Where Are They Now? Catching-up with Gonzaga Alums
What do you miss most about Gonzaga? Programs and events from UMEC. What was your favorite moment at Gonzaga? My favorite moment at Gonzaga is the Diversity Monologues Event that I had the privilege of developing during its first year at GU under the direction of Rudy Mondragón. I appreciate the drive our community had to cultivate a space for the voices of Gonzaga’s most talented and unique scholars. What was one challenge you faced while at Gonzaga? One of the challenges I faced at Gonzaga was the ignorance of the past and present experiences of my fellow Zags regarding, race, class, and gender. Gonzaga’s mission is to educate the whole person “Through engagement with knowledge, wisdom, and questions informed by classical and contemporary perspectives…” However, I do not feel we did our best at Gonzaga to critically think about the perspectives of others. Were you able to overcome them? How so? As a member of the BSU, working for UMEC, and surrounding myself with peers, staff and faculty whose persistent focus was on informing policy, inspiring change, and have a deep and sophisticated thinking surrounding, motivating, and empowering the community. Additionally, finding ways to effect change as a Student Athlete, Resident Assistant, and Act Six Scholar. What was your biggest takeaway from your Gonzaga experience that is most applicable to you after graduating? My biggest take away is to be open to growth, embrace challenges and employ critical thinking and reflection whenever I can. If I didn’t believe and embody this, then I could not call myself a Zag or earnestly say that I believe in the dignity of the human person, social justice and global engagement.
Name: Ylisse Bess Year Graduated: 2013 Major: Sociology and Religious Studies From: Tacoma, Washington Activities while at GU:Black Student Union, Holy Infusion Gospel Choir (Founder), Varsity Women’s Rowing, Pacific Sociological Association Research Conference, Spokane Intercollegiate Research Conference, Resident Assistant, LEADS Mentor, BRIDGE Counselor, Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
What advice do you have for current Gonzaga students? Education takes place outside of the classroom, its in the Residence Halls, on the bus, and on your bike ride from South Hill to Hillyard. Take notice, question, and reflect on your experience. At the same time, recognize the impact of your education on your community. What you know and believe lives through your actions wherever you go. What’s next for you? This fall, I will begin graduate study at the Boston University School of Theology for a Master of Theological Study.
What are you currently doing since graduating? I am a City Year Corps Member. City Year (AmeriCorps Program) is an educational nonprofit that works in various Chicago Public Schools on the West and South side to fight the high school drop out crisis. City Year Chicago unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to effect change in communities lacking political education, social capital, and economic capital is essentially denied self-determination. Gonzaga university
unity multicultural education center