Alisa Ghura

University of Pennsylvania

Alisa Ghura, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2023, came to Penn with the desire to make a positive difference. Through the Civic Scholars program, coordinated by the Civic House, Alisa began volunteering with HIAS Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia-based resettlement organization. This experience, coupled with coursework on urban inequities, motivated her to help create systemic change. Alisa joined Penn Leads the Vote (PLTV), a student-run, non-partisan program supported by the Netter Center for Community Partnerships that works to increase student voter engagement. She has led PLTV’s digital outreach, increasing their social media presence and working with external organizations to disseminate accurate voting information. In addition to making change on campus, Alisa has been actively engaged with the West Philadelphia community. Through the Netter Center’s Penn Program for Public Service summer internship, Alisa mentored high school students involved in a youth-powered nonprofit healthy food business. In the internship’s associated research seminar, she and two other interns proposed a program to supplement the writing instruction at a local underresourced high school, which they then implemented virtually during the academic year. In her short time at Penn thus far, Alisa has helped educate and empower students both on campus and in the local community.

Amy Gutmann
President
University of Pennsylvania

Personal Statement

Living in Philadelphia is one of the most vibrant aspects of my university experience, and I hope to give back to the Philadelphia community as much as it has given to me. For me this process has primarily manifested in my passion for education reform. In the summer after my first year of college, I worked with Philadelphia high schoolers while interning with the Penn Program for Public Service and learned about the disparities in education they face, particularly in writing. Writing is one of the most valuable skills in today’s society. It was shocking to me how few opportunities students have to improve their writing. In response, I along with two other students researched and designed a writing program which we now teach at a local high school and are working to expand. Throughout my time at Penn, in addition to working with high schoolers, I have enjoyed doing voter outreach with Penn Leads the Vote, volunteering with HIAS refugee resettlement agency, taking two academically based community service courses, and contemplating sustainable social impact with the Civic Scholars program and Netter Center Student Advisory Board.

Alisa Ghura
Urban Studies; Political Science: Class of 23-May
written 2021

2021 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

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Salma Yajaira Gómez Pineda, Universidad de Monterrey Daniel Khoshkepazi, University of Baltimore Mansi Seth, University of California Berkeley Emma Davis, University of Central Arkansas Victoria Orindas Corcino, University of Central Florida Sai Reddy, University of Cincinnati Areyana Janae-Andrea Proctor, University of Colorado Boulder Irene Soteriou, University of Connecticut Ryan Greensfelder, University of Dayton Nicole Kennedy, University of Delaware Jenny Truong, University of Denver Miguel Garcia, University of Houston-Downtown Courtney Washington, University of Illinois at Chicago Celena Zacchai, University of Maine at Augusta Brandon Reed, University Of Maine at Farmington Callie Jordan, University of Mary Washington Ayotomiwa Fashola, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Faith Davis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Gifty Kessie, University of Massachusetts Lowell Ian Malesiewski, University of Miami Isabella DeArmitt, University of Missouri-St. Louis Mia McKinney, University of Montana Allison Hrovat, University of Mount Union Vanessa Chavez Jurado, University of Nebraska at Omaha Lauren Martin, University of North Carolina Charlotte Justin Bray, University of North Georgia Jerrell Bates, University of Northern Iowa Caitlyn Cano, University of Notre Dame Anjali Mishra, University of Oregon Alisa Ghura, University of Pennsylvania Brianna Silva, University of Richmond Kapri Tulang-De Silva, University of San Diego Jada Curry, University of San Francisco Daniela Isaza, University of South Carolina Upstate Sophia Faacks, University of St. Thomas Hannah Beauchamp-Pope, University of Wisconsin Green Bay Beth Allen, University of Wisconsin-Madison Alisson Anguiano Salas, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Jessica Smith, University of Wisconsin-Superior
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