The Civic Scholars Program provides a rigorous, in-depth curriculum for undergraduate students with an interest and passion for civic leadership. Sophomores are selected in a competitive merit-based process and learn together through their junior and senior years.  

The program includes two years of intensive coursework, experiential learning, civic skill building, leadership training, and mentorship to prepare Scholars for a life dedicated to civic and community engagement. Civic Scholars receive an academic summer award of $6,500 to support a substantial civic project or internship during the summer between junior and senior year. Students with families of $75,000 or less in total parent income will receive a $1,000 supplemental stipend. Civic Scholars may also apply for up to $1,000 to cover Civic Summer project expenses.  

The Gephardt Institute seeks a broad range of applicants from all backgrounds, perspectives, and schools who have varied knowledge and experience levels in civic engagement, including community engaged learning and research; community organizing and activism; social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility; direct service; philanthropy; and policy and governance. 

Program Details

The Civic Scholars Program includes the following components:

Academic Coursework: Four semesters of rigorous coursework in junior and senior year  

  • Junior Year – 2 credit course each semester 
  • Senior Year – 1 credit course each semester 
  • Classes cover many topics related to civic engagement, democracy, dialogue, community engagement, research, project development, and others designed to support the development of students’ Civic Summer projects and their long term civic vision.  
  • Students should expect to complete readings, several writing assignments, engage with guest speakers, lead and participate in class discussion, and participate in hands-on and immersive learning experiences.  
  • Since the Civic Scholars Program extends beyond the classroom, there will be times during the semester when you spend additional time on Civic Scholars activities beyond what you might anticipate from a two-credit course.  
  • Classes are co-taught by two instructors, often a Gephardt Institute staff member and a community leader. In recent years, Dr. Alannah Glickman and Dr. Dwayne T. James have served as instructors of the program.  

Community Building: The two-year nature of the Civic Scholars Program acts as a microcosm for other community efforts a student may wish to join. We build an intentional community that allows students to show up for each other with support, accountability, and mutual respect while offering a space to take risks and explore ideas openly and honestly. 

  • Participate in an annual kickoff retreat designed to build the cohort community and introduce students to the variety of civic leadership pathways. 

Immersion Trips: Immersive learning in the St. Louis region and Washington D.C. during organized Winter Break trips, to learn about local neighborhoods, public policy, and civic efforts for social change. 

Civic Summer: Receive a $6,500 academic summer award to be used the summer between junior and senior years for a substantial civic project of their choice, developed in consultation with their mentors and instructors.  

  • Civic Summers can happen anywhere in the world and can take shape as a self-directed project or one that extends and deepens existing community-based civic efforts. 
  • Students with families of $75,000 or less in total parent income will also receive a $1,000 supplemental stipend. Civic Scholars may also apply for up to $1,000 to cover Civic Summer project expenses. To check your eligibility, contact your SFS Counselor. 

Professional Skill Development: 

  • Public Narrative and Public Speaking: Students complete public presentations to share their civic interests and civic summer accomplishments. 
  • Networking and Mentorship: Network with and be mentored by prominent civic leaders and the course instructors. Civic Scholars will also mentor the incoming cohort each year. 

Program Timeline for Civic Scholars Class of 2026 

 *Some of the details below may be subject to change. Instructors will inform students of anticipated program changes as soon as possible.* 

Application: The 2024 application period will open on Nov. 13, 2023 and close on January 19, 2023 at 9 p.m. CST. Start you application here! Selected applicants will be interviewed by a selection committee in February 2024 and final decisions will be made by early March 2024. 

Spring 2024: In March 2024, students who have been offered and accepted to be participants in the Civic Scholars Program will complete their program agreement form, attend a welcome event. Each April, all cohorts of Civic Scholars will participate in the All-Civic Celebration. 

Fall 2024: The program starts! Classes will be Thursdays at 3-5 pm. This semester will focus on building foundational knowledge of civic engagement strategies and civic skills like public narratives, civic dialogue, and community outreach. The kickoff retreat will take place on Friday, August 30 – Sunday, September 1, 2024 at the Wyman Center. 

Spring 2025: The St. Louis Immersion Trip will take place on Tuesday, January 7 through Friday, January 10, 2025. This immersion trip will bring students to many different areas of the city and invite guest speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and civic strategies to share their perspectives on the incredible legacies and challenges on civic engagement in St. Louis. All students will be provided off-campus housing for the duration of the Immersion Trip. The Spring 2025 semester course will focus on developing students’ Civic Summer Projects.  

