Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Hank Center, in support of the Catholic Studies Minor, funds a year-long fellowship to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in the Catholic Studies Minor program. This fellowship supports undergraduate students to work on research projects in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Undergraduate fellows can apply either to work as research assistants for faculty-led projects, or may apply to work on their own project, mentored by a faculty mentor of their choosing. The fellowship includes a $2500 award (applied to fellows' student accounts), and up to $500 in travel funding and/or research supplies.

Eligibility and Application Information

To be eligible for this Fellowship, students must be enrolled in the Catholic Studies minor at Loyola University Chicago. Applications are completed online through the Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (LUROP) by March 1 of each year. As part of the application process, applicants will be required to submit an application, a summary of proposed project, and a letter of support from a faculty mentor. For more information, please contact Hank Center Associate Director Joe Vukov at jvukov@luc.edu.

Current Undergraduate Research Fellows

Matthew Battaglia

Advisor: Naomi Fisher

My research focuses on Charles Taylor’s construct of the “Immanent Frame” and the impact of secularization on the modern moral social order. I will do this by further analyzing the philosophical theory of “Liquid Spirituality” as a means to explain the issue of secularity. There is a disenchantment of the young generations that has become more noticeable as more people either disaffiliate themselves entirely from organized religion, or identify as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). As a result of this, there has been a deficit in authenticity, beauty, and aura of self identity that has led to the degradation of the modern moral social order. To explain this phenomena, I will use research from Jesuit Matthew Zurcher’s theory of “Liquid Spirituality”, and how we tend to have a liquid identity when it comes to how we identify with faith and religion. My scholarly sources consist of Charles Taylor, James Smith, and Zygmunt Bauman along with other scholars in the field of political philosophy and sociology.

Abraham Fielder

Advisor: Fr. Paddy Gilger

I will examine Augustine’s account of the earthly and heavenly cities and the nature of Catholic or Christian political involvement. Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410 and Augustine’s City of God was completed in 426. Augustine was pessimistic about the fate of any earthly city and presents citizens of the heavenly city as sojourners here on earth, who can benefit from the earthly peace but do not place any hope in it. I will be researching questions regarding earthly versus heavenly progress, Augustine’s earthly and heavenly cities, and what the lived experiences of each means as a child of God. I will be taking City of God as the main source text (focusing on Book XIX), but also other works of Augustine and some secondary literature. By understanding Agustine’s teachings of the earthly and heavenly cities, and his political theology more broadly, an idea of how one should participate within the structures of society will be gained. Although Augustine wrote his City of God in the 5th century, the relevance of his insights has as much import today as when he composed this monumental work.

Past Undergraduate Research Fellows

Charles Chengary (2024-2025)
Advisor: Derrick Witherington

Grant DeRaedt (2024-2025)
Advisor: Matthew Dunch, S.J.

Mark Gomez (2023-2024)
Advisor: Paddy Gilger, S.J.

Matthew McKenna (2023-2024)
Advisor: Jeffrey Fisher

Grace Shallal (2023-2024)
Advisor: Paula Tallman

Sarah LaVanway (2020-2021)
Majors: Theology, Global and International Studies
Minor: Catholic Studies

Frances Rafferty (2020-2021)
Major: Environmental Policy
Minor: Catholic Studies

Joseph I. De Larauze (2018-2019)
Majors: Economics, English
Minors: Business Administration, Catholic Studies

Sarah Miklius (2018-2019)
Major: International Studies
Minors: Catholic Studies, Peace Studies

Sylvester Francis Alonz (2017-2018)
Majors: Religious Studies
Minor: Catholic Studies

Jenna Meyers (2017-2018)
Major: Economics
Minors: Business Administration, Catholic Studies, Theatre

Jay Egan (2016-2017)
Majors: Philosophy
Minor: Catholic Studies

Michael Malucha (2016-2017)
Major: Philosophy
Minors: Catholic Studies

Gustav Roman (2015-2016)
Major: English
Minors: Catholic Studies, History, Theology

Katie Dubielak (2015-2016)
Major: Social Work
Minor: Catholic Studies

Zac Davis (2014-2015)
Majors: Philosophy, Theology
Minor: Catholic Studies

Caley Terry (2014-2015)
Majors: English, Theology
Minor: Catholic Studies

Evan Thompson (2014-2015)
Major: History
Minor: Catholic Studies

Sarah Balas (2013-2014)
Major: English
Minor: Catholic Studies

Steven Patzke (2013-2014)
Majors: Theology, Philosophy
Minors: Catholic Studies, Pastoral Leadership

Mario L. Cuttone (2012-2013)
Majors: Accounting and Sport Management
Minor: Catholic Studies

Martha Ligas (2012-2013)
Majors: Psychology and Sociology
Minor: Catholic Studies

Gerard James Luisi II (2012-2013)
Majors: Philosophy and Political Science
Minor: Catholic Studies

Zachary Hugo (2011-2012)
Majors: Philosophy, Theology
Minor: Catholic Studies

Courtney Clark (2011-2012)
Majors: Religious Studies, Global and International Studies
Minors: French, Catholic Studies

Past Hank Center Undergraduate Research Assistants

2018-2019: Joseph De Laurauze and Emily Kate Marticello

2017-2018: Amy Christenson & Sarah O'Hanian

2016-2017: Angelo Jesus Canta & Gustav Roman

2015-2016: Ron Amiscaray, Gustav Roman, & Guy Valponi

2014-2015: Angelo Jesus Canta & Zac Davis

2013-2014: Paul Jentz, Samantha Ropski, & Alicen Schade

2011-2012: Lucia Wiley-Kellerman

2010-2011: Nuria Martinez

2009-2010: Daniel Wood