reduction and unhoused engagement program by improving how we track and report our data. I also helped publicize the program through an informational video. In addition, I researched the practices of other cities on a variety of topics to help inform policy memos and operational decisions. 

In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Office of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo?
I contributed to my department by thinking creatively about how our pilot program could overcome obstacles and inefficiencies. I also brought my data analysis and video production expertise to help accomplish some projects.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
LSB students who want to make a difference in their community should consider a career in public service. Government often has the greatest impact on a community through policy making and program implementation. The skills learned through our business curriculum are just as critical and in need in the public sector as they are in the private sector. Government programs require budgeting, investment, economic analysis, data science, marketing to the community, and innovation in order to function effectively and provide the services that support the lives of residents.

 

 

Biography

Marketing Major and Spanish and International Business Minors 
Home Town:  Saint Paul, Minnesota

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited to work with a foundation that works so closely with the community in the Bay - one aspect of my Santa Clara experience I have been wanting but not yet fully experienced.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far? 
MGMT 160 - Management of Organizations. This class taught me so much about the workplace, understanding the people within it, and how to be overall more self-aware. I enjoyed learning about negotiations and actually practicing how to negotiate, as well as the participation aspect of this class - everyone was highly engaged and interactive which created great conversations.

What is your favorite quote?
"Do the job you have well; be patient; look for opportunities to pitch in and expand and grow; and make yourself one of the people, through attitude, energy, and focus, that your bosses feel they have to turn to when opportunity arises." - Robert Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company.

 

Biography

Management Information Systems and Economics Majors
Home Town:  San Francisco, California

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I'm very excited to engage with the community while also aiding in the work of non-profits which I'm very passionate about.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far? 
I enjoyed BUSN 85, Business Law, because I liked learning about business through a legal lens, and the class definitely helped in improving my analytical writing skills.

What is your favorite quote?
"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring" -David Bowie

Biography

Finance Major and Business Analytics Minor
Home Town:  Kailua, Hawaii

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I’m excited to be a fellow for the opportunity to get more involved in the San Jose area and use the skills that I’m developing at SCU to benefit the community at Cristo Rey.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far? 
MGMT 80, Global and Cultural Environment of Business, was my favorite course. I enjoyed this class because it centered around international cultures and customs and how they play a part in business operations. Also, my professor had a lot of experience working in international business, so it was interesting to see how she analyzed situations and incorporated her background into the course.

What is your favorite quote?
“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Biography

Marketing & Psychology (Double Major)
Home Town:  Santa Clara, California

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I'm looking forward to embracing my passion for marketing and social justice while simultaneously connecting with and learning from talented, likeminded individuals.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
I really enjoyed MKTG 181, Principles of Marketing. I liked this course because it was the first class I took that was specific to my major and engaging for both my artistic/creative and logistical/data-analytic ways of thinking. 

What is your favorite quote?
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou

 

Biography

Marketing & Studio Arts (Double Major)
Home Town:  Exeter, New Hampshire

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am extremely excited to work as a community fellow and positively impact the community using the skills I have acquired through my education at Santa Clara University.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
BUSN 179, Effective Communication in Business, was my favorite course at the Leavey School of Business. It taught me applicable skills that I know I will use in my future career.

What is your favorite quote?
"You dont have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar

Biography

Management and Psychology Majors
Home Town:  Elk Grove, California

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am so excited to work behind the scenes within a nonprofit and create a tangible impact on this community that I’ve come to know and love.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
Management of Organizations, MGMT 160, has been my favorite class so far. We all know that teamwork is important, but this interactive class highlighted the tangible benefits of working with diverse teams and specific ways to organize teams to be more effective.

What is your favorite quote?
“Words may inspire but only action creates change.” Simon Sinek

Biography

Finance Major and Economics Minor
Home Town:  Mercer Island, Washington

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am extremely excited to continue my involvement with the San Jose community and to take on a role that allows me to work directly with businesses in the local area.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
MGMT 6, Business Ethics, with Professor Bhargava. I really enjoyed this class as it exposed me to a side of business I had not previously considered. Dr. Bhargava's readings challenged my preconceived notions about doing business and helped shape my perspective about how a business or corporation should operate.

What is your favorite quote?
“Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” -Roy T. Bennett

Biography

Marketing and Italian Studies Majors, International Business Minor
Home Town: Rome, Italy

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am most excited to be working for an organization that prioritizes the wellbeing and benefit of their community above all.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
MKTG 181, Principles of Marketing. As a marketing major, it was fascinating to be introduced to the various focuses that exist within marketing and to gain insight on the small details to be considered when developing a marketing strategy. This course challenged me to be both analytical as well as creative, and taught me to fuel my findings and research into a proper solution and plan.

What is your favorite quote?
"Do it with passion, or not at all" - Rosa Nouchette Carey

Biography

Accounting and Public Health Science Double Major
Home Town: Milpitas, California

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am quite excited about becoming an LSB Community Fellow because this opportunity will allow me to both learn new skills and give back to my native Bay Area community!