Summer 2025: Civic Summer! Students are required to complete 400-500 hours of a Civic Summer project in the location of their choosing. Students must work in partnership with a community partner or mentor. See Program Details above for more information about funding.  

Fall 2025: Classes start again! Senior year classes are currently one credit, but may be increased to two credits by 2025 in response to student feedback. Class will most likely take place on Tuesdays at 4-5pm.This semester will focus on integrating the Civic Summer experience, presenting their learning at the public-facing Civic Scholars Share Out, and collaborating to develop Collective Action Projects. 

Spring 2026: The DC Immersion Trip will take place in January 2026. The DC trip connects students’ learning to the national level to learn about how federal politics and policymaking shapes social change efforts across the country. During the final semester of coursework, students will implement their Collective Action Projects, reflect on their experience in the program, and create a civic vision and commitment to guide life after graduation. 

Civic Scholar Cohorts

Class of 2025

Class of 2024

Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

Nicole Chen

Nicole Chen

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

Julia Cleary

Julia Cleary

Stern Family Civic Scholar

Mariah Davis

Mariah Davis

Kleinhandler Civic Scholar

Donovan Dixson

Donovan Dixson

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

Keona Dordor

Keona Dordor

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

Isabel (Isa) Huesa

Isabel (Isa) Huesa

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

Matthew Inman

Matthew Inman

Fox-Clark Civic Scholar

2023 Alumni
  • Christian Alexander, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Hawthorne, CA, is majoring in mechanical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering. He is interested in supporting senior citizens in the South Bay area.
  • Kayla Arenschield, a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from Solon, OH, is majoring in English literature and double minoring in religion and politics, and legal studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Kayla is interested in combatting queer community fragmentation in St. Louis through community-vetted resource guides and oral history collection.
  • Annakate Blanks, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Greenville, SC, is majoring in international and area studies and minoring in legal studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. She is interested in empowering and increasing visibility of Wash U student community members with disabilities.
  • Otto Brown, a Bob & Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from Chicago, IL, is double majoring in economics and political science the College of Arts & Sciences. He is interested in examining how Census data is analyzed and how this data informs decisions in St. Louis.
  • Sarah Buchanan, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Hoover, AL, is double majoring in psychology and education in the College of Arts & Sciences. Sarah is interested in providing programs, support, and mentorship for youth at the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center and their families.
  • Rachel Ding, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Vancouver, Canada, is majoring in international and area studies and minoring in East Asian studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Rachel is interested in examining global healthcare systems and addressing disparities with regards to accessing mental health care.
  • Akshay Govindan, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is double majoring in biology: genomics and computational biology and statistics, and minoring in physics in the College of Arts & Sciences. Akshay is interested in understanding the multilingual communities in St. Louis and the language barriers faced by these communities.
  • Barry Henaku, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Chicago, IL, is double majoring in mathematics and classics and minoring in physics in the College of Arts & Sciences. Barry is interested in equitable access to education and mentorship resources to traditionally underrepresented minorities, and the revitalization of neighborhoods from local civic engagement and/or community development corporations.
  • Racquel Hernandez, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Oak Park, IL, is double majoring in applied mathematics and educational studies and minoring in psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. Racquel is interested in creating a math education framework that focuses on improving logic skills instead of relying on rote memorization, in order to create more resources to improve math understanding in students.
  • Lexie Jordon, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Lincoln, AR, is double majoring in educational studies and American culture studies and minoring in psychology and brain sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences. Lexie is interested in supporting public charter school teachers and tailoring professional development to their needs.
  • Ruchika Kamojjala, a Kleinhandler Civic Scholar from Plymouth, MN, is double majoring in anthropology: global health and environment in the College of Arts & Sciences and healthcare management in the Olin Business School. Ruchika is interested in exploring community-based approaches to addressing health concerns, specifically in the fields of mental health and women’s reproductive health.
  • Sarah Narcisse, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Long Island, NY, is majoring in urban studies and minoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. Sarah is interested in reducing racial health inequalities.
  • Kyra Sadat Ruben, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is majoring in global studies in the College of Arts & Sciences, and double minoring in environmental studies in the College of Arts & Sciences and art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Kyra is looking for ways to build bridges between WashU and the refugee students at the International Institute of St. Louis and further study the use of art therapy for refugee children.
  • Maya Tsingos, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from San Francisco, CA, is double majoring in microbiology and anthropology: global health and the environment and minoring in Chinese language and culture in the College of Arts & Sciences. Maya is interested in examining urban farming as a means of improving community health.
  • Maurice Wang, a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen & Dr. Joseph N. Civic Scholar from Tustin, CA, is majoring in political science in the College of Arts & Sciences and double minoring in women, gender, and sexuality studies and Asian American studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Maurice is interested in examining the potential for collective action by combining traditional project management theory and strengths-based leadership principles with community organizing and engagement.
