During the trip, the group spent a few days at the (NCTC), a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conference and training center, met with local politicians, artists, environmentalists and nonprofit leaders and toured the historic homes of local residents. 

鈥淭he goal of the whole trip and this experience was to provide our students with avenues to learn from different individuals and different sectors of the social impact space directly by visiting with them in their own spaces and to see the work that’s going on in Shepherdstown,鈥� said Thom Chiarolanzio, the senior associate dean in the College who helped launch SRN in 2019.

Mary Fortuna (C鈥�89), a member of the SRN Board of Advisors who lives in Shepherdstown, proposed the idea of bringing students to the town last spring, and was instrumental in organizing the trip鈥檚 itinerary and lineup of speakers that included the .

Fortuna is an alumna of the College鈥檚 , which influenced SRN鈥檚 cohort and mentorship-based model. SRN has around 30 total students and is open to rising College sophomores, juniors and seniors. Fortuna wanted to use the trip to introduce students to Shepherdstown and give them opportunities for personal connections with its leaders.

鈥淚 wanted the students to learn from their personal anecdotes 鈥� what鈥檚 been difficult, the pivots they鈥檝e made and their successes and failures,鈥� Fortuna said.

Meaningful Outdoor Experiences

When Daisy Fynewever (C鈥�26) first arrived at Georgetown, she felt she needed to save the world.

But her time on the Hilltop and with SRN has opened her eyes to the possibility of making a difference in smaller communities and at the grassroots level. The trip to Shepherdstown reinforced that in her mind, said Fynewever, who is double majoring in environmental biology and justice and peace studies with a minor in Spanish. 

鈥淚 think we’re used to hearing about national and international organizations, so seeing the type of changes that can be made in a small community through a tight knit network of people was really interesting and super inspiring,鈥� she said.  

One speaker that Fynewever connected with in particular was , the executive director of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.

During her talk, which took place during a morning hike through the , Alexander spoke about how meaningful childhood experiences in the outdoors often leads to people caring about the natural world as an adult. She helps create those opportunities through events like youth day camps.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen so many kids grow up through our programs and they鈥檙e now environmental lawyers, they work for Habitat for Humanity, just so many incredible stories of how these campers have grown up to do good work,鈥� she said.

Over the summer, Fynewever worked for , the senior scientist for West Virginia Rivers, a nonprofit organization, and speaker for the SRN trip. In her internship, which was supported by an SRN stipend, Fynewever worked on a research project exploring the link between ambient water quality and cancer incidents. 

Hitt, a tenth-generation West Virginian and former research fish biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, shared lessons he learned from his career in the federal government and nonprofit space. 

He asked students to think of their future careers by drawing a Venn diagram that includes three circles: 1) What are you good at? 2) What does the world need? 3) What brings you joy?

鈥淲hat you鈥檙e looking for is, where is that overlap? That will guide your next steps,鈥� Hitt said.

The students also heard from Maria Parisi, a who recently retired from NCTC.

鈥淚t was super interesting to see how each of the speakers had a different perspective on the best way to make a difference and the best way to do social impact work,鈥� Fynewever said. 鈥淎nd I think that we need all of those perspectives to build the future that we want to see.鈥�

Preserving Arts and History

For Cici Sprouse (C鈥�26), the trip spotlighted the importance of the arts and historic preservation for social impact work. Shepherdstown, , is known for its historic architecture and vibrant arts scene.

鈥淚t was really, really cool to see how arts and culture were huge in creating this sense of identity and also instilling a sense of civic duty,鈥� said Sprouse, a justice and peace studies major who is minoring in Spanish and government.

, the festival director of the American Conservation Film Festival, shared with the group that she accepted her job in part because of the ability for 鈥渟tories to change hearts and minds.鈥� As an example, the students watched a screening of , one of the films shown at the festival this March. The documentary features Zambian attorney (L鈥�13) and follows journalists as they investigate the dire environmental consequences of foreign governments and private investors seizing food and water resources around the world.

鈥淭he Grab was extremely impactful, because it bridged the social impact lens and environmental conservation lens that we were exploring on this trip,鈥� said Madison Ross (C鈥�27), a government major who is minoring in .

Students also met , the artistic director for the Contemporary American Theater Festival. The mission of the festival is to produce and develop with a vision of being the ultimate theater experience for artists and audiences. 

In her talk, McKowen highlighted the beneficial impact of arts on someone鈥檚 health and wellness and the festival鈥檚 commitment to its social values and the local economic impact. 

Eliana Mlawski (C鈥�26), a government and Spanish double major pursuing a minor in , found McKowen鈥檚 session particularly inspiring for emphasizing the value of the arts in Shepherdstown.