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
My favorite LSB class thus far has been MGMT 160 - Management of Organizations with Professor Jazaieri. Despite the restrictions imposed by the virtual format, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the various facets of organizational behavior through the perspectives of the individual employee, the manager, and the organization as a whole. In addition to learning techniques on how to better present myself as a prospective employee, I am glad that I got to learn more about navigating situations involving conflict and negotiation in the workplace!

What is your favorite quote?
"What's meant to be will always find a way." - Trisha Yearwood

Biography

Finance Major and Real Estate Minor
Home Town: Dominican Republic

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am incredibly excited to learn about San Jose, engage with its vibrant community and apply my business skills to further improve the City.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
My favorite, most intimidating, yet rewarding class I have ever taken is Business Ethics, MGMT 6. It radically changed how I approach arguments and challenges — both professionally and personally. I am grateful for how it expanded my thought process and further developed my communication skills.

What is your favorite quote?
"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up." - Booker T. Washington

Biography

Management & Environmental Studies Major and French Minor
Home Town: Bogota, Colombia & Mexico City, Mexico

What excites you about becoming a Fellow?
Meeting people who are passionate about improving the lives of others and learning about what they do.

What is your favorite Leavey School of Business class so far?
MGMT 80, Global and Cultural Environment of Business.  This course brought in a lot of social aspects to the business world and how changes in society affected business.

What is your favorite quote?
“El pueblo es superior a sus dirigentes (the people are superior to their governors)”. - Jorge Eliécer Gaitán

Biography

Management Major
Home Town: Brentwood, California

Summary of responsibilities in fellowship role
I am an Education Programs Intern so my work relies heavily on supporting the 2000+ participants in the Hispanic Foundation College Success Programs. Such programs include Latinos in Technology Program (LITSI), Scholar Success Chats, Resume and Professional Development Webinars, Latino Board Leadership Academy (LBLA), Scholarship Books, and more! In addition, I conduct data tracking and information distribution to students and parents on college access, guidance, workshops, and online resources. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
Right now, I am working on developing and sending out major surveys to members of the Latinos In Technology Program (LISTI Scholars) and Latino Board Leadership Academy (LBLAers). These surveys contain important information about scholar/fellow satisfaction and support of the programs they are in, the internships/jobs/boards they have been able to join due to the programs, and areas of growth. From the 100s of survey responses, I am working hand in hand with another SCU HFSV Fellow to develop a report summarizing the Hispanic Foundation’s impact on these individuals! A lot of my work within my organization is making sure that the true impact HFSV has on the community is able to shine through so I am happy I am able to support this objective. 

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
One aspect of my Fellowship that has been the most rewarding is attending events, both virtual and in-person, to see the individuals that the work of my organization is impacting. One event at SJSU allowed me to interact with students who were able to tell me their stories about how the LITSI program scholarship helped them attend college and relieve some of the financial burden from their families. Being able to understand the personal impact HFSV has had on others makes my work rewarding and fulfilling. I believe that as a minority, I have a dedicated passion to see others excel in occupying the space they desire. So, as a fellow, I see my position as a bridge to champion these individuals to get to the places and positions they hope to be in. 

One aspect of my Fellowship that has been helpful to me is simply learning how to balance working part-time while being a full-time student. Everyday I learn something new about how to be a young professional which will aid my future internships and career. I have met so many amazing individuals who have helped me grow and understand what it takes to make a tangible impact in the position you are in. The dedication I see from my HFSV colleagues to better the Latinx community in the San Jose and Santa Clara area inspires me to do the same for my own community in my future positions.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Don’t wait to make a difference! There are so many opportunities to do something in the community, you just have to find what you are most passionate about and do it. Of course, the LSB Community Fellows is definitely a program I would recommend for any business student looking to make an impact in the community outside of SCU. Additionally, do a bit of research about the organizations in our area and volunteer yourself! I promise you that taking the time to do something for others such as volunteering at a community center, garden, or food drive will fill you with a sort of compassion that can not be found in the classroom setting.

Biography

Management Information Systems and Economics Majors
Home Town: San Francisco, California

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role 
In my role as an intern at the Office of Santa Clara County District 3 Supervisor Otto Lee, I completed multiple data analysis projects involving the County communications and residential programming. I created a funds database to track District 3 grants to local organizations to fund community events and programs. Over the course of the Fellowship, I was also able to attend various community events to represent the supervisor and interact with community members in the San José, Milpitas, and Sunnyvale area. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department? 
Through my work at the County, I was able to help collate and present feedback on the County newsletter and the annual National Night Out event. Through this, future events and communications can be improved, thus allowing for more efficient ways for residents to learn about and utilize County resources. My research also contributed to a better understanding of the policy landscape on the national and local level.