  • Diamond Warren-Tucker, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Coral Springs, FL, is majoring in dance in the College of Arts & Sciences. Diamond is interested in the intersection of birthwork and dance.
2022 Alumni
  • Emily Angstreich, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Manhattan Beach, CA, is majoring in psychological and brain sciences and minoring in political science and writing in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project is focused on the creation of a De-Escalation Team for the WashU campus to assist in mental health crises and other non-violent situations.
  • Desirae Bartos, a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from New York, NY, is majoring in anthropology and minoring in sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She aims to understand community awareness of structural violence in urban areas through the use of photography as a visual medium.
  • Noor Ghanam, a Kleinhandler Civic Scholar from Doha, Qatar, and Pittsburgh, PA, is majoring in biology and minoring in writing: the medical humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences. She will be working with Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge patients (children with severe chronic illness) to help them develop their own “patient narratives,” or stories about illness, using their media of choice.
  • Leighanne Guettler-James, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Lexington, KY, is majoring in philosophy and political science and minoring in dance in the College of Arts & Sciences. She hopes to examine juvenile justice and/or youth voter engagement.
  • Ramadan Ibrahim, a Bob & Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from Cairo, Egypt, is majoring in educational studies and minoring in psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. He will explore the implementation of a learning support system structure in the STEM High School system in Egypt.
  • Akhil Kesaraju, a Stern Civic Scholar from Lexington, KY, is majoring in microbiology and anthropology: global health and the environment in the College of Arts & Sciences. He will work with immigrant-owned small businesses to reduce viral transmission and minimize financial fallout in wake of COVID-19.
  • Rohith Kesaraju, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Lexington, KY, is majoring in biology: neuroscience and urban studies: public health in the College of Arts & Sciences. His project seeks to improve access to quality care for people leaving the criminal justice system with substance use disorder.
  • Wyck Kinkade, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Malvern, PA, is majoring in environmental policy and minoring in psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. He hopes to explore the potential use of impact litigation to address prominent civil rights issues in St. Louis.
  • Lauren Loftis, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is majoring in anthropology and minoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She will explore how to make college more accessible to high school upperclassmen in Ferguson, Missouri, through a college readiness program that adheres to their specific needs.
  • Lourdes Sydney Otis, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Saddle River, NJ, is majoring in sociology and minoring anthropology: global health and environment and American culture studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project intends to explore how a civic ethos is maintained or addressed at an institutional level and the effect it has on surrounding communities.
  • Arianna Parkhideh, a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen & Dr. Joseph N. Marcus Civic Scholar from Setauket, NY, is majoring in anthropology: global health and the environment and minoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She is interested in exploring the experiences of immigrant families when accessing obstetric care, including assisted reproductive technologies and prenatal care.
  • Lauren Puplampu, a Stern Civic Scholar from Dallas, TX, is majoring in anthropology: global health and the environment and minoring in healthcare management in the College of Arts & Sciences. She hopes to explore diversity and inclusion policy implementation in healthcare.
  • Joshua Valeri, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Buffalo, NY, is majoring in environment biology and comparative arts in the College of Arts & Sciences. His project will work with Metropolitan Congregations United to address issues of environmental racism in St. Louis.
  • Helen Webley-Brown, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from London, United Kingdom, is majoring in political science and minoring in anthropology: global health and environment in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her civic project seeks to combat misinformation about youth incarceration to shift public and legislative support towards community-based alternatives.
  • Sarah Xing, a Stern Civic Scholar from Nanjing, China, is majoring in psychology & brain sciences and minoring in American cultural studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project aims to address mental health issues for Chinese international students.
2021 Alumni
  • Noor Bekhiet, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Milwaukee, WI, is double majoring in architecture in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and economics and strategy in the Olin Business School. Her project will focus on giving refugee artisans and craftsmen the space to sell their work and grow businesses or side projects from their craft, as they were able to do in their home countries.
  • Brooke Bulmash, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from West Bloomfield, MI, Cleveland OH, and Dallas, TX, is majoring in architecture and minoring in landscape architecture in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Her project will address urban vacancy and land remediation in North St. Louis with a focus on environmental justice and community engagement.
  • Josie Campbell, a Gephardt Civic Scholar from Memphis, TN, is majoring in religious studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project aims to increase patient agency in healthcare settings from the perspective of palliative and end-of-life care practices.
  • Eliza Caperton, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Berkeley Springs, WV, is double majoring in studio art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and American culture studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. The goal of her project is to help promote access to arts education in low-income areas of St. Louis.
