Experiential Learning Student and Recent Alumni Stories

Brueggeman Fellows in International Research

Kezia Vi Copeland
Fine Arts major
Winter-Cohen Brueggeman Fellow
Research in South Africa

"I am interested in the retention rates of Black students in college design programs, as well as their overall experience in the field when compared to their White counterparts. In the U.S., such data hardly exists at all regionally, much less on national level. I believe that a  severe lack of representative data reports contributes to the continuation of prejudices in art curriculums, lower retention rates for Black students in college design programs, and the separation of being a designer in American society and being a Black designer in American society."

Sarah Ray
Winter-Cohen Brueggeman Fellow
Research in Liberia

Now: Medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Sarah was a Brueggeman Fellow in 2021-2022, and she said that the fellowship was one of the most impactful experiences during her time at Xavier. For her research project, she traveled to Liberia to explore connections between poverty and health equity. When reflecting upon her experience as a Brueggeman Fellow, she said: "It heightened my interest in global health and I plan to incorporate what I have learned into my medical career. I highly recommend that you consider the fellowship- it will teach you a lot and change you for the better!" 

Owen Clark
Musical Theater and Exercise Science
double major
Winter-Cohen Brueggeman Fellow
Research in Montreal, Canada

"My research will focus on bridging the gap between health and wellness resources and performance arts in order to discern what works best for an artist's specific needs. What resources benefit an actor most? What might an acrobat need that an actor doesn’t? This research is crucial to the world of performing arts because there are very few training opportunities and health resources for professional performers who push their bodies to the limit (similar to an athlete), but who lack specialized resources such as Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists, which are more commonly available to sports teams."

Isha Patel
Finance and Philosophy, Politics, and the
Public major
Winter-Cohen Brueggeman Fellow
Research in India

Now: Law school student at Chicago-Kent School of Law

Isha recently graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (PPP) and Finance. As a Brueggeman Fellow, she is combining her interests in PPP & Finance and studying small businesses in rural India. She was drawn to India because of the country’s vast economy and diverse business types.

Isha comes from a family of small business owners in the US, which is what drew her to studying the business environment in India. Earlier this summer, she spent her fellowship in Gujarat and Rajasthan, India.

Isha said that her time in India provided her with an international perspective on business formation, the legal and regulatory environment, and banking perspective for small business owners.

Research with Xavier Faculty

Chantz Dalton
Physics major
Innovation Fellow
Xavier Summer Researcher
Internship with Fermilab

Dalton participated in summer research. He presented his work, supported by professor Justin Link, Ph.D., at Xavier's 2023 Summer Research. Symposium This past summer, between his junior and senior years at Xavier, he was accepted to a prestigious and selective internship at Fermilab in Batavia, Ill. There, he spent nine hours a day for a full month studying quantum code and computing with other talented undergraduate students from around the world. A few months after finishing the program, they reached out to Dalton among a select few other students from the program to ask him to contribute work on a paper as a continuation of the internship work, and the chance to have his name published with their research.

Chantz Dalton Senior Spotlight

Cassie Zaremba
Chemistry major
Xavier Summer Researcher
PhD. Emory

Now: Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Denison University

Following graduation, Zaremba initially chose to work in the research and development field as a chemist. However, she quickly realized she wanted to get back into the classroom. “The field in general didn’t excite me as much because the research was determined by other people, not necessarily by me,” she said. “That was the biggest reason I was more intrigued in teaching and giving back what I was given in my undergraduate career.” Zaremba went on to receive her Ph.D. from Emory University. Zaremba has advice for current undergraduates or prospective students considering joining Xavier’s Department of Chemistry. “Explore every opportunity available to you,” she said. “Don’t pigeonhole yourself, be open to change and what excites you.”

Eigel Center Community-Engaged Fellows

Tez Brown
Biomedical Sciences major
Community Engaged Fellow

As I devote time and compassion to my service, I stand for a greater purpose in which I believe to always be open minded to receive current information or past experiences. When it comes to our youth, they are our future. If we can have a positive influence and impact on those who may never thought of thinking or altering their rituals then I can say we have helped a portion to our future society.

Wabi Tela
Biomedical Sciences major
Community Engaged Fellow
Meharry Medical College, M.D.

Now: Pediatric Medicine Resident, University of Illinois Chicago

I was thinking about service, social justice, and caring for people who are often ignored, marginalized, and forgotten. I realized that was what I was looking for in my education— no matter where I went or what stage of life, I was in. I wanted to be part of an organization or institution that prioritized those values. It wasn’t until I attended the Black Male S.T.E.A.M Summit at Meharry Medical College in 2018 that I saw physicians who looked like me. That meant everything to me,” he said.

Wabi became the first in his family to attend medical school in the United States. His journey to becoming a physician was anything but linear. When he first arrived at Meharry as a medical student in 2019, he was full of hope, determination, and a deep commitment to social justice.

Internships

Keith Miller
Marketing and Management major
Xavier Element Marketing Lead at the Sedler
Center for Experiential Learning in Business
Intern for the J.M. Smucker Co.

Keith Miller is a Marketing and Management student with a passion for branding and digital marketing. He began his journey at Xavier Element in the Sedler Center as a Marketing Consultant, gaining hands-on experience working with clients before advancing to the role of Internal Lead, where he oversaw internal operations, training, and
consultant development. Now, as Marketing Lead, he focuses on prospecting new clients, securing revenue growth, and managing recruitment, training, and client onboarding. Beyond his work at Xavier Element, Keith serves as President of the American Marketing Association and will be joining The J.M. Smucker Co. as an incoming Sales
Analytics Intern for the summer of 2025. He is always seeking new ways to drive innovation, strengthen brands, and create meaningful connections through marketing.

 

Garrett Willie
Biology and Philosophy, Politics, and the
Public major
Internships at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
and the U.S. Congress

Now: Walt Disney Imagineering, External Communications

Willie credits the Jesuit values instilled in him while at Xavier for seeking out mission oriented roles. Whether that service is the opportunity to shape public policy in our nation’s capital or bring joy to millions of people around the globe through Disney’s unparalleled storytelling capabilities, Willie knew that he wanted to work for an organization that’s truly making a positive impact on the world. “I had an internship at Cincinnati Children’s working for their Child Life department,” he said. “Every single patient room that I went into had a Disney movie on. That’s the heart of the company and what I fell in love with – bringing joy to and inspiring people.” With that, he decided that the post-grad internship at The Walt Disney Company was where he wanted to be.

From Degrees to Disney article

Study Abroad

Abigail Stewart
Biological Sciences for Business major
Gilman Scholar
Study abroad in Rome, Italy

Rising senior Abigail Stewart spent much of her first years at Xavier debating a key question: Could she study abroad? In June, the Biological Sciences for Business major capped off a five-week study abroad experience in Rome on the heels of earning a prestigious federal scholarship. Stewart received a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, a U.S. State Department program designed to help students overcome financial constraints to study or intern abroad. During her five weeks in "the Eternal City," she took a course in environmental sustainability, in part exploring the different sustainability approaches between Europe and the United States.

"I Just Jumped In" artice

Katie Sanchez
Philosophy, Politics, and the Public major
Editor-in-Chief of Newswire, Xavier’s student
run newspaper
Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain

Now: Public Policy & Advocacy Associate at United Way

In what ways has Xavier prepared you for your future career and personal aspirations post-graduation? Xavier has empowered me to explore pushing myself to take control of my own future. I think it gives you a lot of resources. Professors are so supportive and give you tools to push you beyond the classroom. There is emphasis on supporting who you are in the classroom and then pushing you outside of that and do more things.

3 Inspiring Xavier Seniors article