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
I think I have been able to learn a lot about the local government and the way that residents are supported by the County through this fellowship. I now have a better understanding of County operations and resources because of this experience and will hopefully be able to utilize that in my desired career in public policy. Through my Fellowship projects I have also been able to further develop my data analysis skills, which I believe will be beneficial for future projects and opportunities.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community? 
To have an impact on your community, I believe it is important to be informed and seek out opportunities to learn. By doing this, one can have a comprehensive understanding of the positive aspects as well as what needs improvement in the community. And I think by being involved in the greater community, you naturally find chances to make a difference for others, in both big and small ways.

 

Biography

Management Information Systems Major
Home Town: San Jose, California 

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
For the fall quarter of my placement at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, I focused on many marketing projects for events such as The Hispanic Foundation Ball, where I created videos and artwork. As the winter quarter approached, my projects transitioned into data analysis projects such as visualizing the data from various campaigns and showcasing it to the team at HFSV. For the spring quarter, a huge focus was working with Taeya Ross, another fellow at HFSV, to create annual reports for both of our biggest programs: Latino Board Leadership Academy and Latinos In Technology Scholarship Initiative. Some other responsibilities throughout the year included working on other marketing projects and auditing data in Customer Relationship Management tools such as Salesforce, and ensuring the integrity of the data from donor reports.

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
It was an amazing feeling working on projects that contributed to HFSV. Whether it be marketing projects or data analysis projects, seeing how your work directly impacts the surrounding community is a great experience. A project I enjoyed working on was collecting data and creating dashboards to showcase to the teams at HFSV. Another project I enjoyed working on was with another fellow at HFSV and LSB Student, Taeya Ross. I was glad that I was able to work on projects that would showcase valuable insights to the organization and working during the Hispanic Foundation Ball was an amazing experience. I enjoyed working on these different projects, where I could use content creation skills or working on automating a system to transfer data more efficiently.

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
I am humbled to have the opportunity of attending the Hispanic Foundation Ball. It was a huge event and I’m glad there is a great night to celebrate the accomplishments of the Hispanic community. It was a pleasure to be able to help HFSV with the event and see how much support there is from people of all different backgrounds.

Secondly, working with the Hispanic community was one of the most rewarding aspects of the Fellowship. It was amazing to connect with a different culture and ever since interning at HFSV and they have always treated me like family. Being able to assist my team with different projects and spending time with them are memories I will always remember.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend LSB students to connect with the community outside of campus. Connecting with different cultures, backgrounds and people is a humbling experience but it will remind us to be kind and respectful towards everyone. This program was not only such a great experience but the supervisors and the people you will connect with over the course of the year was a great feeling. Volunteering and helping out people will give you a feeling that nothing else can replicate.

 

 

 

Biography

Marketing Major
Home Town: Miami, Florida

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
My role involves working with the Public Information Manager to plan communications and marketing activities that support the OEDCA Business Development Group. I’ve spearheaded marketing campaigns celebrating local entrepreneurship by interviewing small business owners and posting engaging success stories. I’ve really enjoyed enhancing the program with such passionate team members who motivate me to make an impact in the lives of underserved communities. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
Getting the opportunity to speak one-on-one with local business owners made me aware of the challenges certain districts and marginalized areas face. By highlighting their stories on social media, these businesses grow positive brand awareness and recognition from San Jose residents. The informative workshops and panelist events that I’ve helped promote are

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
Understanding how business owners have benefitted from business grants and pushed through COVID-19 with resilience has been inspirational to me, as I’ve always had an interest in entrepreneurship. I also really appreciate the autonomy given to me at the OED because I felt encouraged to continue working towards helping the community. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
One huge takeaway from this fellowship has been my increased understanding of the high impact an individual can make in their community. City officials want to understand residents’ needs, and I believe in the power of communicating those needs to offices like the OEDCA. I also think surrounding yourself with people who also care to be more civically engaged is instrumental to having conversations about inequities and paths toward community flourishing.

Biography

Finance Major and Business Analytics Minor
Home Town: San Ramon, California

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role:
My role is a Public Policy fellow in the Office of Economic Development at the City of San Jose. My role focuses on housing policy and development of multiple neighborhoods in San Jose, with a focus on Downtown. I work with my team members to help them visualize trends using City-managed data to draw conclusions about the economic health of the city.

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
I have been able to provide a perspective of a college student, on how OED can better serve the downtown community. During team meetings, I hope to add value by providing my perspective on the needs of college campuses and students, in order to help the City of San Jose obtain a holistic viewpoint on how to better build Downtown.

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
I am grateful to have an opportunity to learn more about a neighborhood that I am not extremely familiar with. Although I am from the Bay Area, the region is so vast that it is rare to get hands-on experience in a community other than yours. I have loved learning more about the San Jose community and what makes it unique.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Join the Community Fellows program and be intentional with your volunteering and service! It can be so difficult to make time to give back to the community, yet it provides you with a perspective unlike any other, and truly can complete your college experience.

Biography

Marketing Major and Real Estate Minor
Home Town:  San Jose, California 

 Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
Support SVCN’s marketing and communications arm in bringing local nonprofits together and unifying SVCN’s messaging across their communication channels.