  • Keishi Foecke, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from San Mateo, CA, is majoring in anthropology: global health and the environment and minoring in American culture studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. She will focus on increasing high-quality healthcare access for homeless or underserved communities through her project.
  • Jazmin Garcia, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Evanston, IL, is double majoring in anthropology: global health and the environment and minoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. For her project, she seeks to work with undocumented/migrant and LGBTQIA+ communities to highlight the experiences of these intersecting identities.
  • Jane Gormley, a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from Mercer Island, WA, is majoring in sociology and double-minoring in computer science and creative practice for social change in the College of Arts & Sciences. For her project, she hopes to explore how design thinking methods can be effective tools for community engagement, specifically working with issues of housing policy in the Seattle area.
  • Ahmed Hanafy, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Alexandria, Egypt and Seattle, WA, is majoring in neuroscience in the College of Arts & Sciences and minoring in computer science in the McKelvey School of Engineering. His project centers on empowering immigrant communities to get involved in government and political processes.
  • Mackenzie Hines-Wilson, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is majoring in philosophy-neuroscience-psychology: cognitive neuroscience with a minor in anthropology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She will focus on helping improve the healthcare system for women who hold various marginalized identities, specifically pertaining to infant mortality/maternal health in St. Louis.
  • Max Klapow, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Birmingham, AL, is majoring in philosophy-neuroscience-psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. His project aims to develop a positive psychology program designed to empower incarcerated people to flourish in and out of prison.
  • Carrie Phillips, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, is majoring in American culture studies and double-minoring in sociology and Spanish in the College of Arts & Sciences. She is currently deciding between arts based projects that will either immerse her in music education for young women, or design-oriented marine conservation initiatives.
  • Logan Phillips, a Mary and Tom Stillman Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO and Austin, TX, is majoring in African & African-American studies and sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She intends to examine the absence and lack of instruction of Black history within the U.S. history education curriculum and how this deficit affects the mental health of Black children in K-12, specifically in the areas of self-identity, self-esteem, and self-actualization.
  • Lorenzo Solon, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Philadelphia, PA, is majoring in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. His project aims to create a network between various mental health and peer counseling organizations at universities around the country.
  • Andrew Whitaker, a Bob & Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from West Chester, OH, is majoring in biomedical engineering on the pre-med track in the McKelvey School of Engineering. His project will create solutions for kids with asthma in the St. Louis area. 
  • Kally Xu, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Madison, MS, is majoring in international area studies and minoring in Asian American studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project will focus on reproductive justice and women’s health in the state of Mississippi.
  • Jessica Yu, a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen and Dr. Joseph N. Marcus Civic Scholar from Portland, OR, is majoring in biochemistry in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project seeks to develop changes that will better foster the success of underrepresented students in STEM research. 
2020 Alumni
  • Harkirat Anand, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Paramus, NJ, is majoring in economics and mathematics with a concentration in statistics. For his summer project, Harkirat was interested in researching dissonance within the Sikh American community on political ideologies by creating an anthology of interviews with community members of different backgrounds.
  • Carson Borbely, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Ann Arbor, Michigan and Viadana, Italy is majoring in anthropology: global health & the environment and minoring in writing. Carson worked for Casa Marianella, a shelter serving immigrants and refugees in Austin, TX. She assisted with trauma-informed ESL classes, accompanied minors to immigration court, supported day-to-day needs at the shelter, and received individuals upon release from detainment.
  • Kirk Brown, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from O’Fallon, IL, is majoring in political science and African & African American studies. Kirk worked with the Evans Exoneration Project. His responsibilities included applying for grants with the hope of helping the organization secure funds to continue operating as a non-profit, pro bono law firm.
  • Luka Cai, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Singapore, is majoring in political science and minoring in sociology and legal studies. Luka worked with community members and organizations to establish the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline, a volunteer-run peer support helpline that provides free, confidential, and identity-affirming emotional support and resources, by and for the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community. The helpline launched on September 20.
  • Maria Cortez-Lopez, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Elgin, IL, is majoring in Latin American studies and Spanish. Maria worked at the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project, which serves and advocates for the low-income immigrant community in St. Louis through translation, immigration services, and community outreach.
  • Molly Davis, a Gephardt Civic Scholar from Lexington, TN, is majoring in English and Spanish with a minor in psychology. Molly explored issues related to aging, particularly dementia care, caregiver health, and the use of yoga and mindfulness in promoting well-being and managing chronic pain. She interned with the Tennessee chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and earned her registered yoga teacher certification with a focus in chair yoga. 
