advocacy | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

Speaking Truth to Power at USF

Angeline Vuong is the Associate Director of Community Engagement and Public Service Programs offered at the McCarthy Center. Leading our USFVotes team, she understands that with this election season, voting is crucial more than ever before. Angeline describes how the value of being a civically-engaged campus is a core aspect of Jesuit education and show…

Mentoring The Next Generation

Koa Fong ’25 Finance major is dedicated to social justice, Chinese-American activism, and the Jesuit values of USF. She is a member of the USF Rising Youth Mentorship program, which demonstrates how our country’s education needs the help of young people to show the way. During the 2023-2024 year, Koa helped middle school and high…

Meet Our 2024 McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento

Congratulations to our newest cohort of McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento. This summer, nine students from diverse majors and backgrounds will immerse themselves in the policymaking process at California’s state capital. Fellows will gain firsthand experience in how state-level public policy is crafted and develop the skills needed to become change leaders in their communities. Join…

Meet the 2024 USF In DC Fellows

Congratulations to our newest cohort of USF in DC Fellows. This semester, nine students from various majors will be immersed in the policymaking processes in the U.S. capital. Our fellows will get a front row seat to observe and learn how public policy happens at the national level and build the skill set necessary to…

My Summer Internship: A Leap of Faith

Soli Martin-Abascal ’24, a University of Delaware Biden Institute student and Equity Intern shares her unexpected and transformative experience in San Francisco this past year. Despite initially aiming for a different internship, she found herself assisting students with limited English proficiency. Through this experience, she discovered the power of genuine communication and the unexpected rewards…

Cultivating Community Leaders: A Reflection on the 2023 Newman Civic Fellows Convening

Embark on a transformative journey with USF student Viet-Hung Nguyen as he shares insights from the 2023 Newman Civic Fellows Convening—where passion meets purpose, and community leaders unite to inspire change. Read more to join the conversation on leadership, service, and shaping a better world. As I stepped into the plane at Boston Logan International…

Nurses’ Place in Healthcare Policy: Advocating for Patients and the Profession

In this week’s blog, Sunshine Joyce Alba Batasin BSN-RN describes her experience of connecting healthcare, nursing, and public policy. Learn more about Sunshine’s recent participation at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. with a national network of individuals advocating for nursing initiatives. The depth and breadth of…

Defense Beyond the Courtroom

In this week’s blog Allyssa Olear, McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco, describes her internship with the Public Defender’s Office working on projects, Open the Courts Public Action and the Adachi Project. Similar the earlier blog by McCarthy Fellow cohort member, Kacie Williams, Allyssa strengthened her passion to continue public service and commit to advocating for…