Gallery 1 — Collegium Institute

Rashmi Acharya is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Health and Societies, concentrating in Public Health and Neuroscience. Rashmi is interested in exploring the intersections between spirituality, wellness, healing, and being, and is involved with the Shelter Health Outreach Program and CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative. She first was introduced to the Collegium through the Medical Humanities Fellowship and hopes to continue to engage in soul-searching, fruitful debate with her peers, and delving deeper into ancient and modern dialogues on what it means to exist.

Erika Acosta is a senior studying Health and Societies with a concentration in Health Policy and Law and minors in English and Asian American Studies. She is both a Medical Humanities Fellow and a Legal Humanities Fellow, interested in the intersections of healthcare, law, and the humanities. She is also the Mass and Program Coordinator of the St. Agatha-St. James Parish Filipino Youth Ministry, a role that enables her to help share Filipino Catholicism with the Philadelphia community. In her free time, she enjoys cross-stitching, acting on stage, and engaging in deep conversations.

Luke Baber is a sophomore in the Wharton School of Business and hails from Oklahoma. He is currently involving himself in various clubs on campus such as the Wharton Undergraduate Society of Accounting, Coalition for Christian Outreach, and the Christian Union. Coming from a rich Southern Baptist background in the buckle of the Bible Belt and attending a Catholic prep school, Luke has great interest in learning about ways to encounter God and about ways to spread that joy unto others. His interests include business models, politics, and how religion is woven into the fabric of society. Usually you can find Luke watching documentaries, reading a book, or playing disc golf at Fairfield park. He intends to use the Collegiate Undergraduate Fellowship's diverse community and academic rigor as a means of expanding his Christian knowledge and thought.

Shane Better is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. Shane's main academic interests lie at the intersection of the humanities and engineering. Along with being a Collegium Undergraduate Fellow, he is also a Humanities at Hertog Fellow and the International Business & Development Coordinator for Leadership Initiatives. Shane is passionate about liberal education, and hopes to use the Collegium Institute as a space at Penn to pursue it.

Laura Brodkey is currently a sophomore in Wharton studying Behavioral Economics and Business Economics and Public Policy. She first explored Collegium looking for opportunities to explore interesting conversations and philosophy and has since participated in the Philosophy of Finance program. She is interested in the intersection of sustainability, philosophy, human behavior, and the cooperation between governments, businesses and NGOs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors through leading trips for other Penn students and exploring Philly.

Camellia Bui is a sophomore from Vietnam studying Psychology and potentially Health & Societies in the College of Arts & Sciences. Involved in several secular mental wellness initiatives on campus, she often wonders how religion has provided spiritual guidance, solace and healing in the place of modern psychology today. Camellia hopes to use this opportunity to explore how modern scientific understanding and religious wisdom can be used in conjunction to interpret and alleviate current mental health crises.

Junle (Richard) Chen is a sophomore from Princeton, New Jersey in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Biochemistry and Neurobiology in Vagelos Scholars Program in the Molecular Life Sciences. Aspiring to become a neurologist, Richard’s interest is in decoding the mind body problem through the integrated fields of philosophy and neuroscience. His hobbies include fencing, music and poetry composition, and bartending.

Callista Dyer is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Psychology and minoring in ASL and Deaf Studies. Outside of campus Callista is involved with CSSP, a mentorship program in West Philly schools, and Young Life Skeptics Dinner. She first heard of Collegium Institute through the “Socrates on College” preceptorial and the Friday coffeehouses soon after. She admires Collegium’s willingness to ask and debate the obscure, and often unanswerable, questions of today, prioritizing truth over conventionality. She is excited to grow her understanding of what it means to exist, create and love in today’s beautifully complex world.

João Estaca is a junior from Lisbon, Portugal. He is majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is very interested in Philosophy and how it has evolved over the years. Being an undergraduate fellow at the Collegium Institute will be an opportunity to deepen his knowledge and interest in scholastic philosophy. He hopes to continue to develop his knowledge about the Christian faith. He also likes to learn new languages and play fencing.

Julia Fischer (C '24) is an undergraduate and Benjamin Franklin Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania from Northern Virginia, pursuing politics/law, philosophy, and Hispanic studies. Outside of class, Julia enjoys reading, writing, painting, playing piano, and exploring other cultures and perspectives. Julia was introduced to Collegium through its “Socrates on College” preceptorial and its “Food for Thought” modules her freshman year. Through her role as an undergraduate fellow, she looks forward to engaging more deeply in Collegium’s mission of pursuing truth through civil and thoughtful conversation.