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
I have been advising the organization on how they can adjust their website and social media channels to best engage with their members. I am also there to help out with in-person events, and bring my positive attitude with me wherever I go!

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
I feel empowered because I can directly bring knowledge from the classroom into a professional environment and see how my insights are helping others. I appreciate the scope of the work I do, as well as the special positionality of SVCN that allows me to understand what nonprofits deal with, as well as how they are tied together with institutions such as city government to create a web of support for the community.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
If you want to make an impact, go out there and look for ways that you want to contribute! There are so many ways for people to get involved, and they are all in varying capacities so people can be engaged on their own terms. Do not underestimate what you bring to the table just because you are a student; you are very much needed and valued in any space you choose to be present in. Listen and be excited about what you don’t know.

 

Biography

Finance Major, Real Estate and Entrepreneurship Minors
Home Town:  Mukilteo, Washington

 Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role:
As an intern at Veggielution, I have a number of responsibilities assigned to ease the work of my coworkers. One of my main responsibilities includes checking email accounts and voicemails to ensure messages get to the appropriate staff member(s). As an admin intern I was also given an onboarding project to help the Administration Manager complete this process as Veggielution will continue expanding their team in the future. Lastly, I had the opportunity to help a few managers with program-specific projects which expanded my skillset and my understanding of Veggielution as a whole.

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
Above all else, I play a support role in my fellowship and provide assistance where I am needed. I have contributed to the Veggielution team by helping form standard operating procedures, doing research, and helping with a number of small projects.

 What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
The most rewarding aspects of my fellowship have been attending community events and working with different program managers. These two things helped me connect with my coworkers and East San Jose residents in ways that I will forever be grateful for.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
This program is an excellent way for LSB students to make a real, visible difference in the community. In addition to the Community Fellows program, I would also recommend finding other organizations on campus that have similar values to maximize the amount of exposure you get to the community beyond SCU.

 

Biography

Marketing and Art History Major
Home Town: San Francisco, California 

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role 
I work closely with the Marketing and Communications team to help them with creating social media posts, scheduling posts, filming and editing videos, collecting data from our marketing/communication efforts, and more! Along with this, I also get to go to Catholic Charities events and help with whatever I can while there. Some of my responsibilities at events include talking to donors, checking them in, and taking pictures of the events. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department? 
Even though most of my days are spent behind a computer screen, I know that all of the work that I am doing is positively affecting people in Santa Clara county. It also feels very rewarding to know that the work that I am doing is greatly helping my co-workers! I am glad that I can help lighten up their workload because they are already so busy. 

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far? 
The most rewarding parts of my fellowship have been getting to meet the people who my work directly affects. For example, I got to meet students from the CORAL after school program and felt so happy that I work for an organization who creates opportunities for such kind and smart students. While there, the students performed their daily pledge for us and I was so moved by what I heard that I decided to go back a few weeks later and film the students doing their pledge. I wanted to share their pledge with our social media followers in the hopes that they too would be as moved as I was with these young students and feel inclined to learn more or donate to the CORAL program. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community? 
I would say that making a difference in your community is much easier than you may think! You should start by finding something that you are passionate about and then connect with other people who are passionate about the same thing within your community. This will lead you to a much wider network of people who are working to the same goal that you are.

Biography

Management Information Systems Major and Business Analytics Minor
Home Town: Santa Clarita, California

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
My main tasks consisted of finding internship opportunities for CRSJ alumni with partners of the school, creating professional career resources like resume-building or cover letters, making newsletters for alumni to stay in touch with the CRSJ community, 1-on-1 mentoring/tutoring with alumni, Salesforce maintenance, and alumni database cleaning. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
I am providing individualized help to people within the community and presenting/supporting opportunities that are not as easily accessible to these marginalized communities. Additionally, I help the Cristo Rey alumni community stay connected with one another by reconnecting with the high school internship companies and supervisors.

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
The most rewarding aspects of my Fellowship are definitely networking and relationships I have cultivated within Cristo Rey San Jose and outside. The team I work with is the most supportive and diverse team I have worked with.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Find organizations that same the same values as you and speak to your self-interest/identity! Researching stories within a community or attending public events hosted by social justice organizations is a great way to get to know people in the community and form relationships.

Biography

Marketing Major and Business Analytics Minor
Home Town: Larkspur, California

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role:
Overall, my role at Second Harvest revolves around creating 2-pagers on CalFresh from research, tabling and conducting student interviews at local colleges, and conducting analysis into Summer Meals (now Universal Meals) to create the 2021 Summer Meals Report. Outside of these main responsibilities, I help in any way that I can: taking notes for legislative events, updating Salesforce contacts, and helping to identify Summer Meals locations in the area. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
The work I do helps to support the strategy and advocacy efforts of Second Harvest for key issues, like CalFresh and Universal Meals. The team is always balancing so many different projects and meetings with legislators, especially during key legislative cycles. I think my positive contribution is that my work helps the Strategy & Advocacy team to focus on the most important and pressing issues, issues with deadlines and time constraints, while easing the burden of so many different responsibilities. I’m able to carefully research facets of those core issues and complete parts of projects that the team might not be able to complete otherwise. 