  • Ruth Durrell, a Bob & Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from Milwaukee, WI, is majoring in educational studies and sociology. Ruth supported students, teachers, and staff as an intern and Assistant Director of Student Services at LearningWorks in Minneapolis, MN. She assessed the needs of teachers with the teaching faculty and is still working directly with LearningWorks to create a financial support fund for teachers in need.
  • José Figueroa, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar, is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and currently resides in Dayton, OH, is majoring in anthropology: global health & the environment. José developed a community oriented curriculum and trained 354 community members in First Aid Management in Guatemala. Every trained member was given a refillable first aid kit to use in the time of a medical emergency around their community. Groups trained included firefighters, police force, midwives, volcano rescue units, and local citizens
  • Gabriela Hall, a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from Charlotte, NC, is majoring in systems science & engineering with a specialization in biomedical engineering. Gabriela worked on developing materials to teach the English section of the ACT in the Puertas program at Washington University. They also spent a month in Israel doing research on microdroplet resonators for biosensing applications.  
  • Lauren Hucko, a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen & Dr. Joseph N. Marcus Civic Scholar from LaGrange, IL, is majoring in anthropology: global health & the environment and Spanish with a minor in medical humanities. Lauren worked as a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) intern with Uganda Development and Health Associates, a grassroots, community health outreach center in eastern Uganda. She helped train Peer Health Educators on SRHR, and they will use this training to organize monthly presentations at their schools. She also designed educational SRHR materials that will be circulated to all local schools.
  • Grace Kavinsky, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Oak Park, IL, is majoring in classics and minoring in African & African-American Studies and art history. Grace interned at the Supreme Court of the United States in the Office of the Curator. She engaged in topics which centered on criminal justice reform and heritage institution accountability. 
  • Rachel Kleinhandler, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Rye Brook, NY, is majoring in American culture studies and minoring in the business of social impact. Her project addressed youth mental illness and the related stigma to encourage greater awareness for the supporter population. Through various partnerships, she contributed to the development of mental health resources, social media content, and crisis support.
  • Sherece Laine, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Bronx, NY, is majoring in African & African-American studies and minoring in anthropology: global health & the environment. Sherece interned with IFM Community Medicine. Through this experience, she explored the role community-based organizations have in providing adequate health care services for individuals from marginalized communities to decrease health disparities.
  • Gabriela Pantoja, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Chicago, IL, is majoring in Latin American studies and anthropology. She conducted over 20 interviews in her East Side Chicago neighborhood to help dispel negative stereotypes and perceived anonymity due to deindustrialization. The project prompted her to think about what it means to be a good neighbor and how community is perceived by members with different backgrounds and interests.
  • Noah Ford Rennert, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Fairfield, CT, is majoring in chemical engineering. Noah created a website to improve accessibility to jobs in the solar industry for his summer project.
  • Ishaan Shah, a Mary and Tom Stillman Civic Scholar from Cupertino, CA, is majoring in biology and political science. Ishaan worked on a national trial at Boston Medical Center that compared a group well-child visit program to the individual well-child visit model pediatricians use to screen infants during their first two years of life. The trial was developed through a partnership between a community organization, Vital Village, and a national nonprofit, Centering Healthcare Institute.
  • Zach Vincent, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from East Moline, IL, is majoring in political science with minors in writing and legal studies. Zach partnered with the Obama Foundation on the strategic and operational development of their civic education programming for his summer project.
2019 Alumni
  • Sophie Abo, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Pittsburgh, PA,  majored in anthropology: global health and the environment and minored in biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project examined the intersection of health and transit in St. Louis, MO.  
  • Haley Allen, a Mary and Tom Stillman Civic Scholar from St. Charles, MO, double majored in international studies: international affairs and psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She spent her summer with the “Literacy Garden” program in Kenya.
  • Nathaniel Bernstein, a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Evanston, IL, majored in political science and minored in women, gender, and sexuality studies and psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences. He spent his summer working at the Center on Wrongful Conviction at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, to research criminal justice reform.
  • Anand Chukka, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from San Jose, CA, double majored in biochemistry and American culture studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. He interned jointly with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless and the Center for Prisoner Health to understand the role of physician advocacy work. 
  • Maddie Farrer, a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from Lexington, KY, majored in architecture and minored in urban design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. She also minored in urban studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. She worked with the Sacramento City Council’s Housing and Redevelopment Agency to examine affordable housing alternatives.
  • Marcellus Johnson, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Oviedo, FL, majored in architecture and minored in urban design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. He also minored in American culture studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. He worked on the production of a book about the historical preservation of Kinloch, MO. 