鈥淭he importance of local organizing and action is huge, and sometimes can be forgotten, but I think this trip was a really fun way to deep dive to see that impact,鈥� she said.

Social impact can mean preserving history, as well.

When the students arrived at O鈥橦urley鈥檚 General Store, a group of musicians treated them to a , held every Thursday night year-round. The musicians sat in a circle and played various instruments, including the guitar, harp, banjo, mandolin and violin. These jam sessions have continued for , preserving a piece of Shepherdstown that has been passed down for generations.聽

鈥淚t might not seem like it is directly related to social impact upon first glance,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淏ut I think the preservation of artistic culture is so important to maintain that community. It was so cool to see that they were still doing it.鈥�

On the final day, students went on a tour of the Historic Shepherdstown Museum located in , led in part by John Kavaliunas (F鈥�68, G鈥�73), visited residents Pia Peltola and Andy Singletary at their re-imagined loft-style home in the , explored the with owners Adam Thomas and Shannon Thomas and learned about the by Rod Glover and Tom Mayes.  

The group also spoke with the co-owner of the Shepherdstown Opera House, Steve Pearson (MBA鈥�92), who completed a full rehabilitation of the structure in 2023. Local artist and professor of art at Shepherd University, , gave a public art demonstration, and the students wrapped up the weekend with a walking tour of Shepherdstown with , an associate professor of history at Shepherd University.  

鈥淭he word that really came to mind for me was civic duty,鈥� Sprouse said. 鈥淓very person that we talked to felt this responsibility to improve their community in the way that they saw that they could.鈥�

Socially Responsible Careers

The Shepherdstown trip broadened the perspective on socially responsible careers for the students.

鈥淪RN has kind of taught me that being mission driven in your career doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to work at a nonprofit,鈥� Sprouse said.

鈥淚 think that the entire trip as a whole gave me a wider overview of what having a socially impactful life looks like and also the type of people that care about social impact work,鈥� said Ashland Ross (C鈥�28), who is majoring in the and minoring in environment and sustainability. 

Ross is interested in doing work in the environmental justice space with the intention of going to law school after graduation. Being on the trip provided her with a sense of community with other people who are passionate about social impact work and related career paths, she said.

Life as a college student can be exceptionally busy, Mlawski said, with students being pulled in multiple directions. The trip, therefore, allowed them to pause and listen to people who found a fulfilling career by following their passions, she said. 

鈥淚鈥檓 pursuing international environmental work, which can feel really challenging sometimes,鈥� Mlawski said. 鈥淪o understanding how other people have navigated their own careers to make it work is invaluable.鈥�

(Top photo courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Tourism)

Powell, who is graduating with a major in biology of global health and a minor in justice and peace studies, wasn鈥檛 exactly sure what path she鈥檇 take when she started her first year of classes via Zoom four years ago. 

鈥淚 knew that I would do something with biology,鈥� Powell said. 鈥淎nd immediately, I thought it was fascinating to look at the world through a microscope, but I didn鈥檛 know how to combine that scientific interest with my desire to solve real-world problems, problems that we can see without sitting at a lab bench.鈥� 

Powell鈥檚 academic and extracurricular journey has been defined by research and mentorship that taught her how to blend together those distinct interests. 

鈥淥ne of the unique things that Georgetown allowed me to do was to merge these two pathways,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淚 could say yes, it鈥檚 about the disease, the pathogen, and all these cellular things, but also at the end of the day it鈥檚 about people, their lives, their families, and their communities.鈥�

Research All Around the Globe

After her first year at Georgetown, Powell traveled to Boston, Massachusetts on a Royden B. Davis Fellowship. There, she interned at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute investigating cellular indicators in breast cancer and melanoma tumors.

鈥淚 got there and loved looking at problems under a microscope,鈥� recalled Powell. 鈥淎nd while I found the research intellectually engaging, I felt emotionally disconnected from the effects of the work because, realistically, it wouldn鈥檛 impact people鈥檚 lives for decades.鈥�

That experience, Powell remembers, confirmed her love for science but left her with a desire to do more immediate, people-facing work. Upon returning to the Hilltop, she began working with , who was studying neonatal mortality in Jordan. 

鈥淲e focused on infants with low birth weight in a country that has comparatively good healthcare outcomes for the region,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淲ith Dr. Narayanan, I asked: 鈥楬ow can we practically improve this?鈥� And I loved that. I felt like I was getting close to what I wanted to do because we were talking about policies and programs and we were translating our research and knowledge into real-world change.鈥�

After connecting with Narayanan through the , Powell was accepted into the GHI fellowship program, which allowed her to work with . Haumba, who was studying barriers to cervical cancer screenings in Eswatini, placed Powell in charge of the internal review board, or IRB, process, which includes an in-depth outlining and justification of research methodology.  

