Natalie is an aspiring Political Sciences and Urban Studies double major in the College of Arts and Sciences. Originally from the sunny and quaint city of La Quinta, CA, she enjoys the view of the mountains and palm trees. Although she misses the view, she is looking forward to spending the next few years looking over the Philadelphia skyline.
At Penn, Natalie is involved in the First-Gen, Low-Income Dean’s Advisory Board, the Ben Franklin Scholar Program, Mujeres Empoderadas, Penn Democrats, Penn Mock Trial, Kite and Key, La Vida Magazine, Marina Orth Tutoring Program, Penn for Immigrant Rights, and M.E.Ch.A. As a result, she is busy attending events and spending time with friends.
Natalie applied for the SNF Paideia Fellows Program because the knowledge, skills, and experiences that come from participation will enable her to lead with empathy, ethics, and effectiveness. She has come to know a few SNF Paideia Fellows and has been impressed by their commitment to comprehending and advocating for modern issues to be both motivating and congruent with her own. Additionally, the program’s emphasis on personal growth and development is just what she needs to take ownership of her education and put her thoughts into practice. Furthermore, engaging with a diverse community of scholars will broaden her perspective and challenger her assumptions, within a supportive network of individuals passionate about creating positive change, providing a foundation for growth and development of her identity as a citizen of the world.
Natalie has had a small taste of the SNF Paideia Program through the course “American Race: A Philadelphia Story.” She finds the content beneficial as she begins to navigate the classrooms and global community. For example, she will be traveling to Mongolia in May through Penn. During her time abroad she will study the relationship between human migration and climate change. As a SNF Paideia Fellow, she will be able to approach this challenging situation in Mongolia — and many to come — through an optimistic lens and have an awareness of potential multicultural issues.