The Brueggeman Center for Dialogue

Past Fellows

To date, the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue has sent more than 120 Xavier students to more than 60 different countries. 

Each year's cohort is chosen from all four of Xavier's colleges. In addition to an intensive year of research on their individual projects, the Fellows participate in an interdisciplinary learning community with all the other Fellows. The Fellows and their faculty mentors all become each other's teachers.

The program is high risk and high reward---our Fellows often travel to some of the most challenging places on Earth. The Winter-Cohen Fellows program offers intellectual, moral, and spiritual self-discovery and growth that will have a lifelong impact on the lives of the Fellows.

Below, is a list of Fellows that dates from 2004-2005, when the program began, to the present day:

 

2023-2024 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Alyssa Blandford Belgium, Germany Influences on Youth Voter Turnout and Political Participation 
Abigail Diehl France, Spain The Role of Religion in the Formation of Nation-States and National Identity
Mia Karlsson Australia The Impact of Independence and Other Factors in Australia and America on Modern Healthcare
Reagan Oliver Belgium Juvenile Justice: A Legal and Psychological Comparison
Sophia Olivia Belgium, Sweden Public Policy for Early Childhood Education and Care
Isha Patel India Cultural Influences on Business Formation: An Exploration of Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth
Raquelia Ramlogan Italy The Exploration of Luthiers
Sophia Willis South Korea Traditional Korean Medicine and its Impact on the Global Phenomenon of Modern Korean Skincare

 

2022-2023 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Chris LaRue Ireland, Scotland Drawing from Practices and Symbol Systems in Celtic Christianity for Spiritual Formation
Alisha Yerovi Ecuador Theological Approaches to Insect Biodiversity
Mercedes Torres Mexico Integrating Storytelling as a Tool for Community Building and Healing
Regina Rancourt Austria The Influence of Female Composers (ca. 1600-1800)

 

2021-2022 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Courtney Mueller Germany, England Comparison of Emergency Management Methods with an Emphasis on Preparedness
Clare Burke Ravizza Scotland Community-Building and Food Justice Coalitions in the Fight Against Climate Change
Eli Lanham Hungary Origins and Use of the Kodaly Method of Music Education
Sophie Boulter Ireland Europhiles: Examining Irish Support of the European Union

 

2020-2021 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Annalise Frenette Brazil The Ideal Navigational Lock
Anela Kinkade Norway The Relationship Between Cultural Environments and Special Education Programs
Sarah Ray Liberia, Malawi, Togo The Effect of Poverty on Healthy Equity in Vulnerable Communities
Gabriella Scolio Mexico Regenerative Agricultural Practices
Dr. K. Nicholas Yoda Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland The Opiate of the People: Hope in a World without God

 

2019-2020 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Grayson Walker Nepal, China Uneven Development in the Periphery
Grant Baker Central Europe The Socioeconomics of Central Europe: An Applied Approach to Re-Integrating the Korean Peninsula
Kinzie Baker Guatemala Enhancing Community Health Outcomes in Guatemala
Ayarri Moore Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia Opportunity Gap of Black Students: A Comparison of American and African Education
Sofia Ordonez Portugal, France, Italy Literature as Consciousness, Consciousness as Literature
Melissa Quinones Cuba Ecotourism in Costal Areas
Mary Schoen Nepal The Power of Mindfulness
Britany Wells Nepal Cultural, Structural, Financial Variations in Comparison to the United States

 

2018-2019 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Alexander Browne Singapore, Indonesia, India Ethnographic Study of Punjab through Music and Food
Hannah Cariati Egypt Gender Equality in the Middle East
Rhea Elcock Japan, Singapore How the Language of Mathematics is Taught in Other Countries
Brianna Ledsome Morocco What Does Development of a Historically Impoverished Nation Look Like in the Age of Globalism: A Look at Poverty in Moroccan Cities
Msendoo Victoria Mbachilin Nigeria Preventative Care in Underdeveloped Countries
Anjali Nelson Puerto Rico and Flint, Michigan The Effects of Contaminated Water on Public Health and Community

 