鈥淐ervical cancer is treatable and, if caught early enough, curable. Since the screening process is so effective, we wanted to figure out why certain populations in Eswatini were being underscreened,鈥� recalled Powell. 鈥淭he barrier wasn鈥檛 the screening itself but getting people to the screening, for a mix of social and economic reasons.鈥�

Working with Haumba opened Powell鈥檚 eyes to the ways that cultural factors, such as stigma, can affect healthcare seeking behaviors and, ultimately, the lives of patients. That insight affected an independent study program she conducted in Himachal Pradesh while studying abroad in India. Home to the government-in-exile of Tibet, Himachal Pradesh has the largest population of Tibetan refugees in India. Powell鈥檚 research project explored HIV and tuberculosis stigma within this community. 

鈥淚 looked at how cultural stigmas around certain diagnoses affect patient mental health and their healthcare-seeking behaviors,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淭his project allowed me to both look at the science, how these behaviors are affecting the epidemiological landscape of this population, and the broader scope, how those same factors affect patient wellbeing and mental health.鈥�

Her journey in public health continued, carrying her from India to Thailand to work with the Research Triangle Institute on Inform Asia: USAID鈥檚 Health Research Program. There, she worked with the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases to devise a draft national strategy for the optimization of active case detection protocol, as well as a guideline for malaria elimination among school-aged children in border provinces. 

鈥淢y time in Thailand allowed me to fuse all of my passions and skills into comprehensive global health policy,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淚t was the first time I truly felt like I had the power and ability to genuinely impact the health of a community.鈥� 

Powell on the Hilltop

On campus, Powell has been heavily involved with the Social Responsibility Network (SRN), a mentorship program in the 桔子视频 & Sciences for students interested in pursuing service-based and social impact careers. 

鈥淪ocial impact is this hard-to-define area and the Social Responsibility Network not only makes it easier to understand but connects us with people in the field,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淭he SRN is a space where current students come together with alumni and other practitioners to make impossible-sounding careers seem doable.鈥� 

During her senior year, Powell served as the co-chair of the group鈥檚 Sites and Services Committee, which was tasked with finding organizations to host the Social Responsibility Network and then designing service visits.    

鈥淭he visits that Isabel organized were truly inspirational for the SRN students as they allowed us to learn about the mission and philosophy of each organization, the structure of each organization, the personnel who run the organizations and its impact in the community,鈥� said Thomas Chiarolanzio, a senior associate dean in the 桔子视频 & Sciences who administers the SRN. 鈥淚sabel was often the SRN spokesperson on each visit and offered the organization an overview of the SRN and its mission. She always did a fantastic job conveying our interests and why the SRN exists and what it hopes to accomplish.鈥�

For her senior research project, Powell pulled on all of the research and classwork that she鈥檇 done as an undergraduate to arrive at the topic: preventative healthcare-seeking behaviors and social determinants of health for undocumented people in the United States. The project explored how migration and refugee status affect healthcare-seeking behaviors and an individual鈥檚 overall health. 

鈥淲orking with Isabel has been an absolute pleasure; she is truly exceptional,鈥� said , a professor of biology who oversaw Powell鈥檚 thesis project. 鈥淗er steadfast dedication to her thesis research and to implementation of practical global health solutions highlights her capacity to effectively address global health challenges.鈥�

For Powell, the senior research project allowed her to apply the skills she鈥檇 learned as an undergraduate to a topic that was near to her heart.

鈥淕rowing up, someone extremely close to my family was undocumented,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淟earning, retrospectively, the ways in which she had to alter her life to do something as simple as visit a doctor, was eye-opening for me. I became acutely aware of the barriers that stood in her way but didn鈥檛 block mine. So, to me, it was a very personal project and I was motivated by that.鈥� 

Powell was recently awarded the Chapman Medal for this work, an honor that the presents to 鈥渢he undergraduate student with the most outstanding research project.鈥�

鈥淚sabel鈥檚 senior research project not only exemplifies academic rigor but also demonstrates a profound sense of empathy and tangible impact, showcasing her strong commitment to driving impactful change in global health,鈥� said Floyd.

Reflecting on both her senior project and the numerous research opportunities that Powell pursued outside of the classroom, she鈥檚 incredibly happy with her time at Georgetown.

