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UD Core program prepared student government president, VP for leadership success

By Skylar Christian ’25

The University of Dayton Core program offers an integrated learning-living experience combining academic rigor with strong community support to prepare students for leadership and service in their communities.

Two of the University’s top student leaders, Student Government Association President Aila Carr-Chellman and Vice President Stuart Schramm, are former Core fellows.

Both cited the program’s emphasis on critical thinking, collaboration and holistic understanding as vital preparation for the demands of their campus leadership roles and their future ambitions.

Carr-Chellman, a senior philosophy and political science double major from Moscow, Idaho, said the Core program pushed her to think beyond traditional academic boundaries, which helped her develop a more flexible and resilient mindset in regard to her role as an SGA leader.

“Core teaches you to embrace diverse perspectives,” she said. “That ability to listen to different sides and synthesize ideas is essential in any leadership role, especially in representing the diverse voices of UD students.”

Schramm said Core prepared him for leadership by teaching him the importance of interdisciplinary thinking, which he applies to his daily SGA responsibilities.

“Core helped me develop the ability to analyze issues from different angles,” said Schramm, a junior international studies major from Kettering, Ohio. “As an SGA representative, I’m constantly faced with decisions that affect students from all walks of life. Core gave me the critical-thinking skills necessary to access these situations and make decisions that are fair and well-rounded.”

The Core program is a two-and-half-year curriculum in UD’s College of Arts and Sciences open to all students. It integrates required humanities content in English, history, philosophy and religious studies, encouraging students to work with complex social and ethical questions to address a common theme: human values in a pluralistic culture.

Core Director Elizabeth Mackay said the program aligns with the College’s mission to shape responsible, inquisitive leaders and is invaluable for anyone seeking to make a positive difference in society.

Mackay, associate professor of English, took the reins of the program in August, succeeding Bill Trollinger, professor of history, who led Core for 11 years.

“As the new director, I hope to continue building on Core’s interdisciplinary approach, connecting students’ academic work with real-world challenges in ways that prepare them to be thoughtful leaders — not just in college, but in their careers and communities,” Mackay said.

SGA, 2024

Photo: First row (from left): Stuart Schramm (Vice President), Aila Carr-Chellman (President), Mitchell O'Brien (VP of Finance); Second row (from left): Mary Kate Mull (Attorney General), David Henderson (Speaker of the Senate), Gabby Davis (VP of Communication), Siobhan Huner (VP of Communication) 

 

Carr-Chellman learned about Core through her two brothers who were in the program. Schramm discovered Core during a prospective student event at UD where Core fellows and faculty were in attendance.

Carr-Chellman and Schramm served as Core fellows and resident assistants following their first year at UD. Core fellows are second-year students who play a vital role in fostering the community and academic spirit of the program. These student leaders mentor first-year Core participants, assist in facilitating discussion and help tutor Core program classes.

Core resident assistants contribute to creating a supportive environment on the Core floor, a dedicated residential space where first-year Core students live together in the Marycrest Hall residential complex. This living-learning community allows students to build strong connections and engage in collaborative learning. Core fellows are also part of the supportive environment of Core, offering mentorship to currently enrolled students. 

Beyond their student leadership roles at the University, Carr-Chellman and Schramm look forward to carrying Core’s lessons into their post-graduate lives.

“Core didn’t just teach me academic content. It taught me to approach problems thoughtfully and empathetically — skills I’ll need in public service,” Carr-Chellman said.

Schramm aspires to work in law, an ambition strengthened by his time in Core. 

“Core introduced me to the kind of critical analysis I’ll need as a lawyer,” he said. “It’s been invaluable in helping me think not just about the law but the ethical implications of legal decisions.”

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