2017-2018 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Amber Minefee South Africa Creating Opportunity by Globalizing Psychological Care
Benmun Damul Nigeria Social Entrepreneurship
Elijah Bedel Northern Ireland The Scots-Irish Heritage of Appalachian Old-Time Music
Heather Hotlosz Cuba The Growth and Impact of Entrepreneurship in Cuba
Leo Peyronnin Spain Past, Present, Future: Cities, Capitalism, and Sustainability
Shazia Malik Germany Access to Emergency Healthcare
Shelby Lauter England Paris Climate Agreement: Are we Doing Enough for the Environment?
Thomas Rooney Australia Effects of Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure Utilization

 

2016-2017 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Emma Allen Australia, Sweden Contemplating Peace and Transforming Education Through the Montessori and Permaculture Philosophies
Maggie Burlingame Sweden Renewable Energy Practices and Integration
Sylvia Chemweno Kenya Improving Maternal-Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa
Frank Geiser Tibet, Switzerland, India Modern Monasticism
Charles Gonzalez Spain, Netherlands Sustainable Urbanism
Ashley Hardee London, England Finding a Cure for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Michael McGrath Cuba Understanding the Role of the Catholic Church within a Communist State
Chloe Peyton Hong Kong, China A Comparative Analysis Between China and Hong Kong
Taylor Zachary South Africa Re-imagining the Poor People's Campaign in the Era of Black Live 

 

2015-2016 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Rachel Fletcher Australia Sustainable Alternatives: Brassica Biofumigation
Daniel Newman Nepal, Indonesia Species Conservation and the Role fo Socioeconomic and Cultural Context
Anna Harty Uganda The Role of Women in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
Sarah Ochieng Nairobi
Abigail Maristela Australia Current and Impending Fate of Environmental Refuges's in the Pacific Islands
Alison Trianfo Columbia Understanding Sex Trafficking and Gender-Violence in Medellin, Columbia

 

2014-2015 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Haley Beavers Costa Rica Comprehensive Study of Costa Rican Healthcare: How a Universal Healthcare System Affects Patient-Physician Relationships
Dalton Imwalle Brazil Economic Sustainability and Inequality
Tess Petrozzi New Zealand Adapting to Sociocultural and Economic Disparities 
Emily Boutilier US National Parks Art in the National Parks
Jacob Khoury Peru Evolutionary Medicine: How History Can Affect our Health
Tyler Sauerbeck Chile Social Shifts Towards Conservation via Patagonia sin Represas Movement
Amanda Burns Ireland Sustainability Development in Europe
Erin King Italy The Global Cittaslow (Slow City) Movement

 

2013-2014 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Kayla Boehner Africa Healthcare in Developing African Countries
Spencer Liechty Morocco, Jordan, Turkey Islam and Democracy
Rebecca Seipel France, Africa Refugee Resettlement
Maggie Cooley India How Social Determinants Affect Overall Healthcare in Slum Cities
Andrew Matsushita New Orleans, New York City, Fukushima Human Resiliency
Rachel Snodgrass England Occupational Deprivation in Prisons
Genevieve Hager Switzerland Comparison of Healthcare Models in the US and Switzerland
Kevin Perkins West Africa EcoHealth in West Africa

 

2012-2013 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Tim Holliday Washington (USA) Interview the Klallam People of Various Generations and Levels of "Global Assimilation"
Martia Rivir
Grace Badik Central and Eastern Europe Study of Community Organizing in Slovakia
Josephine Lando Rwanda

Rebuilding of the Lives of Women Through Business Education

Kelly Schmidt Eastern Europe Ethnocentrism and Decimation Toward Ethnic Groups
Meaghan Clark Kenya, Senegal Comparative Study: The Incorporation of Homeopathic Traditional Medicine with Modern Medicine
Ryan Lavalley Guatemala, Nicaragua The Influences of Cultural Differences within Therapeutic Techniques
Christine Ulrich South Africa The Normalization of Children
Abby Anderson Spain, France, Italy Following the Footsteps of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a Co-founder of the Jesuit Order

 

2011-2012 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Adam Clark Costa Rica Moden Development Success Story of Costa Rica.
Rachel Joray Spain Pilgrimage as a Platform for Interreligious Dialogue.
Laura Wallace Costa Rica Persuasive Power of the Green Movement in Costa Rica.
Natalie Clark Nepal Meditative and Photographic Perspective in Nepal.
Katie Cooper Nairobi, Kenya Creating Self-Sustained Countries: The Underprivileged Youth of the World
Anna Robertson El Salvador Historical Memory-Aspect of Restorative Justice, Aguacatal, Morazan El Salvador
Katie Scheidler Guatemala Children's Public Health and Waterborne Illness: Patantic Guatemala

