Office of Community-Based Learning Announces Student Fellows
The Office of Community-Based Learning (CBL) announces their second cohort of the CBL Student Fellows Program. CBL is an academic experience that involves students working with community partners – individuals, groups, and local organizations – in ways that meet community-defined needs. The Student Fellowship Program aims to foster the professional and personal growth of students who are pursuing a CBL project alongside a faculty mentor. Projects focus on a plethora of areas and interests, including revitalization of the West Scranton neighborhood, promoting care and comfort to hospice patients, workforce equity with immigrants, accessible legal resources for victims of sexual assault, and helping expectant mothers gain crucial resources. All projects are in collaboration with community partners and aim to improve or expand the services they provide. The fellowship program will run throughout the fall semester.
The Fall 2026 CBL Student Fellows are listed below, including their involvements and a description of each intended project.
Yorgelis Bautista ‘26:
Yorgelis Bautista ‘26 is a senior from Philadelphia in the College of Arts and Sciences studying criminal justice and political science. She brings a unique approach to the program, providing fresh perspectives and the ability to adapt progressive organizing to traditional frameworks. Yorgelis aims to develop creative solutions to engage diverse communities in social change and drive civic participation. Her project, Work Without Walls: Advancing Workforce Equity for Immigrants, aims to identify key barriers to achieving full potential in the workforce while proposing practical and community-driven concepts for change. This project encompasses qualitative research interventions to assess the current status of workforce development in the Scranton area. Potential impacts of Yorgelis’ work include building a more inclusive and equitable workforce in the area for immigrant populations while integrating such individuals into the community. Bridging the gap between immigrant workers and the local labor market brings Yorgelis’ project to the forefront of efforts to promote equity and inclusion in employment.
Nora Flannery ‘27:
Nora Flannery ‘27 is a junior from Scranton, in the College of Arts and Sciences. She has majors in both physiology and philosophy as well as minors in Biochemistry and Theology/Religious Studies. Along with her academic studies, she is in the Faculty Student Research Program, the University Honors Program, and is involved in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA) on campus. A West Scranton native herself, Nora is teaming up with NeighborWorks NEPA to revitalize the community. Through empirical research, her project titled "Together in West Scranton: Research for Renewal," aims to support the initiation and growth of programs within the community. Nora’s main goal is to renew the once “tight-knit” community to what it once was. Nora aims to work on these programs with the help of West Scranton residents themselves, through surveys and personal interactions, to gather their views on the community. Grounded in her strong academic background and commitment to service, Nora hopes to help West Scranton flourish for generations to come.
Sofia Mastellone ‘26:
Sofia Mastellone ‘26 is a senior from Wayne, New Jersey, in the College of Arts and Sciences. She has a major in Psychology and minors in both philosophy and business leadership. Along with her academic studies, she is involved in the Business Leadership Honors Program (BLDR), Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA), and the Faculty Student Research Program. Throughout Project Create and Care, Sofia is teaming up with Hospice of the Sacred Heart to create a space of warmth and connectivity in both the in-patient unit and at home. In an effort to support loved ones and caretakers, Sofia plans to implement themes of positivity throughout the floor while utilizing bulletin boards, interactive activities, and positive messages to make the environment more encouraging. Her utilization of motivating interventions and environmental refurbishment links empathy and meaningful human connection to a vulnerable population. Through her work, Sofia will foster an environment where compassion and comfort ensure every individual is supported during life’s most challenging moments.
Gabriella Palmer ‘26:
Gabriella Palmer ‘26 is a senior from Phoenixville, in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a triple major of English, Theater, and Philosophy with a Legal Studies Concentration. Along with her academic endeavors, she is a Slattery Center Fellow, a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA), and a member of the Faculty Student Research Program. Through Gabriella’s previous research on theatrical techniques used by litigators in courtrooms, she began to question justice in our society. Birthed from this inquiry, Gabriella wrote and staged a play that explored both her research findings and personal philosophical tension. Through her work on this play, she connected with a diverse population that encompasses all members of society: victims of sexual assault. Many of her connections disclosed their assaults were unreported for a plethora of reasons, including confusion and intimidation of the legal system. Gabriella now aims to improve student awareness and connectivity to legal aid and resources. For her project, she will collaborate with a multitude of different legal institutions to develop an interactive platform that will help students understand their rights and connect them to legal support and resources. This initiative aims to empower students with knowledge and resources needed to navigate the legal system with confidence and clarity.
Melissa Schweizer ‘26:
Melissa Schweizer ‘26 is a senior nursing student from Sparta, New Jersey in the Leahy College of Health Sciences. Along with her rigorous major, she also holds University Honors. Melissa aims to resuscitate a previously run program, Nurses2Newborns, which focused on aiding expecting parents and women facing health disparities in our communities. Through this project, she would provide these populations with donations such as clothes, food, sanitary items, and other needed materials for babies. Melissa aims to help people in the local community who face various social dilemmas feel supported during a critical point in their lives. By addressing basic needs, this program can alleviate some of the stress new parents encounter, while also encouraging healthier outcomes for both mothers and infants. Melissa bridges the gap between healthcare and community support, embodying Jesuit values of service, commitment, and empathy while promoting human dignity.
The Office of Community-Based Learning is excited to see how these programs develop, and to see the impact that they will have on the Scranton community. For more information on CBL at the University visit www.scranton.edu/cbl .