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
The aspects of my fellowship that have been the most rewarding have been volunteering for food service events and visiting college campuses to speak with students. It was incredibly impactful to see how many people are struggling with food insecurity but, also, how each person was so full of hope and always showed me kindness and gratitude. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend getting out into the community and participating in events where you can have conversations. The most rewarding part of service, to me, is learning about other peoples’ stories and connecting with them. When you go to an event and offer your support but also your attention and conversation, you can learn so much about the experiences of others, your own experience, and the issues the community faces. One of the most important parts of making a difference is listening to others and seeing their perspective. 

Biography

Management Major and Business Analytics Minor
Home Town: Hawai’i Kai, Hawai’i

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
My role as an advancement coordinator at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School has a very wide range of responsibilities. There is a heavy emphasis on digital marketing and analysis. Tasks include designing and publishing social media posts, researching and analyzing post metrics, graphic design, and even photography. 

As a member of the advancement office, it is our responsibility to raise money to support the school’s continued success and expansion. This means my job changes from day to day and encompasses many different aspects of the school’s business. There is frequent cross-team collaboration to help plan and execute events. I have also had the opportunity to host and plan my own events, providing college counseling to graduating seniors. 

 In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
The small and passionate advancement team at Cristo Rey High School are some of the hardest working and smart people I have had the pleasure of working with. The amount of work they do is quite honestly, astronomical. I am able to help reduce this workload so that we can all have more time to focus on the critical analysis and more crucial concerns when it comes to the success of the school. 

I also have had a desire to work directly with the students, especially to help them with the college application/acceptance process. I was able to host a couple of group college counseling sessions where I was able to help students get accepted and committed to SCU. 

 What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
The most rewarding aspect of my fellowship so far has been being able to follow the students of Cristo Rey on their journeys from high school seniors to future college freshmen. There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes and to be able to witness the success these students are having firsthand makes the work that much more meaningful.

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Start off by finding a volunteering organization you're interested in and convince your friends to attend an event with you. It is easier when it matches your interests or hobbies. You will find that the experience will be far more rewarding and fulfilling than you would expect. I have met some of the most amazing people at these events and I always have a ton of fun.

Biography

Economics Major
Home Town:  Portland, Oregon

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
In this role I worked on a variety of projects which included in depth policy analysis and the creation of policy content and resources for external stakeholders. I also worked on engaging with leaders at local nonprofits to better understand their policy interests and activities. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
I helped the policy team with completing their projects and supported their work in nonprofit advocacy by researching, writing and designing new content for the website and newsletters.

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
Being able to interact with the nonprofits we serve and talk with them about how they approach policy and advocacy. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
Seek out roles at nonprofit organizations, find places to volunteer and get involved with local issues.

Biography

Economics Major
Home Town:  Potomac, Maryland

Summary of your responsibilities in your fellowship role
Primarily involved with the storefront grants program. Communicate with prospective small businesses, filing grant applications, and executing grants. Also involved with bizwalks and Office of Economic Development related events. 

In what ways are you making a positive contribution to your organization/department?
I help small businesses in need with navigating and filing storefront grants to improve and revitalize their businesses. I feel very fortunate to be able to do work that is impactful both for myself and others. By focusing on the grants program, I am also able to take work off of others’ hands at the OED so they can focus on making an impact through other initiatives and programs. 

What are 1-2 aspects of your Fellowship that have been most rewarding or helpful to you so far?
Knowing the importance of the work I do and hearing back from small businesses that I have helped has been extremely rewarding. I also have a great sense of appreciation for my supervisor as well as the others I work with at the OED, who have given time to share with me their knowledge,stories, and experiences. 

What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would just say to those who are interested in making a difference or being a part of the community to be passionate, engaged, and open minded. If you are really passionate about something in your community, seek it out, talk to people, and find ways to help.

Biography

Management Information Systems Major
Hometown: Cupertino, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
It was very fascinating to learn about the work other fellows were doing and the impact they were having on their organizations and I found it very valuable to have a community of fellows to rely on and connect with, especially post-grad.
Learning about careers in the nonprofit and local government sector was very interesting as I had never considered working in that sector, but after the LSB Community Fellows experience, it’s certainly something I would consider exploring in the future.

 

 

Biography

Management Information Systems Major
Hometown: Xi'an, China

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
The seminars and outings organized by the LSB Community Fellows program were incredibly enriching. The outings offered a more informal setting to explore social justice and social challenges.

 

Biography

Finance Major
Hometown: San Jose, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
The seminars and outings were insightful and gave me the opportunity to learn about the world beyond my own Cristo Rey.
The community of Fellows was a great support system, offering a platform to share experiences and learn from each other.

