Center for Social Impact 2021 Celebration

Join the Center for Social Impact in celebrating this year’s accomplishments in humanitarian action, community-engaged research, and community-engaged learning!

Thursday, April 22^nd

5-6 PM

Attendees must pre-register for the Zoom webinar: https://fairfield.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4R6AlihFSo661xA5ZFz-PQ

We are delighted to announce the 2021 recipients of individual achievement awards, who will be recognized at the celebration event:

Humanitarian Action Student Award: Brianna Cyr ‘21

Brianna Cyr ’21 is an honors student with majors in History and Philosophy and a Humanitarian Action minor. After an internship last summer with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), she focused her Humanitarian Action capstone on CMMB’s Covid-19 response in South Sudan, especially in the context of cultural barriers to implementation.

Outstanding Community Partner Award: Fairfield Public Schools Health Education Department

Health educators in Fairfield’s two high schools have partnered with Dr. Maggie Wills since 2014, welcoming undergraduate students into their classrooms to discuss substance abuse, mental health, and the transition to college with high school seniors.

Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx S.J. Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engagement: Dr. Ashley Byun, Associate Professor, Biology

Dr. Byun has collaborated with Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on numerous student-led research projects over the last 7 years to study and protect vulnerable species. She and her colleagues at the Zoo have created a nationally recognized partnership model called RIZE (Research, Internships, and Zoo Education).

Newman Civic Fellowship: Eden Marchese ‘23

Eden has shown remarkable leadership potential on our campus, specifically as an advocate for LGBTQ+ students. During the fellowship year, they have proposed a project to expand gender-inclusive accommodations in residence halls and other spaces on campus, and to explore other issues of gender inclusivity in our University community.

Congratulations to all of the awardees, and join us in celebrating them on April 22^nd!