Get Involved through the Center for Student Engagement
Get Involved through the Center of Student Engagement
From Welcome Week to Senior Send-Off, some of Ramblers’ most memorable moments and Loyola traditions are made possible by the Center for Student Engagement (CSE). Located in the Damen Student Center on the Lake Shore Campus, CSE serves as a hub for student involvement, connecting Ramblers to student organizations, leadership opportunities, and campus traditions.
Supporting the Center are Shreya Bhagi, Graduate Intern for Leadership Programs, and Maria Pellisser Mascaro, Graduate Intern for Registered Student Organizations and the Campus Activities Network. In their roles, they support programs and initiatives that help bring Ramblers together.
“CSE basically does everything that students engage in on campus,” Shreya shared. “From student organizations to leadership programs to major events, it’s all CSE.”
By providing students with these opportunities, CSE not only fosters community and campus involvement, but personal and professional development.
“My favorite part about working in CSE is seeing how students grow as leaders and become the best version of themselves,” Maria adds.
Read on to hear more from Shreya and Maria about how the Center for Student Engagement helps Ramblers foster university experiences that are uniquely their own.
Q: Hey Maria and Shreya, what does CSE do for students:
Maria: We help students get involved and build community at Loyola. You can join or create a student organization, participate in Sorority and Fraternity Life, or become a Welcome Week leader. Our goal is to help students make the most of their university experience.
Shreya: CSE also works with all student organizations on campus and helps them bring their dreams to life through advising and support with event approvals, funding, and overall operations. We have 200+ opportunities, from the Wellness Wolfpack, to the Caribbean Student Union, to the Game Development Club – there’s something for everyone.
Furthermore, we help lead special campus events like Finals Breakfast and have leadership development opportunities like the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).
Q: What kind of events and programs does CSE offer?
M: We host a variety of other events throughout the year, including the Engagement Fair, where students can explore what clubs we have, and the Student Organization Awards, which recognizes student groups across various categories. Something many people don’t know is CSE also houses Graduate, Professional, and Adult Student Life which is based in the Terry Student Center on Water Tower Campus.
We also host Welcome Week, which is a series of events over two weeks that brings campus partners together to welcome new and returning students. The events are designed to introduce Ramblers to everything the University offers and all the opportunities available to students. A major goal of Welcome Week is to help students grow socially and academically while connecting to all three of our Chicago-area campuses in fun ways.
We also plan beloved events and traditions like Senior Send-Off, which includes the architectural boat tour on the Chicago River, Loyola Night at the Chicago Cubs, and Senior Toast, during which seniors walk through the iconic green doors of Cudahy Library for the last time as undergraduate students.
S: CSE also houses Commuter Student Life, which aims to connect commuter students to programs and resources on campus, and the Department of Programming, helping put on fun events at Loyola outside of signature ones. Other areas of focus include Sorority and Fraternity Life, Leadership Development Initiatives, and supporting sponsored student organizations like the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC).
Q: What skills do students gain from participating in your department?
S: Through CSE, students gain leadership, organization, and community-building skills. CSE is rooted in the Jesuit value of Cura personalis, or care for the whole person, so it helps students grow not just academically, but outside the classroom as well.
M: Students also develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. They learn how to work with diverse groups, manage responsibilities, and take initiative, which helps prepare them for their future careers. Students engaged in the programs CSE host are able to gain real-life experience that translates onto their resumes.
Q: How can students get more involved with CSE?
S: The easiest way to get involved is by attending events or joining student organizations, which you can find on LUCommunity. But if you want to get even more involved, there are student worker roles and graduate intern positions where you can help plan those big events like Senior Send-Off or support leadership programs – these opportunities are posted on Handshake on a rolling basis, so keep an eye out.
M: Students can not only join a student organization but create their own. We help guide students through that registration process, giving advice on how to plan events successfully, stay in your budget, and selecting leadership so that they feel confident running their organizations.
Q: How can students stay up-to-date with CSE programs and events?
S: The best way to stay up-to-date is by following us on Instagram (@loyola_cse). You can also stop by our offices. Our main office is in Damen Student Center, right across from the Damen Cinema on the first floor behind the atrium. Everyone is so welcoming and there is always someone at the front desk who can answer your questions. We have open office hours every other Thursday, but you can plan a meeting with us any other time, too.
We also have our GPASL office in Terry Student Center on Water Tower Campus for graduate, professional, and adult students who are looking to find community.
M: If you’re looking to take part in Sorority and Fraternity Life, events on campus, or student organizations, all of that information is shared on LUCommunity, so be sure to check it regularly.
Q: What’s your favorite part about working in your department?
S: My favorite part is the strong sense of community we build, both within the office and across campus. Through student organizations and the various programs CSE offers, we create meaningful opportunities for students to connect, grow, and feel like they belong.
M: I love seeing students find their community and grow as leaders. Watching them become more confident and engaged through their involvement is really rewarding!
Q: What’s one thing most students don’t know about your department?
S: Many students don’t know about the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). It’s a peer-to-peer cohort-based program for undergraduate students to learn leadership techniques and explore their leadership style. They identify an issue they are passionate about and design a project or event around it and earn a certificate at the end.
It’s a great opportunity for students to build leadership skills, form connections, and take initiative on causes that matter to them. Next spring, we'll have a new cohort, so I recommend and encourage everyone to apply – Fall 2026 applications will open on LUCommunity, so follow our Instagram to know when they open!
M: Many students also don’t realize how much support we provide to students behind the scenes. We don’t just approve events – we support student leaders with planning, organization management, and leadership training. We put a lot of effort into making the student experience special.
Whether you’re looking for a fun event to attend, a new community to be a part of, or even start a club of your own, the Center for Student Engagement is here to help you find your place at Loyola. Get involved and make your Loyola experience one to remember!
