Meet the leaders working towards social justice on the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
Mari Teli FCRH’22
Mari Teli is a senior at Fordham College Rose Hill double-majoring in Biology and Political Science on the Pre-Med track.
Where can you find her on campus?
She is a CCEL student worker
The GO! NY/Canada Border leader
A Faculty-Advisor Student assistant
One of the members of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
Her favorite things about Fordham are?
The different communities she’s a part of
The opportunities she’s had to be involved in the Bronx community
Fordham’s beautiful RH campus
What is she doing on ELF?
She will serve on the Healthcare Cohort mentored by Anita Reyes
She will be partnering with the Tremont Neighborhood Health Action Center, researching vaccine hesitancy in mothers and families in the Bronx
Why is she doing ELF?
She wanted to conduct community-based research that will allow her to gain a better understanding of The Bronx while forming stronger relationships with the community
Collin Billings FCRH’23
Collin Billings is a Junior at Fordham College Rose Hill double majoring in Applied Mathematics and Political Science.
Where can you find him on campus?
Is a student grader for the Math department
Writes for the Fordham Political Review
Plays on the Ultimate Frisbee team
Member of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
His favorite things about Fordham are?
Its location in New York City
The myriad of career opportunities that it provides
The surrounding Bronx community
What is he doing on ELF?
He will serve on the Housing Cohort mentored by Mary Owens
They will be researching people’s perceptions of homelessness vs the reality of homelessness
Why is he doing ELF?
He wants to learn how to effectively conduct social justice research and how to create solutions from that research
Ally Klapak FCRH’22
Ally Klapak is a senior at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in Mathematics in the 5-Year Integrated Teacher Education Track.
Where can you find her on campus:
One of the members of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
She is a First-Year Formation Peer-Mentor
Tutor for Fordham GSS’s Liberty Partnership Programs
Fundraising Coordinator for Best Buddies
Her favorite things about Fordham are:
The proximity to so much great food in the Bronx and Manhattan
Access to green spaces on and off-campus (the Bronx is the greenest borough!)
The amazing people I have met during my time here
What is she doing on ELF
She will work in the Education Cohort
They will be researching how Fordham can create sustainable and effective partnerships with community schools that center around the students
Why is she doing ELF?
As a future NYC educator, she wanted to participate in community-based research to understand and address what factors exacerbate the education gaps that are particularly prevalent in the Bronx community
April Gore FCLC’22
April Gore is a senior at Fordham College Lincoln Center double majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Sociology and minoring in Latin American and Latino Studies on the Pre-Law track.
Where can you find her on campus?
Hosting an event for Pre-Law Society or the Fordham Undergraduate Law Review
Chatting with friends and professors on the Plaza
Getting falafel at the halal cart in front of the LL building
Studying in the law library that overlooks Lincoln Square
Her favorite things about Fordham are?
The dedication of students and professors to their passions and pursuits
The proximity of both campuses to valuable community opportunities
What is she doing on ELF?
Partnering with the Tremont Neighborhood Health Action Center to promote health equity
Why is she doing ELF?
To take direction from community leaders on how to apply the training she has received at Fordham to materially benefit the land and people that have facilitated her formal education
Jackson Lewis FCLC’23
Jackson Lewis is a junior at Fordham College Lincoln Center double-majoring in English and Theatre.
Where can you find him on campus?
Along with reading, listening to podcasts, and tentatively learning to play guitar, Jackson enjoys
working as Lincoln Center’s Chamber Choir President, participating in Environmental Club
activities, and regularly conducting front of housework at Pope Auditorium’s box office
His favorite things about Fordham are:
Jackson greatly appreciates the opportunities that Fordham provides for students to foster rich connections, both personal and professional, on and off-campus
He’ll be forever grateful for Lincoln Center’s wonderfully expansive Quinn Library and accessible practice rooms -- as well as the endlessly useful tunnel system, itself
What is he doing on ELF?
As a member of ELF’s Housing Cohort, Jackson focuses on identifying and deconstructing the misconceptions surrounding the unhoused population of NYC
His team hopes to utilize their research to address these biases, reconciling public perception with lived experience
Why is he doing ELF?
Jackson believes in the inexorable advance of inclusivity-focused and tolerance-centered work inside and outside of the classroom
He strives to participate in -- and advocate for -- social action by empowering the underrepresented voices of marginalized communities
Madison Colleran FCRH’24
Madison Colleran is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in Political Science and minoring in Psychology and Spanish on the Pre-Law track.
Where can you find her on campus?
She is a member of Rose Hill Society
She is the Secretary for Leading Women of Tomorrow
She is one of the members of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
Her favorite things about Fordham are?
Having both campus and also having the city 20 minutes away
The amazing people she’s met
The many things she’s involved with on-campus that allow her to explore her passion for social justice and government
What is she doing on ELF?
She is serving on the Healthcare Cohort with mentor Anita Reyes
They are researching COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy with a concentration in pregnant women
Why is she doing ELF?
She wanted a chance to start her career in research and build those skills for the remainder of her college experience
She wanted to be a part of a group of people with similar passions and grow in those beliefs
She wanted to help to try and make any positive impact on the world and thought this was a great start
Jacob Weinberg FCRH’24
Jacob Weinberg is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in International Political Economy.