 

Biography

Finance Major
Hometown: Los Angeles, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
My relationship with my two supervisors has been one of the most impactful aspects of my internship experience at HFSV. They have demonstrated to me the importance of female leadership, more specifically, Latina leadership, drive, and passion.

Biography

Marketing Major
Hometown: Los Angeles, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
The guest speakers, whether they were alumni or placement supervisors, had a lot of insight to share and came from different backgrounds like education or government.

Biography

Marketing Major
Hometown: Los Altos, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
I really enjoyed having different speakers with different expertise come into the seminars. 
I really like my relationships with my supervisors. It’s built on mutual trust and respect. There’s so much to learn from both of them.

Biography

Management Information Systems Major
Hometown: Fremont, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
This program really emphasized to me the importance of staying civically engaged in college and after graduation.

Biography

Finance & Computer Science Majors
Hometown: San Jose, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
The seminars were crucial in providing broader context to our work, integrating real-world applications of business principles.
The network of peers provided a supportive community, sharing diverse perspectives and experiences.

Biography

Economics Major
Hometown: Cupertino, California

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
It was incredibly insightful to work with the team and support the work that SVCN does.

Biography

Marketing Major
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
Having sessions that were dedicated to reflecting made me realize truly how special this program and the people were.

Biography

Management Major
Hometown: Gloucester, Massachusetts

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
Our group discussions and all the guest speakers were extremely insightful, inspiring, and thought-provoking. I always left class feeling more motivated to make a positive difference.

Biography

Economics Major
Hometown: Portland, Oregon

What are some of your favorite parts of the Community Fellows Program?
Hearing about each Fellows’ experiences continued to inspire me at each seminar, and continued to push me to continue to put my best forward in my work and being civically engaged.
This program allowed me to grow as an individual, and it enabled me to explore the overlap between economics and policy and strategy.

Biography

Management Information Systems Major and Business Analytics Minor
Hometown:  San Ramon, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
One of the most rewarding aspects of the Fellowship so far has been our retreat to San Damiano earlier in March. Being part of a large cohort, it can be challenging to find opportunities where everyone can come together in a meaningful way. The retreat provided a rare and valuable chance to step away from our busy schedules and connect on a deeper level. It was not only relaxing to spend time in a peaceful setting with other fellows, but also incredibly insightful. We shared our personal experiences, challenges, and successes in our placements, which helped build a strong sense of community and mutual support. I was also happy to hear about how many of us were going above and beyond our established responsibilities and had initiated our own projects within our placements. It reminded me that while we all work for nonprofits, our individual roles may differ, and we are all united by a shared commitment to service and social impact.

 

Biography

Management Information Systems Major & Business Analytics Minor
Hometown: San Jose, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
The most rewarding part of my fellowship has been the opportunity to directly support small business owners, especially those recovering from challenges such as car accidents, the pandemic, and high operational costs. Coming from a family that runs a business in the San Jose community, I'm aware of many of the challenges that these business owners face, and it's nice to see how the storefront program has opened my eyes to the impact of public service. Also, gaining exposure to how multiple departments operate within the city, whether it be the attorney's office, IT team, Finance team, or even the OED team, deepened my understanding of cross-functional collaboration and how policies are implemented at a local level.

Biography

Management Major, Political Science Minor
Hometown:  Alexandria, Virginia

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
One of the most rewarding aspects has been the opportunity to speak with and learn from individuals whose resilience and insights challenged my understanding of identity, family, and belonging. The trust they placed in me was deeply moving. Another meaningful part of the Fellowship has been the hands-on experience in a nonprofit setting, where I’ve learned how storytelling and program strategy intersect with larger organizational goals and funding needs.

Biography

Management Information Systems & Economics Majors
Tometown:  San Jose, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my fellowship has been building strong relationships with my coworkers. Everyone has been incredibly supportive, and I’ve learned so much by observing how they collaborate and advocate for the nonprofit sector. I’ve also valued the opportunity to attend SVCN’s events, where I was able to hear directly from community members and nonprofit leaders about important policy changes and the need to stay informed about developments in our government. These experiences have shown me how SVCN plays a vital role in bringing people together to advance equity and amplify the voices of nonprofits in our community.

 

Biography

Finance Major & Economics Minor
Hometown: Larchmont, New York

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
The most rewarding aspect I have found within my Fellowship has been the community who welcomed me. The team at Veggielution placed a large emphasis on inclusion and connection, which made for a kind and welcoming environment. Their support allowed me the confidence to advocate for projects I was passionate about and enhanced my success within my role.

 

Biography

Marketing Information Systems Major, Spanish Studies & Business Analytics Minors
Hometown:  Brea, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
One aspect that has been the most rewarding to me so far has been the connections that I have made at Cristo Rey and the second aspect has been the experience that I gained during the fellowship.

Biography

Finance Major, International Business Minor
Hometown:  Seattle, Washington

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
Reflecting back, I am also grateful for the opportunity to have played a significant role in one of the final fundraising campaigns of the year: Giving Day. This project meant a lot to me because it highlighted the graduating seniors. My involvement in creating a marketing strategy and designing social media templates contributed to the success of the campaign, leaving me with a project to be proud of.

