Students from California campuses were selected in September 2019 to participate in California Campus Compact’s Community Engagement Student Fellowship (CESF) program, a 4-month initiative specifically designed to support student leaders advancing service, service-learning and community engagement at California Campus Compact member campuses throughout the state.
Jadesola Ajileye is a sophomore studying Political Science and Philosophy at UC Berkeley. Her passion for service learning and community engagement was discovered in high school through Interact club and continued to be fostered at Cal through Habitat for Humanity and Resident Hall Assembly (RHA). In RHA, her role as Vice President of Service kept her connected to the campus and introduced her to the Public Service Center. This year, as co-Resident Service Initiative Director, she hopes to pass on the information she learned last year to the current VPs of Service. She enjoys helping out and volunteering with noble causes, whether they are locally or internationally focused, in her free time. Ajileye believes people should take initiative and be the change they want to see in the world through service and philanthropy.
Olivia Amezcua is a senior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Sociology and Education. She has been involved in the Public Service Center through her involvement in CREATE (an after school arts education organization) since her first year at Cal. She is currently starting her second year as one of the Program Managers of CREATE, where she helps to support student-teachers and facilitate community partnerships with schools and community centers in the Berkeley-Oakland area. Before joining the leadership team, Olivia taught theatre for two years at Willard Middle School, Berkeley Maynard Academy, and Cragmont Elementary. In addition to her involvement in arts education, Olivia is a part of a research project studying the effects of fair chance employment initiatives for formerly incarcerated people seeking employment. She also tutors at San Quentin through the on campus organization, Teach In Prison. In the future, Olivia hopes to be working in Education and will continue to pursue her passion for theatre.
Sienna Arcala-Anderson is a current Veterinary Technician student at Stanbridge University and is scheduled to graduate in May 2020. Over the last year, Sienna has displayed superior leadership skills in various roles: Chairman of Community Services, Peer Tutor, and she is also involved in the university’s sorority. As Chairman, she oversees collaboration between Stanbridge students and non-profit organizations. In her role as Peer Tutor, she significantly helped improve tests scores for her peers. Sienna is striving to become an Aquatic/Marine Animal DVM.
Brandon Balayan is a student at College of the Canyons and is studying journalism and has a passion for storytelling and helping out his community. His ultimate goal in life is to positively impact other people with the stories he tells through his journalism. Whether it be photographer, videography, or writing, Brandon believes he can make an impact by bringing light to issues that are rarely talked about.
Bryanna Causor Lara (pronouns are she/her) was born and raised in San Jose, CA but she and her family recently moved to Gilroy, CA. Bryanna is a senior majoring in Legal Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and will be graduating in Spring 2021. Last year she was an intern for the Public Service Internship program at UC Berkeley and this year she is one of the Student Directors for the PSI program. By working within this program Bryanna has been able to help the community by giving resources to those families that may otherwise not receive them. She has been able to help out the youth by providing tablets, books, and internet services to those who are being affected by the pandemic. Now as a Student Director Bryanna has been able to guide the interns within their internship as well as making sure they are having a great experience within the program. During her free time, Bryanna loves to facetime and spend time with family, hang out with friends, and spend quality time with her partner.
Alejandra Contreras is currently in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Stanbridge University in Irvine, California. Her interest in Occupational Therapy was seeded in Knoxville, Tennessee where she had the opportunity to mentor children who had neuro developmental disorders. She aspires to integrate her love for nature and helping others as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Haley Dumas is a fourth year undergraduate at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with a major in Physiology/Neuroscience and a major in Psychology. She is a trained peer health educator for the Student Health Advocate program specializing in alcohol and other drugs harm reduction. She has been in the SHA program for two years and is currently serving as an Alcohol and Other Drugs Lead Co-Coordinator. As an Alcohol and Other Drugs Lead, she teaches her peers about what alcohol and various drugs do to the body, and helps guide her fellow Student Health Advocates as they provide health education. She teaches through tabling, interactive activities, infographics, and more. She also is helping with the new projects the specialty has picked up in broadcasting more Protective Behavioral Strategies and trying to get them more normalized around campus. During the fellowship period, Haley plans to continue her volunteer work with the SHA program.
Alexandria Hatten is an RN student at Stanbridge University and also currently working as an LVN in a SNF in Orange County. She hopes to combine her community engagement skills with her nursing skills to be the best nurse that she can. Alexandria’s future goal is to obtain her BSN and specialize in L&D nursing. She loves helping others and giving back whenever she is able.