鈥淲hen projects mean a lot to you they don鈥檛 feel like work,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淎 lot of the time, it feels like an honor to be able to do it. I was lucky to always have something interesting to me.鈥�

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Students were welcomed into the Life Pieces space in Drew Elementary School, where they operate their flagship afterschool program, ongoing Saturday training for high school students, summer enrichment and Color Me Community workshops. The 鈥渉ighly interactive workshops鈥� provide a 鈥渘urturing and non-judgemental environment for people of all races to safely grapple with issues that deeply divide and separate us from one another.鈥� 

Instead of simply touring the space and learning about their mission, Georgetown students and staff were invited to partake in a Color Me Community workshop. 

An Egalitarian Paradigm for Service

鈥淚 absolutely loved the opportunity to do this workshop because it was so unique and valuable,鈥� says Marcella Wiggan (C鈥�23). 鈥淧articularly in social impact, I think there is a tendency to jump to solutions and start building something new without doing the work to understand the problems and our roles in them. Like they shared in the workshop, one cannot meaningfully 鈥榙o social impact鈥� without a genuine engagement with your own identity and an understanding of how you show up in different spaces.鈥�

The Color Me Community workshop helped reframe the typical lens through which service-oriented careers are understood. 

鈥淧articularly because we are predominantly white and affluent Georgetown students entering a space of predominantly Black and low-income people, it is critical that we understand our roles,鈥� Wiggan says. 鈥淎nd do not reduce these dynamic interpersonal connections to those 鈥榮erving鈥� and those 鈥榖eing served.鈥�

Founded in 2019 under the direction of Dean Thomas Chiarolanzio, the SRN gives students in the College an opportunity to explore post-graduate careers in the non-profit and social justice sectors. 

鈥淭he goal behind the Social Responsibility Network is to expose students to the social impact sphere, which can include community development, non-profit work, education and more,鈥� says Dean Chiarolanzio. 鈥淥ur visit to Life Pieces to MasterPieces provided a terrific opportunity for our students to meet and learn from compassionate and inspirational leaders who are dedicating their lives to helping young black males in the community. It was a powerful and amazing experience.鈥�

For Wiggan, the Site Visits Committee Chair for the group, her participation in the SRN has been integral to her Georgetown career and post-college plans. 

鈥淚 am extremely passionate about advocacy and impact, which in many ways is shaped by my own identity and background coming from a two-mom and multiracial family in Oakland, CA,鈥� Wiggan says. 鈥淚鈥檝e found it extremely enlightening to see the parallels and disconnects of how social issues are perceived and addressed at the scales of the Georgetown community, the DC community and how these dynamics relate to what is going on in the world more broadly. 鈥� 

Individual Stories, Collective Masterpieces 

Life Pieces was co-founded in 1996 by Larry Quick, Mary Brown, and Ben Johnson. Quick, an artist born and raised in Ward 7鈥檚 Kenilworth Parkside & Kenilworth Courts public housing complexes, recognized that young Black boys and men in the community had scant opportunities for artistic expression and self-reflection. 

Artwork as an avenue for growth was an apparent solution. After graduating from the Corcoran School of Art, Quick pioneered a unique art style, which involves painted canvas that is cut and sewn together to create a distinct visual look. That process has become the distinctive, defining art style of Life Pieces. 

The process of creating a signature work can be subdivided among students, with individual steps completed by artists of varying ages and experience levels. The final works often tell an individual鈥檚 story through community expression. Needless to say, the program has had an indelible impact on the young boys and men who go through it, the communities it serves and the city to which it is home. 

In 2013, Georgetown honored the work of Mary Brown, one of Life Pieces鈥� co-founders, with the John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream award. In the decade since, Brown has continued to change the lives of students who go through the Life Pieces program. 

“Twenty-six years of supporting our Black boys and young men as they transform their lives and communities has required the effort of a mosaic of human beings,鈥� says Brown. 鈥淧eople of all backgrounds must show up 鈥榳hole鈥� to truly engage in the work we do鈥搑ecognizing that we all have opportunities for growth and learning in every situation, but also that we each have unique gifts to contribute to others. We were inspired by the SRN students who do exactly that each day, and joined us for a beautiful, powerful exchange that can begin yet another long-term mutual partnership with our family at Georgetown.”

While their programming has expanded and adapted over the years, their commitment to helping their students grow and flourish has not. Even now, Life Pieces leadership and staff are exploring new ways to expand their offerings to inspire young girls in the community looking for artistic outlets. 

鈥淚 was moved to tears by the art the students had created about their lives,鈥� says Maggie Cammaroto (C鈥�22). 鈥淚t truly shows how powerful and essential creative expression is. Since our visit, I have repeatedly remembered their philosophy on power 鈥� we can muster internal power through control over our thoughts, words and actions.鈥�

Baker Scholar Liz Schropp (C鈥�21) recently partnered with alumnus Mike Scanlan (C鈥�86), dean of administration at St. Benedict鈥檚 Prep School in Newark, NJ, to educate high school students about investment strategy as part of a student-run club. The membership in the club has tripled since it was first started last year due in part to the participation of Georgetown students. 

