Student SpotLight

Meet Julian Aparicio-Gomez: Disability advocate and friend to all

Meet Julian Aparicio-Gomez: Disability advocate and friend to all

​Teaser​ here.

Meet Kellen Brown: Student leader, 2022 Lincoln Laureate

Meet Kellen Brown: Student leader, 2022 Lincoln Laureate

When Kellen ​Brown isn’t engaged in ROTC activities, he advocates for sustainability and student safety, and he serves as a student voice within various DePaul spaces to improve both.

Meet Emily Hurtarte: Leader, friend, voice within the Office of Multicultural Student Success

Meet Emily Hurtarte: Leader, friend, voice within the Office of Multicultural Student Success

As a queer, biracial, first-generation student, Emily Hurtarte knows how difficult it can be to find a sense of belonging. A senior neuroscience major and community service minor, Hurtarte struggled with her identity and building community at DePaul, until she found the Office of Multicultural Student Success. Now Hurtarte works to support other students in similar situations in a variety of ways.

Meet the COVID-19 Prevention and Response team helping keep the community safe

Meet the COVID-19 Prevention and Response team helping keep the community safe

“Take Care DePaul" is become a common phrase heard around campus​, however for some staff and students, it became the driving force behind their daily work. Learn more about DePaul's free-of-charge on-campus COVID-19 testing program and the work that went into making the program all happen. 

Meet Jakob Deszcz: Leading DePaul's Habitat for Humanity efforts

Meet Jakob Deszcz: Leading DePaul's Habitat for Humanity efforts

Jakob Deszcz, president of DePaul’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, created a park bench made entirely out of recycled plastic bags. Next month, the university will install the bench on the Lincoln Par​k Campus Quad. 

Meet Rudy Rodriguez: An aspiring teacher with an 'ACE' up his sleeve

Meet Rudy Rodriguez: An aspiring teacher with an 'ACE' up his sleeve

​​​Rudy Rodriguez, a sophomore majoring in elementary education and minoring in special education, has one goal in mind – to become the kind... read more

Meet Ankit Pal: DePaul Activities Board President and Lincoln Laureate

Meet Ankit Pal: DePaul Activities Board President and Lincoln Laureate

​The Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award honors leadership and service in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity. This year, the organization bestowed that honor upon Ankit Pal, a senior health science major and president of the DePaul Activities Board.

Meet Kennedy Cadichon: Here, she does ... a lot!

Meet Kennedy Cadichon: Here, she does ... a lot!

​​In addition to classes, participation in clubs, events and research opportunities can be an important part of a DePaul student's experience on campus. Students like Kennedy Cadichon perfectly demonstrate just how much a Blue Demon can do.​

Meet Hayden Pfeifer: Forward-thinking, friendly face welcoming first-years

Meet Hayden Pfeifer: Forward-thinking, friendly face welcoming first-years

​For new college students, meeting people and establishing friendships often is a priority. However, it can also be a daunting task. Luckily as students enter DePaul, they have seasoned peers whose job it is to be a friendly face and early resource, including Hayden Pfeifer in the Office of New Student and Family Engagement.

Meet Nicole Sladkov: Olympic athlete springing into fall quarter

Meet Nicole Sladkov: Olympic athlete springing into fall quarter

​Nicole Sladkov, a junior at DePaul majoring in business administration, has proven hard work and dedication can make those Olympic dreams come true. After years of focused effort, she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Meet Mari Oliver: Finding her purpose through Emmett Till Scholarship

Meet Mari Oliver: Finding her purpose through Emmett Till Scholarship

Becoming the inaugural recipient of this scholarshi​p deepened Oliver's connection to her family's history, and it revitalized her desire to become a lawyer.

Meet Joel Gonzalez: Decorated student veteran paving a path to college success

Meet Joel Gonzalez: Decorated student veteran paving a path to college success

​While some students attend college right after high school, there are others who take a different path. Joel Gonzalez, an undergraduate student pursuing a major in business administration, decided to join the military before attending college. After eight years of success in the military, Gonzalez used his experience to apply and get accepted into DePaul University. ​

Meet the animation student dedicated to acting in service

Meet the animation student dedicated to acting in service

​The first priority in “Grounded in Mission: The Plan for DePaul 2024," is to deepen our commitment to DePaul's Catholic, Vincentian, and urban mission. Tam Ta, a third-year student pursuing a BFA in animation with a concentration in storyboarding and character design, embraces this mission each day by acting in service of others.

Political science student passes perseverance, mentorship on to next generation

Political science student passes perseverance, mentorship on to next generation

​Robert Dietterick, a senior ​political science major, credits a faculty mentor and his life-long love of education for his success at DePaul. As he rounds out his time as an undergraduate, Dietterick is making plans to pass his perseverance and political knowledge on to the next generation.​

Meet Camila Cortez: McNair Scholar and tree conservationist

Meet Camila Cortez: McNair Scholar and tree conservationist

​Many college students worry about choosing a major when they start their undergraduate career. Camila Cortez, a senior studying environmental Science and McNair Scholar, had the same worries as a freshman. Although the challenge of finding a field of study she loves once haunted her, she now reflects back on her exploration of different fields fondly.​

Meet Dilpreet Kaur: Member of DePaul's first Generation Success cohort

Meet Dilpreet Kaur: Member of DePaul's first Generation Success cohort

DeP​aul's Dilpreet Kaur is a junior majoring in political science with a minor in sociology and member of the university's inaugural Generation Success program cohort.

