During Michaelmas term 2025, the Von Hügel Institute welcomed two new interns from the University of Notre Dame (USA), as part of the internship programme through Notre Dame London, which has been running for four consecutive years. This programme aims to immerse students in their host communities, help them build a global mindset and inspire their professional and personal growth.
Jada Bautista is an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame, studying Visual Communication Design and Psychology, with minors in Artificial Intelligence and the Glynn Family Honors Program. Here she recalls her very first encounter with the VHI:
“I first learned about the Von Hügel Institute during my sophomore-year fall break trip to London with the Ethics Research Fellowship. That trip also marked the beginning of my close friendship with Suzanne, a fellow ‘ERF’. Our Cambridge tour felt magical: a quaint town with a deep sense of curiosity, community, and intellectual drive. In many ways, my decision to commit to London and apply for this internship mirrored why I chose Notre Dame in the first place: it allowed me to pursue my multihued interests with a strong foundation of service at the heart of it all. The VHI does precisely this. It grounds research and scholarship in the Catholic tradition, with the purpose of social transformation and justice, much like the University itself.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from my work at the Institute is understanding that Catholic action does not exist solely in volunteer work or community outreach, which were forms of service I grew up with in the Philippines through typhoon relief efforts and time spent at retirement homes. At the VHI, I learned that Catholic Social Teaching also lives in research and careful academic work. Working with Vittorio, Lidia, and Brigid made me realize that this scholarship is, in fact, a form of generosity, as we approach social issues with the same sense of mission and compassion found in more traditional service. Sometimes the most meaningful form of service is producing knowledge that shapes how societies think, care, and even forgive. Every minute decision made while preparing for an event or workshop became a quiet way of helping others see the world differently, to develop a heightened sense of empathy and critical thinking toward the issues that need the most attention.”
Like Jada, Suzanne Santiago is also undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. A Psychology and French major, with a Marketing minor, Suzanne’s research interests lie at the intersection of French philosophy and AI therapy. As she reflects on her internship experience, she says:
“Pursuing a Catholic-focused research internship was initially outside my comfort zone, but it expanded my limited understanding of what Critical Catholic inquiry actually entails. Critical Catholic inquiry seeks to tackle issues through an ethical lens based on Catholic Social Teaching. Through this lens, I was able to analyse topics such as AI, education, interreligious dialogue, and flourishing community. I have been familiar with Catholic Social teaching previously to this internship, although throughout this semester I have been able to engage with it on a much deeper as well as more personal level. Through my time at the VHI, I was able not only to learn about the components that make up a research institute but also develop my own personal faith and values.”
Suzanne continues, “Engaging at the VHI has helped me realise the significant connection between academia, faith, and wider society. Although not the most traditional form of a charity, the VHI is committed to centring its work on external output and community involvement. This model is an inspiring and spirited environment to work in. It has led me to be motivated to devote myself fully each day. From learning about John Henry Newman’s values on education, to analysing Shakespeare’s King Lear through a modern lens, and from reflecting on the intersection of AI and faith to helping develop a course on self-mastery and self-giving with a podcaster, the work has been thoroughly academically and spiritually enriching.”
At the end of her experience at St Edmund’s College, Jada reflects: “As the weeks went by, through conversations in the office, ranging from big ideas about AI and technology ethics to personal interpretations of forgiveness in Shakespeare, I learned to take both myself and my work as an undergraduate more seriously. St Edmund’s, as a whole, fostered an environment where passions and interests felt deeply valued and organically intertwined within a spirited and inquisitive ecosystem of individuals, ideas, and innovations. From dining hall lunches to formal dinners, I connected with fellow undergraduates to distinguished professors and researchers, all marked by humility. I have grown in more ways than I anticipated: I’ve developed a stronger sense of spirituality, a deeper desire for communal engagement, and a more grounded professional confidence. I’ve also been moved by the immense potential my craft holds in contributing to the wider community. This is something I will carry with me as I return home to the Philippines this break, as I continue to imagine what I can do as an aspiring technologist to uplift the vulnerable and bring to life the missions of the Institute, Notre Dame, and the Catholic Church.”
Suzanne concludes, “Cambridge is such a beautiful and intellectually driven place that I feel truly blessed to have been able to experience it each week. St Edmund’s specifically is a special college with a warm, passionate, and diverse community. The conversations I had over the tea trolley, at the formal dinner, or at the student bar have been with such curious, approachable, and fun people. It has expanded my view on higher academia and the interwovenness of scholarship and flourishing. The team at the VHI, including Lidia, Brigid, and Vittorio, has been incredible to work alongside. They have provided me with so much support, mentorship, and guidance, making my experience at the VHI nothing but a joy. It taught me how a passionate, value-driven team can transform a work environment as well as the work output. While I am saddened to be ending my time at the VHI, it has equipped me with valuable insights on work, academia, and community, which I will take forward with me on my journey.”
Learn more about the collaboration between the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame London, St Edmund College and the Von Hügel Institute.
