Contact Us
Contact:
Amanda Harrison
Assistant Director, Honors and Scholars Programs
Anderson Hall, Room 106 on a map
DC Community Impact Scholars 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesCBRS Ambassadors
Nicole Barnes ('19)

Major: Biochemistry & Psychology
Email: nb2141a@american.edu
Jason Breeding (‘19)

Gabriella Folsom (‘20)

Ariel Gomez (‘19)

Alyssa Harvie (‘19)

Major: International Studies/French
Email: alyssa.harvie@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: I think the philosophy behind community-based research has really impacted my life and the way I see research and service. Even though I love everything else about CBRS, I know that new way of seeing things will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Katie Kerekes (‘20)

Hometown: Pittsford, NY
Major: International Studies/History
Email: kk4909a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: Although it is extremely difficult to pick one, I would say that my favorite part of CBRS has been putting into practice what we have learned in the classroom. After spending time learning about homelessness in DC and research ethics, we now actually get to implement these ideas in our project with Thrive DC.
Marissa Leonard (‘20)

Hometown: Wexford, PA
Major: International Studies; Minors: Arabic, Religion
Email: ml1839b@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: I love the living-learning community.
Graciela Lopez (‘20)

Hometown: Floral Park, New York (Long Island)
Major: Justice & Law and Political Science
Email: gl7405a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: My favorite thing is definitely conducting research. Working with Thrive DC and actually conducting interviews with people experiencing homelessness has taught me real-life skills. I feel confident about my purpose as a researcher and feel even better knowing that I am doing hands-on work to help Thrive DC. I never conducted research before, so the program has allowed me to grow in that area. I have a great passion for community-based research and I hope to continue with the program for as long as I am here at AU.
Maya Pollack (‘20)

Hometown: Monterey, CA
Major: International Studies
Email: mp2513a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: My favorite thing about CBRS is the confidence and responsibility that is automatically given to you. Just a couple weeks after coming to AU, you are already working with an organization that truly needs your help and you are learning about how to create a research project! Those are two things that first semester freshmen do not normally get to do. After just the first semester, I was able to present my own research project to a group of judges down on Capitol Hill, and was able to say that I am an important asset to the organization that I am working with.
Katie Ruff (‘20)

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Major: International Relations and Economics
Email: kr8099a@student.american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: Picking just one is hard: I think I am between two things. I both love the community sense I have with my peers and don't know any other LLC that has the close sense of community that ours does. I also love the fact that it encouraged me to get involved in a city that is far from home, and has a number of resources available when becoming involved with the community.
Catharine Bitner ('20)

Alyson Chocianowski (‘20)

Nate Glass (‘18)

Saagar Gupta (‘18)

Major: MPA/CLEG
Email: sg7384a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: It's a very rare opportunity to get purposeful research experience early on in college. You get to do something meaningful with it by working with nonprofits. It’s a great program that's constantly improving. The community you build with the friends on your floor will always have a strong bond.
Allison Johntry (‘20)

Major: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Email: aj6908a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: My favorite thing about CBRS is learning about what meaningful service is, and being able to put it into action. This program has truly changed my perspective about service and it has allowed me to do meaningful service with people who share that passion with me.
Evelyn Krippner (‘20)

Hometown: Kinnelon, NJ
Major: Elementary Education
Email: ek3113a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: I love going to my community partner. Tutoring at LSF is the absolute highlight of my week. I adore my student, and I have learned so much from her constant inquisition and stubbornness. Somehow, waking up early on a Saturday morning has become what I look forward to most, and I am just so grateful.
Andrew Litzenberg (‘19)

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Major: Philosophy
Email: al8065a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: The sense of community one can find in CBRS has always been appealing to me. Living with other CBR scholars helped with my transition to college, and has provided lasting friendships.
Brandan Persaud (‘19)

Hometown: Long Island, NY
Major: CLEG
Email: bp2659a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS? My favorite thing about CBRS is the people! Whether it be students or program staff, everyone supports one another. There is a huge sense of community from the beginning and it is super helpful to know there is a whole support system wherever you go at AU.
Estevan Reta ('20)

Hometown: El Paso, TX
Major: International Studies
Email: er0569a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: I enjoy being able to learn about a community that I've never experienced before and being able to help in any way possible. I find that with CBRS I am able to do these things and create long lasting relationships with the individuals I help.
Julia Snegg (‘19)

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Major: Public Health/Spanish
Email: julia.snegg@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: My favorite thing about CBRS is the tools that it has given me to work in the nonprofit sector. I have learned how to effectively collaborate with community leaders while simultaneously producing a successful research project. In my other classes at AU I have learned that I now have a leg-up due to the skills that I have developed through the program.
Alyson Woolley (‘20)

Hometown: Portland, OR
Major: International Studies/Spanish
Email: aw5132a@american.edu
What is your favorite thing about CBRS?: My favorite part of CBRS is definitely the community aspect of the program. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to live on Hughes 3 with my CBRS peers. My experience at AU would be nothing without the strong friendships I've made along the way which have all been a result of my living community. I also really enjoy the volunteering I do through CBRS at The Family Place.