Building Bridges

Schropp, who is a mathematics major with a minor in business administration, is involved with the Georgetown University Student Investment Fund (GUSIF) as the former director of personnel. In the summer of 2020, Schropp was introduced to Scanlan through the Baker Scholar鈥檚 alumni network and the two realized that GUSIF students could help develop the Gray Bee Investors Club at St. Benedict鈥檚. 

The investors club, which was started by high school juniors Justin Crespo and Amari Thompson in March of 2020, began so that students at St. Benedict鈥檚 could understand the vocabulary and structure of investing before graduating. 

When the club first began, students met virtually once a week with alumni of St. Benedict鈥檚 who have made financial strategy their careers. They learned from them through lectures and analyses of a simulated stock market game. 

However, Scanlan knew that the high school students could also benefit from individuals who were closer to their own age. After meeting Schropp, Scanlan set up bi-weekly meetings with GUSIF students and members of the Gray Bee Investor鈥檚 Club. 

鈥淭he Hoyas are one of the highlights of the club because of the way they relate to the students and make the topics understandable,鈥� says Scanlan. 鈥淪ince they have become involved, the investors club has grown from 20 to 60 students. My students tell me that they really look forward to the meetings when Georgetown students attend.鈥�

Schropp and Amaan Chaudhry (MSB鈥�21) have expanded GUSIF鈥檚 involvement in the club and personalized the Gray Bee Investors meetings since getting involved. During each meeting, two GUSIF members are assigned to a breakout room with 10  students, where they discuss each high schooler鈥檚 mock financial portfolio. 

Cultivating a Club

鈥淏eing involved in the Gray Bee Investment Club is fun for us as Georgetown students because investing is something that most of us learned fairly recently,鈥� says Schropp. 鈥淲e can relate to their experiences as people who are new to this and can anticipate the types of questions they might have.鈥� 

Crespo and Thompson hope to expand Gray Bee in the future even after they have graduated.

鈥淎mari and I have already started to work with first-years and sophomores who show potential and responsibility to be leaders of the club,鈥� says Crespo. 鈥淲e want to see younger guys turn the club into something bigger than it is now, especially since it鈥檚 so clear that there is a large interest.鈥�

Thompson also says that he has noticed a huge difference in the club since GUSIF became involved and hopes to continue to develop the relationship between St. Benedict鈥檚 Prep and the university. 

鈥淚 could tell in earlier meetings that younger and newer St. Benedict鈥檚 students weren鈥檛 as comfortable asking questions during our meetings, but now they feel empowered to ask questions to Georgetown students that they wouldn鈥檛 have before,鈥� says Thompson. 鈥淚n the future, we hope to secure funding so that our students can invest real money. We also want to continue to expose students to universities like Georgetown as an option for the college experience.鈥�

 鈥淲e are also very proud of one of our first club members, Aidan Davis (SFS鈥�24), who鈥檚 now at Georgetown and a GUSIF member participating in our meetings as a Hoya, 鈥� Thompson continues.

Scanlan and Schropp are also eager to continue the partnership, which was one upside to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

鈥淪ince St. Benedict鈥檚 is in New Jersey and Georgetown in DC, this club only works because of everything we鈥檝e learned in the past year about virtual meetings,鈥� says Scanlan. When the pandemic shut the world down, our world at St. Benedict鈥檚 opened up by making us realize we have access to experts around the globe.  鈥淚t is one way that the pandemic has created new opportunities that will be continued after it has ended.鈥�

The SRN was launched in Spring 2019 by Dean Thomas Chiarolanzio who currently serves on the Board of Advisors. As the two year anniversary of the program approaches, alumni advisors introduce themselves to new students.

Adrienne Villani (C鈥�06)

Current Occupation: Director of Global Development, Technical Diversification 鈥� Internews

Undergraduate Major and Minor: Italian Studies; (m) Economics

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? I want to give back to Georgetown in any way I can and wish there had been a resource for me like this when I was a student. I felt like many of my classmates were on much more linear paths and knew what they wanted to do post-graduation but I hadn鈥檛 the slightest clue. 

What has been your favorite experience so far in working with the SRN? Brainstorming with my mentees, calming their nerves, and being offered the opportunity to give back. 

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? My Georgetown education, and the Jesuit values imbued in us, taught me the value of being a person for others and, when I graduated, I knew I wanted to do something service-oriented as a result.

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility? I鈥檓 a big believer in the value of a liberal arts education. Being in the College allowed me to explore many different topics and issues – how to write, how to think analytically, all of which have been great skills, in work and in life.  