Biography

Finance Major, Business Analytics Minor
Hometown:  Chicago, Illinois

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
One of the most rewarding parts of this fellowship has been seeing the direct impact of our work. Whether it’s reading student feedback or watching families engage in our events, it’s clear that what we’re doing matters. Another highlight has been learning from my supervisors, who have created such a welcoming and supportive environment.

Biography

Management Major, Women and Gender Studies Minor
Hometown:   San Jose, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding?
Attending community program events has been one of the most rewarding parts of my fellowship. As someone who remains in the office a majority of the time, seeing HFSV’s direct impact at graduation events and workshops is powerful and reflects the meaning behind the organization’s mission.

Biography

Management Information Systems Major, Business Analytics Minor
Hometown:   Bangalore, India

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
One of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing my work have a tangible, real-world impact. It is amazing to think that something I built is now being used by real businesses and City employees. I’ve also really valued the mentorship and autonomy I’ve received while executing my project. My supervisor gave me the space to lead while still being available for support, which helped me grow more confident in my problem-solving and professional communication skills.

Biography

Marketing Major,  Classical Studies & Retail Studies Minors
Hometown:  Edina, Minnesota

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
By far the most rewarding experience in my Fellowship has been working directly with small businesses. I had the opportunity to interview a few small business owners in San Jose for various Heritage Month Spotlights, and in doing so I got to hear first hand the stories behind their businesses. Every person that I interviewed had so much love and passion for their community, and worked to integrate their own culture into their business so that they can share it with their community. It was inspiring to hear the diverse experiences each person held close to their heart, and how they integrate their heritage into their business and greater San Jose community. The most impactful experiences during my time at the OEDCA have been through meeting new people, hearing their stories, and developing relationships throughout San Jose.

Biography

Management Information Systems & Public Health Majors
Hometown: Dublin, California

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
The most rewarding and helpful aspect in my fellowship has been being able to work alongside passionate and experienced professionals who provide mentorship and expose me to the complexities and the rewards of government work.

Biography

Finance & Philosophy Major, Math Minor
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
The most rewarding aspect of my fellowship was learning about how local government and the nonprofit sector work in practice. Broadening my perspective beyond the for-profit focus of the business school and facilitating meaningful interactions between the nonprofit sector, local government, and the general San José and County of Santa Clara population was a very grounding experience. Another fulfilling aspect of my experience was the opportunity to directly see the impact of my work. Seeing my writing in a public-facing policy newsletter or reflecting on the part in a successfully conducted event gave my fellowship meaning and purpose hard to find in less outward-facing roles.

Biography

Management Major, Real Estate Minor
Hometown:  Seattle, Washington

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding? 
First, I believe that leading bilingual interviews and navigating translation challenges with local community members taught me the importance of active listening, question tailoring, and including community engagement and support in any of my work. Putting the community members and voices first has been crucial in any of my work at Veggielution. Secondly, designing and analyzing a strategic framework for our food buyer’s club gave me real-world entrepreneurial experience in first stakeholder management and then analyzing quantitative and qualitative data to make educated decisions and manage risk for future endeavors.

Biography

Class of 2026
Finance
Hometown: Saratoga, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
Being able to give back to a community that has given so much to me.

Favorite Quote:
"You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
MGMT6 - Business Ethics: I liked it because it made me think critically about real-world decisions and showed how values and strategy can—and should—work together.

Biography

Class of 2026
Economics, Computer Science
Hometown: Cupertino, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I'm so excited for the opportunity to engage with the efforts, policies, and information that supports our local nonprofits, especially since they're such an integral part of our community in the Bay Area.

Favorite Quote:
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."  – Earl Nightingale

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
ECON 115, Intermediate Macroeconomics. I really liked this class because the content was so relevant to a lot of things that were happening in news headlines and in the US government in regards to interest rates, macroeconomic policy decisions, federal funding, and more. It was super insightful to learn how and why the government makes the choices it does and evaluate the costs and benefits of what is happening in the world in real time.

Biography

Class of 2026
Accounting
Hometown: San Jose, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
What excites me most about becoming a Fellow is the opportunity to give back to the community while growing professionally through hands-on experience across diverse projects.

Favorite Quote:
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
– Eleanor Roosevelt"

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
My favorite Leavey class is ACTG 120, Accounting Data Analysis and Visualization, because Danny Wallace made accounting approachable, surprisingly fun, and easy to understand—he turned every lecture into something I actually looked forward to!

Biography

Class of 2027
Management Information Systems, Business Analytics and Graphic Design 
Hometown: Bangalore, India

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I’m excited to explore business operations through a new lens and understand how they can drive meaningful impact within communities.

