Reflecting on the Impact of The Leo T. McCarthy Center

In this week’s blog, Carla Trujillo, Graduate Assistant for Engage San Francisco, shares her experience with the Engage San Francisco Literacy program and the School of Education. Learn more about how each program transformed her professional development, as well as the meaningful connections that nurtured her passions for education. Luckily, for us, it’s not farewell but rather “see you soon” as we will see Carla in a new role as our Youth Engagement Coordinator for Equity Interns beginning in the coming weeks.

My time as a Graduate Assistant for Engage San Francisco (ESF) Literacy at The Leo T. McCarthy Center was a transformative experience that helped me strengthen my professional and academic skills. As a first-generation college student, I was unsure of what to expect from graduate school, but working with Dresden, program manager, and Karin, ESF director, exceeded my expectations. Their mentorship and guidance helped me fully embrace my graduate student role, gain experience in facilitating discussions, training undergraduate students, presenting our strategic goals and program accomplishments at conferences, and becoming a published co-author. 

Carla pictured in 2nd row (R)

The impact of the center and the ESF team extended beyond my professional development. Their culture of love and understanding made me feel valued and motivated to participate in new opportunities. The McCarthy Center is more than just a place to work;
it’s a place where you can grow both personally and professionally. The team  creates an environment that encourages staff to build meaningful connections, prepare, inspire, and educate students to advance excellence in teaching, scholarship, creative expression, and service. 

My experience at the University of San Francisco’s School of Education was also invaluable. The faculty and staff in the Organization and Leadership department are committed to ensuring students are supported and prepared to advance their careers. Being part of a cohort of like-minded students who are passionate about educational equity and access to all students — was an honor. 

I encourage graduate students, especially those in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA), to apply to work with the McCarthy Center and Engage San Francisco. The mentorship and guidance from the team are invaluable to the holistic graduate school experience, The center’s mission and values truly strives to serve all students at the University of San Francisco, and I am grateful for the professional and academic development I achieved as a graduate assistant.

In all, my time spent at the McCarthy Center has been extremely rewarding and valuable, which is why I’m thrilled to share that I will be continuing as part of the center’s team for an additional two-years. During this time, I will be transitioning into the position of Youth Engagement Program Coordinator, where I will provide support to our Equity Scholars!

Learn more about Equity Interns program here.