Kimiko Hennessy is a Master of Occupational Therapy Student at Stanbridge University in Irvine, CA. Kimiko received her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at California State University, San Marcos. She is the secretary of the occupational therapy academic society Pi Theta Epsilon. She has enjoys being an active member of her community and volunteering her time to give back. She hopes to integrate her love for volunteering as she enters the work force.
Katrina Hilke is an upcoming senior at Sonoma State University majoring in English with a concentration of Creative Writing. She enjoys watching students on campus getting involved with the community. Katrina is from Los Angeles, California, and loves the beauty of Sonoma County. Her dream is to become a writer.
Inez Hill is a fourth year student at California State University, Fresno, majoring in Psychology while minoring in Public Health. She is currently considering a career as a Clinical Social Worker in the future in hopes of assessing and treating at-risk youth. During her time at Fresno State, Inez serves as a Richter Center Student Leader with the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, and has worked with many local community benefit organizations such as Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Art of Life, and Habitat for Humanity. Her volunteer works and efforts to demonstrate leadership and community engagement earned her the recognition of being Fresno State’s 2019 Newman Civic Fellow. Inez is extremely excited for the California Campus Compact Community Engagement Student Fellowship, where she will serve as a co-director of the LIFT conference, to bring together student service- leaders from throughout California.
Harege Kebede is a first-generation college student at Occidental College, who carries the pride of Ethiopia in her every step. She is from Seattle, Washington. Harege is currently involved with Black Students Alliance, Beauty Beyond Color, and am on the E- Board of the African Students Association as the External Affairs Liaison. Officially, she is considered undecided, but wants to study Diplomacy and World Affairs, Economics, and Black Studies because she is most interested in figuring out how she can navigate and break down systems that terrorize black communities around the world and how she can bring black pride and joy into her own community in even the smallest ways. Harege hopes to use her education as a means of opening more doors to opportunity for other low-income, students of color. Peace, love, light, and joy!
Felicia Markfield is currently a senior health and human sciences major at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist after she graduates. Felicia grew up in Hollister, California, a small farming city in northern California. She became interested in occupational therapy after shadowing at a pediatric clinic and seeing the unique capabilities that every patient had. She has seen how occupational therapists work with people of ranging intellectual and physical levels. During her fellowship, Felicia will evaluate the effectiveness of a training workshop for volunteers at her University’s Special Games event and recruit a disability expert to recommend training changes. She will also continue her involvement in Gryphon Circle, an on-campus service organization, where she volunteers at an elementary school. At LMU she has enjoyed being involved in the service org community and participating in activities such as Zumba.
Olivia Michael is a second-year student double-majoring in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience and Global Health at UC San Diego. Olivia firmly believes that every person should have the opportunity to live a healthy and joyful life and is dedicated to serving those around her. At UCSD, she holds a variety of leadership roles including being the Co-Chair of the Muir Volunteer Program and the Basic Needs Representative for Muir College Council. Olivia works as a student assistant in the Center for Student Involvement Community Service Department with the hopes of empowering her fellow students to get involved and contribute to their community. This year, she is coordinating an Alternative Weekends program which aims to allow her fellow students to explore the intersections of public health and become more informed citizens. Olivia is also a research assistant in the Language and Development lab at UCSD and loves to constantly question the way humans learn and grow. In the future, Olivia plans to pursue a career that combines her interests in health, education, research, and public service.
Maria Molina is a third year student at California State University, Fresno. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and hopes to one day serve the Central Valley as a pediatrician. She enjoys teaming up with others to make a difference in the local community, especially in the areas of health, education, and research. She is grateful to have co-led the 2019 Alternative Spring Break Children’s Camp at El Dorado Park and to continue with the Richter Center as a S.E.R.V.E. Committee member this upcoming school year. Maria is excited to join together with other student leaders for the 2019 LIFT Conference as they learn, reflect, and grow in many ways.
Evie Pope (she/her) is a junior at Occidental College majoring in Politics with an Economics minor. She is passionate about increasing access to healthcare, workers’ rights, reproductive justice, and addressing disparities in health outcomes. Evie is on the executive board of Planned Parenthood Club at Oxy, co-president of Public Health Club, a program coordinator for OxyConnects Community Partnership for Education and Empowerment (Comparte), Community Service Chair for Alpha, and a manager at Telefund! This summer, Evie also interned with the local affiliate Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. Her long-term academic and career goals are to work in the fields of public health and public policy.