University of San Francisco | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

EMDS Goes to Cuba: Discovering “Chino”

Named after USF’s late and great Esther Madriz, Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars living-learning community focuses on Hip-Hop and its use for social change. To me, being in EMDS means learning how to become a better activist through our own strengths and passions. A part of our experience includes going on a transborder travel experience during winter intersession. – Jazlynn Pastor

Casa Bayanihan – Living and Learning in Solidarity

It is very difficult to sum up my experience in the Philippines with the Casa Bayanihan program. Almost every alum will tell someone who asks that. I could talk about what my everyday life was like there. I could talk about what I did. However, even these two simple concepts are difficult for me to explain because the Casa Bayanihan program is about taking students out of the context of their own lives. – Kaitlin Thaxton Elkins

Why should we care about campaigns?

As a first year Master of Public Affairs candidate with a personal interest in campaigns and the fact that it is a campaign year, my electives so far have been Campaign Theory, Campaign Organization and Management, and Grassroots and Organizing — a perfect fit for me. – Lauren Feuerborn

Is This Any Way to Choose a President?

On the eve of the first in the nation primaries in New Hampshire, the presidential nominating process is beginning to take some shape. On the Republican side, the field has been whittled from more than a dozen candidates (enough to fill two debate stages it seems) to six more (or less) serious contenders. – Corey Cook

Master of Public Affairs (MoPA) Immersion into D.C. and Campaign Research

The Master of Public Affairs DC immersion program was a great opportunity to learn about political opposition research and personally experience some of the challenges of working on a political campaign. – Enrique Aguilar

Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars Research the Western Addition’s Inspirations Murals

This academic year the Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars (EMDS) are gathering the stories of African American leaders depicted on the Inspirations mural outside of Ella Hill Hutch Community Center.

Beginning My USF in D.C. Experience

It was 34 degrees outside when I first landed at Dulles International Airport. Never having spent much time in cold weather, that was definitely a shock. The biggest shock, however, came when my Lyft driver pulled up in front of the University of California DC (UCDC) building and said, “Wow, you’re only six or seven blocks away from The White House, that’s cool!” – Emily Adsit

What About an Internship Abroad?

When I first learned about the Privett Global Scholars at a school information session, I immediately knew this was something I wanted to do. – Nichole Vasquez