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? My advice is quite practical – as much as concentrating on the issues, learn a skill that you can apply to the issues!

Davine Scarlett (C鈥�09)

Current Occupation: Grants Manager 鈥� Camillus House, Inc.

Undergraduate Major and Minor: Anthropology; (m) English and Psychology

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? When Dean Chiarolanzio explained the vision of the SRN, I started to reflect on my own Georgetown experience and how I wished that there was a dedicated space like this one available to me as an undergrad where all the mentorship and resources would be in one location.  I also wanted to give voice to the 鈥渂ehind the scenes鈥� aspects of social responsibility to show that you do not have to always be 鈥渋n the field鈥� in order to help make a difference in society.       

What has been your favorite experience so far in working with the SRN? It would be being able to chat with my mentees and learning about their diverse interests.  While COVID has definitely redefined the landscape, I am confident that they will continue with their goals of making a lasting, positive impact on the world in their own ways.

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? While I was not born in this country, I have lived here almost all of my life.  With that comes a duality of perspectives, especially when it comes to opportunity and what that truly means.  I seem to have always gravitated to jobs that deal with providing opportunities for individuals and communities whether it is through education or providing humanitarian services.  Sometimes all it takes is that one moment when someone gives you a chance that can change your whole trajectory in life.    

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility? Georgetown was a perfect fit for me.  I was always a firm believer in 鈥淢en and Women for Others鈥� and the idea of cura personalis but, at Georgetown, I found a home for my ideals and people who were just as excited to engage in social responsibility as I was.

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? I would say be flexible and be limitless.  Just because your degree says one thing does not mean you cannot learn and grow and be just as qualified in other areas.  Be like a sponge!

Francesca Vietor (C鈥�86)

Current Occupation: Senior Advisor/Commissioner 鈥� San Francisco Foundation/SF Public Utilities Commission

Undergraduate Major and Minor: Italian; (m) Spanish 

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? I did not know, when I went to Georgetown, that I could transition my interest in service and giving back to the world into an actual career. I thought that they were two different trajectories that could not be combined. So when I attended my very first alumni gathering鈥攖wenty years after graduating鈥攁nd heard from Dean Celenza about his interest in starting a program for students to combine their interest in social justice with job opportunities, I volunteered on the spot. 

What has been your favorite experience so far in working with the SRN? Connecting with the SRN Hoyas has been the best experience so far. I thought that last year鈥檚 cohort was the ultimate in how engaged and articulate they were until I heard from this year鈥檚 cohort. Wow! It is so exciting to me that there are more and more students who want to make a positive difference in the world.

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? It took me a few years after graduating from college to realize that social service, justice, and responsibility were my calling. Once that happened, I no longer had a choice -I needed to work in a job that gave back and advanced social good. That, and the passion and compassion that I felt when I was exposed to environmental issues and what was happening to the planet and disadvantaged communities, made me choose my jobs.

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility? I actually graduated from the School of Languages and Linguistics which was eventually folded into the College. Learning about other cultures and languages, and how other people lived, had a huge impact on my choice to help others less fortunate or from different backgrounds.

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? Follow your heart and remember there are twists and turns in every road. And then comes a fork and you have to decide which way to go. Stop, take a breath, listen to your intuition and your calling. Consider what will bring the most good to the most people and to the planet. Even if it means sacrificing money or fame, choose that path. With any luck and a lot of intention, money and fame will follow.

Heidi Schultheis, (C鈥�09)

Current Occupation: Senior Project Manager for Field Building 鈥� Heartland Alliance

Undergraduate Major and Minor: American Studies; (m) Spanish and English

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? As an undergraduate student, I was really intimidated by the idea of professional networking. I also wasn鈥檛 convinced that networking would factor significantly into my job search, but I couldn鈥檛 have been more wrong. I have learned over the years that networking is essential in nearly any career and there鈥檚 no reason to fear it. I always make time to talk with students and jobseekers who reach out to me with questions about my career choices, work experiences and my employers. I鈥檓 thrilled to have an opportunity to give back in this capacity to Georgetown students who are interested in service-oriented careers.

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? My first job out of college was with a nonprofit organization that worked with families experiencing homelessness. I have continued to pursue careers related to improving the lives of others because I find it extremely fulfilling and also because I find policy change fascinating; the public policy landscape is constantly evolving and there is always more to learn. Even in moments of frustration, I am reminded of how fulfilling it is and what a privilege it is to work in a field that seeks to improve the lives of people who are too often marginalized and excluded from critical opportunities and services.

