Learning to Lead: From The Fillmore to City Hall

Nicole Wilmot ’25 is currently a McCarthy Fellow of San Francisco interning at the Department of the Environment. She began her CEL journey as a freshman at Rosa Parks Elementary School as an Engage Literacy intern.  Read on to learn how Nicole’s experience is giving her leadership skills from each setting.

My name is Nicole Wilmot and I am a current senior majoring in International Studies and minoring in both Latin American Studies and Spanish! I have been involved in the McCarthy Center programs since my freshman year, and have been very thankful for each experience throughout my four years. Reflecting on my personal experiences, during the first week of my freshman year, I discovered the Engage Literacy program which focuses on tutoring students in literacy skills and promoting educational equity within The Fillmore / Western Addition at in-person and afterschool programs. During my second year, I became a Site Leader for the Rosa Parks Elementary School site, which has since helped increase my leadership and communication skills. As this will be my last year working with the program, I am thankful for the connections I have built between students, seeing them flourish and grow academically. I am also thankful for the conversations and skills of teachers especially at Rosa Parks Elementary School and program directors at Prince Hall Learning Center who have both shown me what educational equality entails and how students can truly play an influence within your personal life. 

” I am thankful for the connections I have built between students, seeing them flourish and grow academically.”

This past semester, I have been a part of the McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco program. I was ecstatic last year to be accepted into the program and was even more excited to be placed in the Department of the Environment under the Commissions and Public Affairs team. I have had an amazing experience with the department this past semester learning how to write memos, a project to implement AI into the department, and learning more about local government as a whole. My mentors have been an amazing support within the department, helping me in getting to connect with other staff and develop my personal interests in environmental justice and issues. Overall, I have had opportunities to understand the San Francisco government in ways I previously never knew and have gained experience and skills I will use with future endeavors. 

Both program experiences have truly enriched my experiences during my time at USF, and I have gained values and skills that I can apply to my future career and personal life. Additionally, this past year I received the Robert Holstein Memorial Scholarship for which I am immensely grateful, and has helped significantly monetarily to support my education. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of programs and events through the McCarthy Center during my time here at USF, and to all students who are thinking of participating in any programs:  Do it, you will not regret it!

Learn how you can become a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco here!