Rachel Fischer (C ‘26) is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a double major in neuroscience and Hispanic studies. In her free time, Rachel enjoys exploring cultures through her cooking and also has a passion for reading, painting, and playing the piano. Rachel first became involved in Collegium her freshman year through its “Socrates on College” seminar and “Food for Thought” weekly discussions. As an Undergrad Fellow, she is excited to continue to spark her intellectual curiosity exploring the various programs Collegium has to offer while immersing herself in the values, community, and joys of this institution.

Isaac Gateno is a junior from Houston, Texas in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Although his major is currently undecided, he plans to study philosophy, political science, music, and Spanish. Above all, his interest is in exploring the deepest questions of existence. He is drawn to the philosophical enigmas of consciousness, cosmology, and purpose. Isaac came to Collegium in search of a community dedicated to discussing the pressing questions of our age.

Samuel J.C. Hatfield is an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences studying English. He is involved in the Collegium Institute and the Penn Catholic Newman Center and enjoys discussing theology and literature.

Sheila Hodges is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She plans on studying sociology and communications. Both fields will aid her in her goals of using journalism to foster empathy for marginalized and misunderstood groups. At Penn, Sheila is a West Philly Beat Reporter at the Daily Pennsylvanian and the Chair of the Intercultural Committee at the Penn Newman Catholic Center. Through this fellowship, Sheila hopes to learn more about her faith and continue to have eye-opening conversations with people from diverse backgrounds.

Sophie Horvath is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and is hoping to explore a major in either communications or political science. Hailing from DC, she is fascinated by politics and likes to dwell on the impact ideology, principle, and commitment to civil service have on governance and policy making. Having served as a chorister at the Washington National Cathedral for six years, she enjoys staying connected to spiritual life and hopes Collegium will present her an opportunity to do so. Through Collegium, she looks forward to enjoying fascinating speakers and engaging in lively debate with peers, all in the hope of being introduced to new ideas and perspectives with which she can contextualize the world around her.

Amy Liu is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a major in digital media design in Penn Engineering and a tentative minor in psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Upon arriving at Penn, Amy was introduced to Collegium through its NSO “Socrates on College” preceptorial and its “Food for Thought” modules. She values the institute for the insight its given her as a window into the endless possibilities at Penn. As she navigates her life here, she hopes to continue exploring the intricacies of the human psyche and challenging herself with new perspectives and new horizons, making use of such lessons at both Penn and beyond.

Raphael Renzo Martinez is a freshman from Sylmar, California intending to pursue a double major in philosophy and physics at the College of Arts and Sciences. Some of his research interests lie at the intersection of philosophy and science, but his other hobbies include chess, basketball and filmmaking. He intends to use the Collegium Institute to cultivate thoughts seeded in others’ perspectives.

Kayla Massick a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences from New York City. In addition to Collegium Institute programs, Kayla is involved in the Outdoors Club, Bloomers Comedy group, and Young Life Skeptics Dinners. Outside of Penn she is working on building a boat and putting her EMT training to use. She discovered Collegium through the “Socrates on College” preceptorial and has attended the “Food for Thought” modules and Friday coffeehouses ever since. She cannot wait to continue to explore and discuss the nuances of the world around us in future Collegium programming!

Jordan Ortiz is a proud New Jersey resident and a dedicated student of American history. He is also a member of the Penn Sprint Football team and has an incredible passion for community service and political discourse. Jordan was raised in a Jewish household and hopes to learn about the intersectionalities of not just Catholicism and modern philosophy, but other religions as well. His principle goal with Collegium is to understand the law to a deeper extent so that he may promote justice and socio-economic equity wherever he may find himself.

Tyler Ringhofer is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences from Orange County, California. He intends to pursue a major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and is passionate about the intersections between Business and Law. He thoroughly enjoys Collegium Institute’s “Food For Thought” discussions, which has opened up his mind to fascinating philosophical and religious topics. In his free time, you can find him on the basketball court perfecting his three-point shot as well as cheering on his favorite basketball team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Michael Ruggerio is originally from West Chester, PA and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School. He is currently a sophomore studying Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Justin Ruiz is a Senior at the University of Pennsylvania from New Hampshire studying Digital Media Design, a computer science major with a concentration in graphics. He hasassisted in leadership for the Penn Newman Center and Veritas Forum. In his spare time he enjoys creating various artistic works from writing to 3D modeling.