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility? When I reflect on my time as a student in the College, I remember that many of my classmates aspired to work in the public sector or the nonprofit sector, whether that was in electoral politics, public education, healthcare, or many other areas. This started to inform my thinking about what kind of work I wanted to do. As an American Studies major, I was able to take classes on a wide variety of topics like civic education and engagement or the history of labor and philosophy that each, in their own way, prepared me to pursue a career at the nexus of nonprofit work and public policy. I also joined student groups such as H*yas for Choice, which embraces reproductive justice and seeks to educate and empower students about sexual health in a way that the University does not. And while I was not raised in a faith tradition, I understood the Jesuit teaching of 鈥渕en and women for others鈥� to apply to all Georgetown students in all of our pursuits, regardless of our faith. In all of these ways and more, my experience in the College equipped me with intellectual curiosity, historical context, and grounding principles that all serve me well in my work.

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? The first thing I鈥檇 say is that careers in the realm of social responsibility come in a lot of shapes and sizes. There is no one 鈥渞ight鈥� way to do this work, and it can be a great choice for people with wide-ranging skills, specialties, and interests. It can look like working in direct human services as a social worker or a pro bono attorney, directing a nonprofit organization, doing policy analysis for a think tank, managing communications for advocacy campaigns, corporate social responsibility in the private sector and much more. Engage with alumni, professors, mentors, and your greater network to explore how your skills and interests may be a good fit for social responsibility work.

Another piece of advice I would give is to allow yourself time and space to learn about various aspects of social responsibility work so that you find what fits you best and what is most interesting to you. This really matters because the most significant piece of advice I can give is to love what you do. This is particularly important because careers like mine don鈥檛 often come with flashy salaries, so you need to be sure that your work is fulfilling in ways that go beyond a particular amount of compensation. If that doesn鈥檛 deter you, I鈥檓 confident that you could find a lifetime of satisfaction in social responsibility work.

MacKenzie Copley (C鈥�15)

Current Occupation: Co-Founder & CEO 鈥� One Tent Health

Undergraduate Major and Minor: Economics; (m) Physics 

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? When I was in school, all I wanted was a job and/or menu of jobs that I could look forward to making me feel satisfied and fulfilled. I didn鈥檛 see any of those roles anywhere. Now, a few years out of school, if there鈥檚 anything that I can do to help navigate passionate and enthusiastic students to positions that make them feel good, and help the world, that鈥檚 what I鈥檇 like to do. With the SRN鈥檚 creation, there鈥檚 now a space for that.

What has been your favorite experience so far in working with the SRN? It鈥檚 been two-pronged. I鈥檝e loved getting to work with the students and build those warm relationships. The second part is that I鈥檝e loved building, growing, and enjoying the increased connection with Georgetown and to the Hilltop. We know it鈥檚 a strange semester and academic year, but COVID restrictions aside, I love having another reason to head up to and through the front gates! 

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? I love humans. And it feels so important to like how you spend your days. I think one of the most important things I can do with my little, short life is to help as many people in as stress-relieving and life-saving & -extending way as possible. In a way, that鈥檚 kind of the only thing in the world I care about. We鈥檝e got to improve things always and I鈥檓 grateful and glad to have gotten to find a way to feel like I get to do that. It makes the days, each of them, feel meaningful and like there鈥檚 a really good reason for the time spent. 

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility? I think, in a way (and this is more a Georgetown than just the College thing), it made me realize how good we all, and certainly I, had it, or have it. We鈥檙e Georgetown grads. We have a piece of paper (or are working towards one) that says, if we don鈥檛 want to, we鈥檒l never go hungry, likely ever. Everything will be alright and ok, almost no matter what. That鈥檚 wild and an insane safety blanket. And I think just with that pretty elevated worst-case financial and economic scenario, there鈥檚 a lot of opportunity there and responsibility to take advantage of it and step out to help people and to do our best, or at least my best, to make them (under- or less-privileged people) as best-off as possible. If we, who have power (access to money & influence), don鈥檛 lend a hand and undo or combat some societal unfairness, who will? Who can? And who could do it to the same extent? I love a lot of the College and University鈥檚 stated principles. I feel like they support and maybe influenced and affirmed a lot of my feelings and views. I feel proud to be connected to and a part of an institution that works to help and improve the world. 

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? Just find a way to do it now. Apply, send emails, set up coffee chats (or COVID-safe videos). Lean on your friends 鈥� especially those older than you. Build your own thing if you don鈥檛 see anyone else doing it, or doing it better than you think you can. You can do it better. Don鈥檛 give up the pursuit, because helping people is a right thing. And if you can get it to click, you鈥檒l probably feel better about how you spend your days, time, and therefore life, than you ever would have otherwise. Really. It鈥檚 good, so do it; don鈥檛 forget that people matter and that you can and will make things better if you want. You鈥檝e got this, so go get it, and good luck.