 

2010-2011 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Ashley Patrick Uganda The Climate of Human Rights in Uganda
Graham Wesley US-Mexico Border How Consumption Practices Create Conditions for teh Maquiladoras
Daniel Parsely Ghana, West Africa Music in a Globalizing Ghana
Susan Lloyd Iceland Renewable Energy Technology Initiatives in Iceland
Abigail King Germany Street Art as a Canvas for Democracy
Esther Cleary Brazil

The Practice of Natural Capitalism and Social Effects of Sustainability in Curitiba, Brazil

Shane Hughes Canada (Yukon Territory) Cultural Preservation in the Canadian Yukon
Kyle Benzinger Thailand How Theravada Buddhism Influences Thailand's Economic Development

 

2009-2010 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Margaret Weidner India A Comparative Analysis of Water Management Strategies in the Indian Himalayas
Brett Sutton Brazil Legacies of Slavery: Afro-Brazilian Culture in Brazil
Elisabeth Patterson Columbia Refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples
Alyssa Konermann Spain Political Culture and Music
Kira Hinkle Kenya, Tanzania Developing Global Student-to-Student Curriculum for Montessori Schools
Ann Fiegen Peru New Approaches to Infectious Disease Control
Ashley Bonnell Egypt, Jordan Iraq War Refugees

 

2008-2009 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Pete Telaroli Mexico Agribusiness in Mexico
Rachel Stoney Kenya Elementary Education in Nairobi, Kenya
Michael Westendorp Turkey Christianity in Turkey
Krista Kutz Italy, Nicaragua How the Catholic Church's Teaching on Artivicial Contraception Affects HIV/AIDs
Jordan Meehan China, India, Nepal Culture and Politics of Tibet, Nepal, and India
Jennifer Sands Guatemala Fair Trade Coffee
Brenda Ratemo Kenya Healthcare 
Bianca Callejas South Africa Politics and Culture of South Africa: The Community Experience

 

2007-2008 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Mary Kate Ansboro Costa Rica Tropical Biodiversity and International Conversion
Katy Baldwin Nepal Maoist Insurgency in Nepal and Resulting in 10-year War
Brian Cantwell China China's Political and Economic Issues as a Global Power
Kate Holley Ghana Women's Roles in Community Development in Ghana
Jennifer Harmann Kenya Education and Empowerment of Women in Kenya
Brett Simmons Tanzania Microcredit in Africa
Deborah Westman Gambia Comparing Clinical Science in US to Gambia
Nazly Mamendova Iran, Azerbaijan Middle Eastern Politics and Culture

 

2006-2007 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Kathleen Margaret Cole Kenya Education for students in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
Briana Hansen Italy, Germany Public Sqare and Politics/Culture
Kristin Horstman Kenya High School Aids Orphas in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
Michael Loban Israel Interreligious Dialogue Between Christians and Jews
Brandon Sipes Ireland, Czech Republic, France Active Role Religions are Taking Post-Conflict
Julia Nell Alexander Kenya, Egypt Women's Issues
Christian Michael Lowry Germany, Turkey Socio-political Religious Consequences of Muslim Integration into Western Europe
Keyur Parikh India Healthcare, Hospitals, Physicians
Steve Plachinski Indonesia Interreligious Dialogue in Yogakarta: Academic and Experiential Experience
Jasper Tolarba did not travel

Healthcare

 

2005-2006 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Matt Bigelow Argentina German immigration to Argentina before WWII.
Kevin Fitzgerald Switzerland The World Bank, specifically related to Ecuador. 
Natalie Fair-Albright
Kateri Kosta Thailand Sex and Gender Diversity
Sarah Scheibe Haiti Politics and Culture of Community

 

2004-2005 Academic Year

Name Countries Visited Project
Mary Anne Bressler did not travel
Kevin Fitzgerald did not travel
Michale Gravelle did not travel
Bill Schwarz did not travel
Clare Herlihy did not travel