  • Rhea Khanna, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from New Delhi, India, double majored in communication design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts and educational studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. She spent her summer in New York City, NY, exploring the design of quality learning spaces.
  • Marissa Lerner, a Gephardt Civic Scholar from Boston, MA, majored in environmental earth science in the College of Arts & Sciences and minored in systems engineering in the School of Engineering. Her project was in Quito, Ecuador, focusing on urban resilience and sustainability.  
  • Sam Messenger, a Bob and Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from Brooklyn, NY, double majored in economics in the College of Arts & Sciences and finance in the Olin Business School. His project was with the Halachic Organ Donor Society (HODS) to promote organ donation in the Jewish community in New York City, NY. 
  • Le’Aysha Pearson, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Wynne, AZ, double majored in elementary education and African and African-American studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project focused on social-emotional education research in South Africa.
  • Gabby Perez-Garcia, a Gephardt Civic Scholar from Plano, TX, majored in anthropology: global health and the environment in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project focused on Latina teen suicide prevention in New York City, NY. 
  • James Schisler, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. James, MO, majored in geophysics and minored in writing in the College of Arts & Sciences. For his project, he researched educational access and policy in rural communities in St. James, MO.
  • Meghal Sheth, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Camas, WA, majored in anthropology: global health and the environment and biology with a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. For her project, she focused on immigration policy and sexual health education for South Asian Americans in Chicago, IL.
  • Dan Sicorsky, a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen and Dr. Joseph N. Marcus Civic Scholar from Aventura, FL, majored in political science and minored in writing in the College of Arts & Sciences. He worked full-time at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, exploring diplomacy and global justice for its residents. 
  • Adis Terzic, a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from St. Louis, MO, double majored in anthropology and economics in the College of Arts & Sciences. His project focused on capturing oral histories of first generation Bosnian-Americans in both St. Louis, MO, and Chicago, IL. 
  • Sarah Yapo, a Cantor Family Civic Scholar from Rockford, IL, majored in biochemistry and minored in psychological and brain sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences. Her project focused on sexual and reproductive health in Indonesia. 
2018 Alumni
  • Andres Avalle is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Manchester, VT. He is working as an Associate at Bain & Company, a management consultancy, in Chicago, Illinois. Eventually, he hopes to earn an advanced degree in complex systems, economics, or philosophy.
  • Molly Brodsky is a Stern Family Civic Scholar from Fair Lawn, NJ. She is pursuing community-focused agriculture and food justice work in San Francisco, California. She will serve as a Community Educator with Global Student Embassy (GSE), a nonprofit that facilitates garden-based experiential learning and leadership training for high school students in the Bay Area. GSE partners with urban farming organizations in Ecuador and Nicaragua and aims to highlight both local and global food issues.
  • Caitlin Cheeseboro is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Woodbury, MN. She moved to Los Angeles, California and will serve as a City Year AmeriCorps member.
  • Michael Collins is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Zionsville, IN. He stayed in St. Louis for the summer to conduct research on Chinese refugees during the Korean War. He then moved to Beijing, China where he will pursue a Masters in History at Peking University as a Yenching Scholar.
  • Claudia Evaristo is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Athens, GA, is double majoring in anthropology and biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and is applying for community health and reproductive justice advocacy jobs. She also traveled with family in Hong Kong and India. She hopes to begin medical school in fall 2019.
  • Ishak Hossain is a Bob and Gerry Virgil Civic Scholar from Tulsa, OK. He is applying to medical school. For the next year, he is working full-time for the Missouri chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
  • Assiatou Jallow is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Detroit, MI. She spent the summer in Detroit, Michigan and is in the process of applying for positions that will allow her to explore community and economic development as tools to address systems of oppression.
  • Wesley Jenkins is a Seiden Family Civic Scholar from Nashville, TN. He stayed in St. Louis to complete freelance writing projects for MICDS high school and the Division of Student Affairs at Washington University. In September, he moved to Chicago to begin a Master of Science program in Journalism at Northwestern, with a specialization in print and digital magazine content.
  • Anna Noronha is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Lake Forest, IL. She is working as a Research Assistant for Ariadne Labs, a health systems innovation think tank. She is situated in the Office of the Executive Director, where she will assist with research for writing projects and review literature on global health innovations.
  • Karthik Rohatgi is a Fox-Clark Civic Scholar from Reno, NV. He spent the summer in India and recently started medical school at Washington University. He plans to pursue a combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degree.
  • Nathan Stanfield is a Cantor Family Civic Scholar from Milton, MA. Over the summer, he interned at Populous, an architecture firm in Kansas City, Missouri. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in architecture.
  • Madeline Stewart is a Dr. Margaret A. Olsen and Dr. Joseph N. Marcus Civic Scholar from Boston, MA. She spent the summer with friends and family and returned to St. Louis to work at Places for People for the next year before starting medical school at Boston University.
  • Sarah Vaughen is a Mary and Tom Stillman Civic Scholar from Champaign, IL. She is working as a ScribeAmerica Medical Scribe for a family medicine physician in Champaign, Illinois. She is also applying to medical school programs to begin in fall 2019.
  • Cole Warner is from St. Louis, MO. He is an AmeriCorps member at The Biome School in St. Louis. He is also shadowing in the ER at BJC HealthCare and pursuing a certificate in narrative medicine through Columbia University.
2017 Alumni