Mike Scanlan (C鈥�86)

Current Occupation: Administrative Dean 鈥� St. Benedict鈥檚 Preparatory School

Undergraduate Major and Minor: History; (m) Economics

What made you want to get involved in the SRN? I was familiar with what Dean Chiarolanzio was trying to accomplish because the model resembled the one I knew from Baker Scholars. The real reason why I am interested in being involved is I understand the challenges of finding jobs in the social responsibility fields. Unlike finance and other jobs that have clearly defined recruiting paths, social responsibility type work doesn鈥檛. Recruiters don鈥檛 come to the Cawley Career Center and interview for days. Thus, it takes a totally different approach to finding those jobs.

What has been your favorite experience so far in working with the SRN? That鈥檚 an easy answer. I enjoy getting to know the students. I find that they are very sincere in their effort to work in a social responsibility field and want to tackle difficult issues.

Why did you choose a job working with issues related to social responsibility? I got involved through urban education because as I got older I came to appreciate the excellent primary, secondary, and university education I was afforded because of the sacrifices my parents were willing to make. I鈥檝e been at Saint Benedict鈥檚 Prep for 25 years because we provide a high-quality education to people who otherwise couldn鈥檛 afford it.

How do you think being in the College fostered your sense of and future work in social responsibility?  In my junior and senior years as a Baker Scholar, I met alumni who had a wide range of experiences both in business fields and outside business. I came to see that very talented people used their skills in a number of ways after college and came to see the possibilities for my own work.

What advice would you give to future College students about pursuing a career in social responsibility work? Have courage and follow your convictions. People who work in these fields have a high level of job satisfaction. The older one gets, the more one realizes how important that is. The complex problems in our society around race, poverty, and climate change just to name a few, need sharp minds and dedicated people to address them. Georgetown graduates are extremely well suited to this call.

Joining the Cause

Awal has worked as a volunteer for SOCOBA since she was a sophomore. SOCOBA works to educate and promote awareness of HIV and AIDS for children and adults in Mabule, Botswana. She met the founders Nick and Sego while working with young girls in DC to develop their computer skills.

鈥淏efore joining SOCOBA, I was a biochemistry major. But after starting to intern at SOCOBA and witnessing the work they do first hand, I decided to change to a psychology and government double-major. I felt that I could better help people by developing my skills in these areas.鈥�

Learning from Experience

Before going to Botswana this past summer, Awal primarily worked on creating booklets and handbooks that dealt with HIV and AIDS, mental health, and reproductive health. Though this was rewarding, she wanted to gain more hands-on experience by meeting the individuals she was working to help in person. For this reason, she applied to the Davis Fellowship.

鈥淚 wanted to be able to actually meet the people that we were trying to help,鈥� says Awal. 鈥淭he Davis Fellowship provided me with the funding for my trip to Botswana with Sego, an opportunity I otherwise would not have had.鈥�

While in Mabule, she talked with village members and leaders, all of whom seemed engaged and invested in SOCOBA鈥檚 mission.  Awal and her team held a Kgotla, or townhall meeting, and a discussion group where they were able to listen to the issues of the people of Mabule first hand. She also met with the youth of the town who were actively engaged in discussing the problems they faced.

“The youth had sung songs, participated in activities, rated health posters of what they want to incorporate in their school,鈥� says Awal. 鈥淭hey had thought-provoking group discussions about the challenges of mental, sexual, and reproductive health and poverty in their village.鈥�

 Awal said that these interactions were the most rewarding part of her experience.

鈥淲hat stuck with me was the narratives of individual people,鈥� Awal says.  鈥淏eing able to get to know these people from a personal perspective was phenomenal. I didn鈥檛 know that this would really change me. Just hearing their stories reminded me how important it is to listen. Now when I work on things, I understand the issues that they face better and feel more prepared to help them.鈥�

Implementing what was learned

Poverty is the number one issue affecting the lives of those individuals living in Mabule. Of the 3,000 residents, only 30 are employed. This drastically impacts the mental, physical, and reproductive health of the village, and has dire implications for its youth. 

Awal and her team came away from their time in Botswana more equipped to develop programs that would give aid to the people in Mabule. SOCOBA is currently working on implementing a water initiative, a youth soccer program, and a mentee-mentor initiative that Awal created. She has every intention of continuing this line of work after graduating from Georgetown.

鈥淚 feel like there is so much more that has to be done and I want to continue this long-term,鈥� says Awal. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just go in and do one thing and then forget about it. I want to continue this and sustain the relationships that I built. They really love the message of the organization and they want our help.鈥