Increasing the Numbers: Latinx scholar awarded Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Increasing the Numbers: Latinx scholar awarded Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Community psychology doctoral student Lidia Monjaras-Gaytan recently received word that she is an awardee of a three-year prestigious Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship.

College of Law grad focuses on homelessness, social justice

College of Law grad focuses on homelessness, social justice

​During Ezra Lintner's studies at the College of Law, they advocated for the legal rights of people experiencing homelessness and increased awareness of social justice issues among classmates.

Meet Christine Augustin and Claire Newby: Peer Health Educators caring for the campus community

Meet Christine Augustin and Claire Newby: Peer Health Educators caring for the campus community

​As peer health educators on DePaul's the Health Education Action Team, Christine Augustin and Claire Newby strive to care for the well-being of their Blue Demon peers.

Meet Lily Voyles: World traveler and advocate for students with disabilities

Meet Lily Voyles: World traveler and advocate for students with disabilities

​Lily Voyles, a senior communication major with intercultural communication and hospitality minors, is no average DePaul student. Aside from keeping up with her rigorous school work, Voyles also finds time to volunteer regularly in the Chicagoland area, has visited 18 different countries, and helps organize, coordinate and plan events for the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society for students with disabilities. Nothing stands in the way of Voyles and her pursuits, especially not her learning disabilities.​

Meet Caprice Morales: Community advocate and learner of the year

Meet Caprice Morales: Community advocate and learner of the year

​Caprice ​Morales, a student in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, received the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning’s Learner of the Year Award.

Meet Cristian Corona: NSF researcher and future conservationist

Meet Cristian Corona: NSF researcher and future conservationist

Cristian Corona has always been passionate about conducting research. A National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates project is giving him the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field, studying forest ecology in northern Wisconsin. He will present his findings at DePaul's Undergraduate STEM Research Showcase on Nov. 8.

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month at DePaul

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month at DePaul

​Latinx Heritage Month is a time to recognize and honor people of Latinx heritage, their stories and their contributions to society. Juniors Georgina Quintana, Robbie Merkel and Jessica Camacho, and senior Scarlett Magana are Latinx students at DePaul, each engaged with the Latinx Cultural Center and their Latinidad in different ways. ​

Meet Ben Raanan: Adapting theatre for differently-abled persons

Meet Ben Raanan: Adapting theatre for differently-abled persons

​The struggle for recognition, acceptance and support resonates with people around the world. Issues involving stigmas and minority groups are being tackled in unprecedented ways. Ben Raanan, a graduate student in The Theatre School pursuing an MFA in directing and 2019 Newman Civic Fellow​, has joined the fight and is challenging the traditional setting of a theatre by adapting it to accommodate differently-abled persons.

Meet the undergraduate researchers examining sounds of nature in Chicago

Meet the undergraduate researchers examining sounds of nature in Chicago

​Living in a city, one becomes easily accustomed to the constant noise generated by humans and their daily activities. Think of the noise from transit alone: horns blaring, engines humming and trains running. It begs the question, does the noise in a cityscape ever stop? Can we experience silence and the sounds of nature, uninterrupted by human noise in an urban environment? Liam Heneghan, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Studies and his undergraduate research assistants set out during winter quarter to find out. 

Meet Kyle Decker: Track athlete and future doctor

Meet Kyle Decker: Track athlete and future doctor

​Throughout their collegiate careers, student athletes are taught to balance academics with athletics in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get the most out of their college experience. Kyle Decker, a track athlete majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, has managed to achieve this balance and be successful in both areas, while also maintaining a healthy social life and paying attention to self-care. ​

Meet Viviana Favela: Promoting multicultural student life on campus

Meet Viviana Favela: Promoting multicultural student life on campus

​Viviana Favela began her journey at DePaul almost two years ago in the fall of 2017. Now a sophomore, Favela is as busy as it gets with her dedicated involvement in Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and the Latinx Cultural Center, along with her major in art media & design and a minor in marketing.​

Meet Jenna Rummelhart: Using communication tools for social justice work

Meet Jenna Rummelhart: Using communication tools for social justice work

​A senior communications coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and student in the master’s of science in marketing program, Jenna Rummelhart came to DePaul with a drive to make a difference. After securing a scholarship through her position at the Archdiocese, DePaul’s graduate business program quickly caught her eye. ​

Meet Michael Slaughter: U.S. marine and artist

Meet Michael Slaughter: U.S. marine and artist

Michael C. Slaughter, a Marine for 34 years and current DePaul student in the School for New Learning, is using art as a medium to reshape how we support our veterans. With DePaul’s support and his own experiences reintegrating into society following a long military career and multiple deployments, Slaughter is shedding light on what is often our nation’s misunderstanding of those who risk their lives so we can live ours.​ Read on to learn how he advocates for veterans through art as well as his many other efforts.