Nicholas Annin
Alexandra Barrett
Lucy Chin
Suhas Gondi
Jacob Metz
Yaala Muller
Sarah Nesbitt
Sakura Oyama
Norah Rast
María José Ruiz
Laken Sylvander
Neena Wang

2016 Alumni

Shyam Akula
Kierstan Carter
Cameron Kinker
Jagdeesh Kottapalli
Brianna McCain
Nick Okafor
Carrick Reddin
Rachel Sumption

2015 Alumni

Madeleine Balchan
Victoria (Tori) Bawel
Rachel (Rori) Bridge
Anirudh (Raja) Krishna
Elliot Louthen
Reuben Riggs
Seiko Shastri
Jason Silberman

2014 Alumni

Joshua Aiken
Ayah Abo-Basha
Hallie Dobkin
Avi David Geller
Tiffini Hyatt
Maddie Polk
Dylan Simonsen

2013 Alumni

Peter Birke
Grace Chao
Michael Harries
Pia Marcus
Andreas Mitchell

Questions? Contact Associate Director for Civic Engagement, Alannah Glickman for more information about Civic Scholars.


The Civic Scholars Program is made possible by generous gifts from John Beuerlein, MBA ’77, and Crystal Beuerlein (in honor of Bob Virgil, MBA ’60, DBA ’67, and Gerry Virgil); Maxine Clark, Trustee, and Bob Fox; Laura Zajac Kleinhandler, AB ’90 and David Kleinhandler; Joseph N. Marcus, MD ’75, and Margaret A. Olsen, Professor of Medicine and Surgery; Matt Seiden, AB ’78, and Wendi Weill; Mickey and Debbie Stern; Bob and Gerry Virgil; and anonymous donors.