Miriam Shah is an Undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Comparative Literature, with a double minor in Philosophy and Jewish Studies. Growing up, her family spent a great deal of time in India, where her mother’s family operated a Christian Mission, Divya Shanthi, which they remain deeply devoted to. Her relationship with India and Christianity at the grassroots level has been fundamental to her formation psychically, intellectually, and spiritually. At Penn, she is deeply interested in the myriad ways in which religion, primarily the Judeo- Christian religion, continues to inform the public sphere and our daily lives in the West. She is particularly fascinated by the history—and future—of Judeo-Christian relations, and the comparison between Jewish philosophy, history, and mysticism vs. its Christian counterpart. She cherishes Collegium as a sanctuary for profound and engaging discussion that tethers itself strongly to a philosophy of action and encourages students to live outside the narrow framework of the zeitgeist.

Sophia Silva is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a double major in Multinational Management and Retailing. In her leisure time, she finds joy in playing golf, mostly in the friendships it fosters. Additionally, she has a passion for baking and cooking, with a special fondness for Mexican recipes passed down from my family. Sophia's journey with collegium began my freshman year, by engaging in 'Food for Thought' discussions and further deepened during the 'Catholic Humanism' seminar. Eager to immerse herself in the Intellectual Tradition of her Catholic Faith, she looks forward to the transformative experience this fellowship offers, anticipating that it will further enrich her personal and intellectual growth, building on the profound impact it has already had.

Emma is a senior studying Philosophy (C'24) and a Candidate for a Master of Bioethics (Perelman School of Medicine '24) from Newton, MA. At the Collegium, she has taken part in the Philosophy of Finance fellowship, the Catholic Humanism fellowship, and serves on the Executive Committee as Treasurer. Emma enjoys reading philosophy --specifically Catholic philosophy and the philosophy of science. Outside of the Collegium, she is a Writing Fellow at the Marks Family Center for Excellence in Writing, President of Penn Ballet, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Sigma Kappa, and the John Marshall Pre-law Honors Society.

Sydney Sun (C '24) is a University Scholar studying neuroscience and healthcare management at the University of Pennsylvania. She founded the Penn Epistle, the only Christian publication on campus, and revived the Veritas Forum at Penn, an organization dedicated to hosting discussions about different worldviews and asking life's most difficult questions. Sydney is involved in homeless outreach with the Newman Center and developmental psychology research. As an aspiring physician, Sydney was introduced to Collegium through the Medical Humanities Fellowship, which helped develop her interests in bioethics and health equity. She is excited to converse with other fellows, connect with professionals, and be edified by the conversations kindled at Collegium.

McKenna Sun is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying neuroscience. She was introduced to the Collegium Institute through her involvement at the Penn Newman Catholic Center. McKenna is interested in exploring further the meaning of Catholicism and hopes to learn more about the intersection between faith and reason. Outside of Collegium, she sings for Full Measure A Cappella and serves as a singer and organist for the St. Agatha-St. James parish.

Sofia Wawrzyniak (C'24) is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing International Relations and Computer Science, with a minor in East Asian studies. Her academic interests surround the intersection of technology and politics, with especial focus on the emerging field of cybersecurity and privacy law. First introduced to the Collegium Institute through spiritual life at Penn, she now hopes to engage in discussion surrounding the intellectual traditions of Catholicism.

Joseph Wilbur is a junior student from the suburbs of Philadelphia. He is currently studying Classical Languages & Literature in the College of Arts and Sciences. His interest in Collegium began when he attended Collegium’s NSO Preceptorial during his freshman year. Apart from Collegium, he is a varsity athlete on the Penn Lightweight Rowing team, and is also involved with Penn's Newman Center. Joseph appreciates the opportunity to engage in intellectual and theological dialogue related to the intersection of faith and reason through Collegium, particularly through the Food for Thought modules.

Alex Worrall

Zhangyang (Charlie) Xie is a junior in the college studying Africana Studies and Science, Technology, and Society. He has a variety of academic interests including but not limited to religion, race, sociology of science, and propaganda and censorship in non-democracies. His recent research focuses on how an intersection of race, economy, and politics influenced American denominations' perception of evolution circa 1920. In his spare time, Charlie likes to watch movies, sing, and cook.

Janice Yoon is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, prospectively majoring in History with an interest in Comparative Literature. Coming from Tokyo, Japan, she was delighted to find herself an intellectual home at the Collegium Institute. She is interested in the moral philosophy and the ethics of the legal system and in finding the intersection of the common good and the subjective. She has many big questions with very little answers at the moment, so she hopes to get closer to them by participating in various Collegium programs.

Alexander Chotai

Sophia Silva

Pierce Bruner

Katherine Beeson

Undergraduate Fellows

Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought & Culture

collegiuminstitute@gmail.com