From Welcome Week to Senior Send-Off, some of Ramblers’ most memorable moments and Loyola traditions are made possible by the Center for Student Engagement (CSE). Located in the Damen Student Center on the Lake Shore Campus, CSE serves as a hub for student involvement, connecting Ramblers to student organizations, leadership opportunities, and campus traditions.
Supporting the Center are Shreya Bhagi, Graduate Intern for Leadership Programs, and Maria Pellisser Mascaro, Graduate Intern for Registered Student Organizations and the Campus Activities Network. In their roles, they support programs and initiatives that help bring Ramblers together.
“CSE basically does everything that students engage in on campus,” Shreya shared. “From student organizations to leadership programs to major events, it’s all CSE.”
By providing students with these opportunities, CSE not only fosters community and campus involvement, but personal and professional development.
“My favorite part about working in CSE is seeing how students grow as leaders and become the best version of themselves,” Maria adds.
Read on to hear more from Shreya and Maria about how the Center for Student Engagement helps Ramblers foster university experiences that are uniquely their own.
Q: Hey Maria and Shreya, what does CSE do for students:
Maria: We help students get involved and build community at Loyola. You can join or create a student organization, participate in Sorority and Fraternity Life, or become a Welcome Week leader. Our goal is to help students make the most of their university experience.
Shreya: CSE also works with all student organizations on campus and helps them bring their dreams to life through advising and support with event approvals, funding, and overall operations. We have 200+ opportunities, from the Wellness Wolfpack, to the Caribbean Student Union, to the Game Development Club – there’s something for everyone.
Furthermore, we help lead special campus events like Finals Breakfast and have leadership development opportunities like the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).
Q: What kind of events and programs does CSE offer?
M: We host a variety of other events throughout the year, including the Engagement Fair, where students can explore what clubs we have, and the Student Organization Awards, which recognizes student groups across various categories. Something many people don’t know is CSE also houses Graduate, Professional, and Adult Student Life which is based in the Terry Student Center on Water Tower Campus.
We also host Welcome Week, which is a series of events over two weeks that brings campus partners together to welcome new and returning students. The events are designed to introduce Ramblers to everything the University offers and all the opportunities available to students. A major goal of Welcome Week is to help students grow socially and academically while connecting to all three of our Chicago-area campuses in fun ways.
We also plan beloved events and traditions like Senior Send-Off, which includes the architectural boat tour on the Chicago River, Loyola Night at the Chicago Cubs, and Senior Toast, during which seniors walk through the iconic green doors of Cudahy Library for the last time as undergraduate students.
S: CSE also houses Commuter Student Life, which aims to connect commuter students to programs and resources on campus, and the Department of Programming, helping put on fun events at Loyola outside of signature ones. Other areas of focus include Sorority and Fraternity Life, Leadership Development Initiatives, and supporting sponsored student organizations like the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC).
Q: What skills do students gain from participating in your department?
S: Through CSE, students gain leadership, organization, and community-building skills. CSE is rooted in the Jesuit value of Cura personalis, or care for the whole person, so it helps students grow not just academically, but outside the classroom as well.
M: Students also develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. They learn how to work with diverse groups, manage responsibilities, and take initiative, which helps prepare them for their future careers. Students engaged in the programs CSE host are able to gain real-life experience that translates onto their resumes.
Q: How can students get more involved with CSE?
S: The easiest way to get involved is by attending events or joining student organizations, which you can find on LUCommunity. But if you want to get even more involved, there are student worker roles and graduate intern positions where you can help plan those big events like Senior Send-Off or support leadership programs – these opportunities are posted on Handshake on a rolling basis, so keep an eye out.
M: Students can not only join a student organization but create their own. We help guide students through that registration process, giving advice on how to plan events successfully, stay in your budget, and selecting leadership so that they feel confident running their organizations.
Q: How can students stay up-to-date with CSE programs and events?
S: The best way to stay up-to-date is by following us on Instagram (@loyola_cse). You can also stop by our offices. Our main office is in Damen Student Center, right across from the Damen Cinema on the first floor behind the atrium. Everyone is so welcoming and there is always someone at the front desk who can answer your questions. We have open office hours every other Thursday, but you can plan a meeting with us any other time, too.
We also have our GPASL office in Terry Student Center on Water Tower Campus for graduate, professional, and adult students who are looking to find community.
M: If you’re looking to take part in Sorority and Fraternity Life, events on campus, or student organizations, all of that information is shared on LUCommunity, so be sure to check it regularly.
Q: What’s your favorite part about working in your department?
S: My favorite part is the strong sense of community we build, both within the office and across campus. Through student organizations and the various programs CSE offers, we create meaningful opportunities for students to connect, grow, and feel like they belong.
M: I love seeing students find their community and grow as leaders. Watching them become more confident and engaged through their involvement is really rewarding!
Q: What’s one thing most students don’t know about your department?
S: Many students don’t know about the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). It’s a peer-to-peer cohort-based program for undergraduate students to learn leadership techniques and explore their leadership style. They identify an issue they are passionate about and design a project or event around it and earn a certificate at the end.
It’s a great opportunity for students to build leadership skills, form connections, and take initiative on causes that matter to them. Next spring, we'll have a new cohort, so I recommend and encourage everyone to apply – Fall 2026 applications will open on LUCommunity, so follow our Instagram to know when they open!
M: Many students also don’t realize how much support we provide to students behind the scenes. We don’t just approve events – we support student leaders with planning, organization management, and leadership training. We put a lot of effort into making the student experience special.
Whether you’re looking for a fun event to attend, a new community to be a part of, or even start a club of your own, the Center for Student Engagement is here to help you find your place at Loyola. Get involved and make your Loyola experience one to remember!