Favorite Quote:
"The most effective way to do it, is to do it." - Amelia Earhart

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
Database Management Systems (OMIS 105) has been my favorite class so far because it strengthened my logical thinking and gave me a solid foundation in data structure and flow. The skills I gained in organising and interpreting relational data have helped me make clearer connections across other subjects as well.

Biography

Class of 2026
Finance, Math & Business Analytics
Hometown: San Ramon, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I'm excited to give back to the community that has provided me so much support.

Favorite Quote:
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage" - Anais Nin

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
FNCE 125 Corporate Financial Policy | Nitin Barve is a great teacher!

Biography

Class of 2027
Management Information Systems, Business Analytics
Hometown: Union City, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I’m excited to give back to the community that has raised me my whole life, and use the analytical and interpersonal skills I have gained at SCU.

Favorite Quote:
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
BUSN 85: Business Law has been one of my favorite classes because my professor made it engaging with current cases from big tech news to pop culture legal battles.

Biography

Class of 2027
Marketing, Graphic Design
Hometown: Santa Clara, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited to support the impact Veggielution has in my local community through a role that connects to both my educational and personal interests.

Favorite Quote:
“People in a growth mindset don’t just seek challenge, they thrive on it.” - Carol Dweck

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
ECON 1 (Microeconomics), 2 (Macroeconomics) , and 3 (International Economics) with Professor Kevin Chiu have been my favorite Leavey classes so far. His lectures, stories, and class activities were engaging and memorable.

Biography

Class of 2027
Business Management, Marketing
Hometown: Los Altos, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
To be able to have a place to grow and know I'll be supported but also to be able to give back to the community

Favorite Quote:
“Never miss an opportunity to put a smile on someone's face. It might be the only one they get today” - Susan Gale

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
BUSN 85 - Business Law. It's been so interesting getting to dive into a subject I wouldn't ordinarily look to take with a different style of writing that has been cool to dive into.

Biography

Class of 2026
Economics and Political Science
Hometown: Fort Washington, PA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited to contribute to meaningful work in the public sector and build relationships in the broader San Jose community.

Favorite Quote:
“I didn’t walk through all that fire just to smell the smoke.”  - Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles QB

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
My favorite class so far has been BUSN70: Contemporary Business Issues. This class introduced me to core foundations of business, which influenced my decision to add a major in Economics.

Biography

Olivia Mulligan
2025-2026 Fellow
Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley - Marketing and Communications Intern

Class of 2026
Business Management
Hometown: Blauvelt, NY

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
Serving the community around me.

Favorite Quote:
“A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” - James Joyce

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
BUS 85, Business Law, because it was so interesting learning about the law and how it is applied in corporate settings.

Biography

Class of 2026
Management and Entrepreneurship, Real Estate
Hometown: San Jose, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited to learn more about the community I grew up in and hone my current skillset that I’ve gained at Santa Clara University.

Favorite Quote:
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how" -Friedrich Nietzsche

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
MGMT 174 with Sarah Cabral (Social Psychology of Leadership) - This was by far, one of the most engaging classes I’ve taken at Santa Clara. One of the projects in the class was extremely insightful as we had to interview an industry leader on their leadership experience. Not only did I gain real-world experience from this class, but I learned more about the various skills demonstrated in leadership, but I learned more about myself.

Biography

Class of 2026
Management Information System, Business Analytics
Hometown: San Jose, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited for this opportunity to apply my business knowledge to create real impact, giving back to the community!

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" ---Mahatma Ghandi

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
My favorite Leavey class so far would have to be Business Ethics (MGMT 6) because I was able to see how ethical decision-making applies to real-world business scenarios. The course challenged me to think about corporate responsibility, stakeholder perspectives, and the moral implications of business decisions. The case studies and discussions made the class engaging and relevant, helping me develop a stronger ethical framework that I can apply in my future careers.

Biography

Class of 2027
Finance, International Business
Hometown: Seattle, WA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I’m excited to become a Community Fellow at SCU because it offers the chance to apply my passion for social impact in a hands-on role while learning from a diverse group of changemakers.

Favorite Quote:
“Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” – Jodie Foster

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
BUSN 85 - Business Law; I enjoyed Business Law as my favorite class so far because it revealed how every contract, negotiation, and corporate decision is shaped by a legal story—and it made me realize that understanding the rules isn’t just about compliance, it’s about strategy, ethics, and power in the real world.

Biography

Class of 2027
Economics
Hometown: Santa Clara, CA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited about gaining policy research experience while supporting local communities!

Favorite Quote:
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" - Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
BUSN - 85 - Business Law - I really enjoyed learning more about the complexities of the law and understanding in detail how it applies specifically to businesses.

Biography

Class of 2026
Marketing, Economics
Hometown: Bellevue, WA

In one sentence, what excites you about becoming a Fellow?
I am excited to be apart of an organization that all share the same values

Favorite Quote:
"I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is" - Forrest Gump

Favorite Leavey Class so far:
MGMT 180: Negotiations in Business. This class really brought me out of my comfort zone every class and I learned so much about myself as well.