Where can you find him?
He is a CCEL Student Worker
GO! the Bronx is Blooming participant
Fordham Debate Society Treasurer
A member of the Engaged leader's Fellowship
His favorite things about Fordham are?
The trees on campus
The people who go to school here
being in NYC
What is he doing on ELF?
He is on the Education Cohort working with CCEL.
They will be researching whether the relationship between Fordham and education partners is effective and what can be improved
Why is he doing ELF
He wanted to do undergraduate research and learn how Fordham does community outreach
Nicole Vitiello FCLC’22
Nicole Vitiello is a senior at Fordham College at Lincoln Center double-majoring in New Media & Digital Design and Communications & Culture.
Where can you find her on campus?
Taking comm classes on the 3rd floor, sleeping in one of the 6th-floor cubicles, or glued to a computer in the Visual Arts Complex!
In Keating 124 with the rest of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship Cohort :)
Her favorite things about Fordham are?
Location, location, location! Being in the city is the best <3
The amazing professors she’s had who’ve gone out of their way to open doors and connect her to some incredible NYC-based arts and media organizations
What is she doing on ELF?
She is part of the Healthcare Research Project Group, mentored by Anita Reyes
They will be researching causes and solutions to COVID vaccine hesitancy amongst pregnant women and families in the Bronx
Why is she doing ELF?
She wants to do what she can to support the efforts of the local community organizations working tirelessly to make life better for people in the Bronx and the rest of NYC while she is still a student at Fordham and a resident of this city
Ben Medeiros FCRH’22
Ben Medeiros is a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill majoring in Psychology and minoring in Peace & Justice Studies, Philosophy, and Linguistics.
Where can you find him on campus?
- He is the Programming and Marketing Fellow for the Manresa Scholars Program
- He is the Treasurer for the Cross-Cultural Students at Fordham
- He is a member of the Diversity Action Coalition
- He is a member of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
His favorite things about Fordham are:
- The amazing community on and off-campus
- The social connections and friends made over the years
- The extraordinary NY City experience
What is he doing on ELF?
- He is cooperating with Mary Owens and the 30th Street Men’s Shelter
- They hope to investigate the relationship between outside perspectives regarding homelessness
and the actual experience of men experiencing homelessness
Why is he on ELF?
- Ben wants to actualize the social justice theories he’s learned about and make a difference in the community alongside his peers
Edward Kim FCRH’22
Edward Kim is a senior majoring in philosophy at Fordham College Rose Hill.
Where can you find him on campus?
At Coffey field at 6 in the morning, where loud shouts and screams may be heard
His favorite things about Fordham are:
There is always a padre of the SJ around with whom to talk about metaphysics
Lots of cats, squirrels, and raccoons
What is he doing on ELF?
My working group and I are studying the public understanding of the homeless at NYC men’s shelters.
We are especially interested in the relationship between the availability of services and the public perception of the needs of shelter clients.
There is, we think, a misalignment between the priorities of the public and those of the clients and this bears a causal relationship with the kinds and quality of services available.
Why is he on ELF?
Involvement with ELF has become a way to help deal with recurrent feelings of acedia –’ Sloth’.
Working with others on behalf of others encourages diligence.
Jonathan Katz FCRH’23
Jonathan Katz is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill double-majoring in Economics and International Political Economy, minoring in Business Law and Ethics, and is on the Pre-Law track.
Where can you find him on campus?
Researching for the Engaged Leaders Fellowship
Working in Fordham’s Office of Legal Counsel
Serving on the Editorial Board of The Fordham Undergraduate Law Review
Preparing for the GO! KINO Border Initiative trip with his fellow team members
Having fun with Fordham’s New Student Orientation Team
Staying up late in the library
His favorite things about Fordham are?
Student involvement opportunities on campus and in the Bronx community
Strong sense of community among students
Developing long-lasting friendships
What is he doing on ELF?
Working with the Education group mentored by Vanessa Rotondo
Researching how Fordham can build more meaningful and sustainable relationships with its community partners
Why is he doing ELF?
To deepen his commitment to community engagement which is concomitant with his responsibility as a student leader at Fordham. His interest is a consequence of his commitment to living the mission set forth by this Jesuit tradition, which has prepared him to assume the responsibility of civic leadership
Jacob Cowen GSB’23
Jacob Cowen is a junior at the Gabelli School of Business majoring in Finance, minoring in Mathematics, and concentrating in FinTech and Value Investing.
Where can you find him on campus?
JMH math help room desperately working with people and going to the Tea/Cookie’s event outside of JMH Wednesdays at 2:30
The first floor of the Walsh Library working on everything else
CYC Consultant for the BxCF Marketing Team based out of the Foundry
Participating as a member of the Engaged Leaders Fellowship.
His favorite things about Fordham are?
The opportunities it provides
Teachers that care about your success and are interested in working with you
Being close to NYC
What is he doing on ELF?
Working with the Education Cohort mentored by Vanessa Rotondo
Researching and understanding how Fordham can best maintain and support sustainable relationships with different community partners related to education
Why is he doing ELF?
Wanted to participate specifically within the education cohort because of his interest in the EduTech field.
He was also interested in aiding in impactful and interesting research