Student Wins National Fellowship for Community Service

Siu has worked as both a teacher and an advocate. In fall 2021, she taught English to adults in Colombia. In summer 2023, she developed a bilingual curriculum for first-graders at John Muir Elementary School in San Francisco. She now serves as an academic tutor with the Athletics Department at USF.

This year, Siu won a Newman Civic Fellowship. Recipients of the award are connected with other student leaders across America and Mexico to share ideas on how to make positive change in their communities.

“This is the sixth consecutive year that a USF student has been awarded a Newman Civic Fellowship," said Leslie Lombre, director of external relations at USF’s  Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, the organization that nominated Siu for the fellowship. “Kathleen is continuing the center’s track record of promoting engaged student leaders and nurturing their potential to create social change. We’re proud of her!”

Here’s a look into Siu’s journey and her plans as a Newman Civic Fellow.

What’s your major?

I’m in the dual-degree program to receive both a BA in history and an MA in teaching in urban education and social justice, with a bilingual authorization credential, in five years.

What are your hopes for yourself in the Newman Civic Fellows program?

I have a lot of ideas about specifically tackling ‘How do we create equitable education and help advocate for students who are frequently marginalized in the education system?’ I’m really interested in bilingual education, especially being in San Francisco, where a third of the population are immigrants. The city itself is so diverse, culturally and linguistically. That’s an area that I really focus on.

Why be a teacher?

Teachers bring up the next scholars, the next doctors, the next leaders. Everything starts in the classroom.

How does activism fit into your teaching?

I really believe in activism and political change. I’m super interested in legislation on education, like implementing culturally relevant pedagogy in the curriculum.

Who or what in the USF community has been most influential in your life?

To change history you need to be able to understand it and analyze what’s going on. Professor Katrina Olds, chair of the history department, helped me so much to develop those skills.

What are you up to this summer?

I’m helping to operate a youth academic summer camp at Booker T. Washington Community Service Center in San Francisco.

Your plans after graduation?

Jump straight into the field. I've considered going to places where there are a lot of migrants, like Salinas or Half Moon Bay. But definitely, post grad, I'll be teaching full-time.