Meet Willord Simmons: Advocating for music education in prisons

Meet Willord Simmons: Advocating for music education in prisons

​During the summer of 2018, ​McNair Scholar and School of Music student Willord Simmons spent time researching music education programs in prison systems. Read on to learn how his research influenced him to make an argument against traditional music education in prisons, and substituting instead methods that could be more beneficial for incarcerated individuals. ​

Meet Baylee Ritter: Communicating the importance of environmental issues

Meet Baylee Ritter: Communicating the importance of environmental issues

​Now a senior at DePaul, Baylee Ritter's goal in life is to use her education to translate environmental concerns and scientific data, and create campaigns that allow the average person to create change in their own life. ​Read on to learn about her most recent campaign, which entailed building a boat made from garbage and sailing it down a river in Central Illinois.

Meet Nate Gutierrez: Helping new students transition to college life

Meet Nate Gutierrez: Helping new students transition to college life

​Volunteer work is at the core of DePaul's Vincentian mission, and senior Nate Gutierrez has embraced this by volunteering to help new students move into their residence halls on move-in day. In doing so, he offers much more than simply helping bring a few items upstairs: he plays an integral part in helping new students transition to life at college.​

Meet Kelly Cunningham: Triple major and university honors program star

Meet Kelly Cunningham: Triple major and university honors program star

​Initially added on as a minor to her double-major during her senior year, philosophy quickly became Kelly Cunningham's passion. As she prepares to graduate on June 9 with a triple major in Chinese, English and philosophy and a 3.975 GPA out of the University Honors Program, Cunningham is looking ahead to a graduate degree after taking a year off. Read on to learn more about this impressive, but quite humble, Blue Demon.​

Meet Robert Riekhof: Member of the USA world rowing university team

Meet Robert Riekhof: Member of the USA world rowing university team

​Having never rowed before college, a chance encounter with a member of the men's rowing club at the Involvement Fair during Robert Riekhof's freshman year changed the course of his college life and potentially beyond. Now a senior in DePaul's men's rowing club, Riekhof is preparing to race for the USA World Rowing University Team this August in Shanghai.​

Meet Stevie Rodriguez: Advocate for sexual and relationship violence awareness

Meet Stevie Rodriguez: Advocate for sexual and relationship violence awareness

​Almost two years into studying health sciences and public health, Stevie Rodriguez believes she has found her path by combining her passion for science and her love for helping people. Rodriguez became a peer health educator in the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness at the beginning of her junior year, and now helps coordinate events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.​

Meet Matthew Verive: Student liturgy coordinator and future information security analyst

Meet Matthew Verive: Student liturgy coordinator and future information security analyst

​Matthew Verive always had his eye on DePaul. A senior information technology major with a concentration in web development, he currently serves as the student liturgy coordinator in Catholic Campus Ministry and the president of the Catholic Student Union. Continue reading to learn how he is celebrating the Easter season at DePaul.​

Meet Anna Gleyzer: Chair of the 2018 Blue Demon Week committee

Meet Anna Gleyzer: Chair of the 2018 Blue Demon Week committee

​For Anna Gleyzer, a senior marketing major with a minor in hospitality, one campus involvement experience led to another, including becoming chair of the 2018 Blue Demon Week committee. Blue Demon Week, which takes place Feb. 18-24, features campus-wide activities to build school spirit and affinity for DePaul. ​

Meet Haley Majetich: Engaging peers in health education

Meet Haley Majetich: Engaging peers in health education

​Meet Haley Majetich, a senior who is a San Antonio, Texas native and relational communications major, with minors in public health, and bioethics and society. She is passionate about health education and for nearly three years has served as a peer health educator on the HEAT team. Learn more about why she joined HEAT and what it has to offer DePaul students.​

Meet Michael Morrow: Christmas at DePaul narrator and rising star

Meet Michael Morrow: Christmas at DePaul narrator and rising star

​If you attended Christmas at DePaul this year, you became familiar with Michael Morrow, a senior Theatre School acting major and the narrator for this year's performances. Read on to learn more about Morrow and his most valuable experience at DePaul, so far. ​

Meet Shemar James: Future filmmaker and entrepreneur

Meet Shemar James: Future filmmaker and entrepreneur

​Shemar James, a DePaul senior majoring in business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship and minor in Spanish, has always had a love for the art of film. Ultimately, he believes, his studies are setting him up for success.​

Meet Mykiliah Thompson: Leaving her mark on the world through song

Meet Mykiliah Thompson: Leaving her mark on the world through song

​Mykiliah Thompson is a senior majoring in Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Italian Studies. She's also the founder and president of the DePaul a Capella group, Sounds of Harmony. Only in its second year, the singing group is off to a successful start. ​

Meet Gabe Bustoz: Student coordinator for Family Weekend

Meet Gabe Bustoz: Student coordinator for Family Weekend

​Do you have plans to participate in Family Weekend this year? Get to know Gabe Bustoz, a third-year sociology major with a concentration in sociology of culture and game design minor, who serves as the parent and family coordinator and helps make sure the weekend is a success.​