Meet Our 2016-2017 Volunteers
Front row (left to right): Nikki Munsayac, Michelle Hernandez, Mary Louise Pabello, Lizette Guevara | Second row: Merette Khalil, Natalie Gaviria | Third row: Abby Holtzman, Ari Alvarez | Back row: Hannah Dorfman, Caitlyn Hagarty, Glen Bradley
Abby Holtzman is from West Newton, MA and graduated in 2016 from Swarthmore College in PA with a degree in Psychology and English. Abby is a book enthusiast, lover of letter writing, and all things music. She sings, plays the guitar and loves a good sing-a-long with friends after Shabbat dinners and on Jewish holidays. This year Abby is working at Interfaith Voices, a public radio show about religion run by Loretto sister, Maureen Fiedler in Washington, DC.
Ariana Alvarez is a second-year Loretto vol from Clayton, CA who graduated in 2015 from St. Mary's College of California with a degree in Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies. Ari is easy going, crafty, and adventurous at heart - she loves exploring outdoorsy places, traveling, and chatting with friends around a bonfire. Last year, Ari was a volunteer at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis and we are thrilled to have her back next year joining the work of Loretto at the United Nations in NYC.
Caitlyn Hagarty is from Colfax, Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2016 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Caitlyn is particularly interested in using her engineering skills to improve the quality of patient health care and will put this passion to good use at one of our two Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis. Caitlyn loves playing the piano and listening to all kinds of music. She’s an avid sports fan - loyal to the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoys all things nature: hiking, canoeing, beaching. She’s also a knowledge junkie, if you will - loves learning in all forms.
Glen Bradley is from Kansas City, MO and graduated in 2016 from Santa Clara University with a degree in Commerce/Marketing. During college Glen was involved with Catholic campus ministry and worked at the university’s Rainbow Resource Center. Glen is passionate about creating spaces where Catholic spirituality and queer identity can co-exist and will engage this value at New Ways Ministry in Washington, DC this year - an LGBT-positive Catholic advocacy organization co-founded by Loretto sister Jeannine Gramick. Glen also loves cooking projects, brewin’ kombucha, and is skilled at Irish step dance.
Hannah Dorfman is from Columbus, OH and graduated in 2015 from Tufts University where she double majored in Religious Studies and American Studies. After graduating college, Hannah was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at a community development organization in East Boston. This year she is working at the Women’s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER) in Silver Spring, MD with Mary Hunt and Diann Neu, two dear friends of Loretto. Hannah is an ultimate frisbee player, long-time cellist, and finds zen in the kitchen.
Lizette Guevara is from Merced, CA and graduated from St. Mary’s college of California in 2016 with a degree in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies. During college Lizette joined a baile folklorico group (traditional Mexican folk dancing) which was the highlight of her college experience and initiated some of her closest friendships. This year she is working on the legal team at Bread for the City, a large social service non-profit in Washington, DC.
Mary Louise Pabello is from Creve Couer, MO and graduated in 2016 from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO with a degree in history. Fun fact: Mary Louise is a graduate of Nerinx Hall High School (one of our Loretto-founded placement sites) and is excited to reconnect with these Loretto roots as a volunteer at the Interfaith Committee on Latin American in St. Louis (IFCLA). She’s also a lifelong choir gal and held the position of song chair in her college sorority.
Merette Khalil is from Cairo, Egypt and graduated in 2016 from St. Louis University with a degree in Public Health, Business Management, International Studies and Local/Global Social Justice Studies. This year Merette is working at the Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center as a patient advocate for women and families in the DC-area - a beautiful fit for an aspiring midwife. Merette self-identities as a foodie and loves swimming and being near bodies of water.
Michelle Hernandez is from Laredo, TX and graduated in 2016 from St. Edwards, University in Austin, TX with a degree in religious and theological studies. This year she is working in campus ministry/service learning at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, a loretto-founded, all-girls high school located on the property where volunteers live. She is an avid music listener and enjoys playing the piano and guitar as well as dreaming up cheesy parodies of Mexican telenovelas for her eventual YouTube channel.
Natalie Gaviria is from Cary, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2016 with a bachelor of social work. This year Natalie is working at the Peace Economy Project (PEP) in St. Louis doing research and advocacy around peace-based economies. She enjoys playing the guitar/ukulele/piano, singing, crafting, playing soccer, and listening to podcasts particularly of the storytelling variety.
Nikki Munsayac is from Tracy, CA and graduated in 2016 from St. Mary’s College of California where she majored in Allied Health Science. This year Nikki is engagin her passion for community-based healthcare work at our other Family Care Health Centers location in St. Louis as a wellness coordinator. Nikki enjoys adventuring and exploring locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops. She loves listening to music and singing - both in English and Tagalog.
Ariana Alvarez is a second-year Loretto vol from Clayton, CA who graduated in 2015 from St. Mary's College of California with a degree in Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies. Ari is easy going, crafty, and adventurous at heart - she loves exploring outdoorsy places, traveling, and chatting with friends around a bonfire. Last year, Ari was a volunteer at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis and we are thrilled to have her back next year joining the work of Loretto at the United Nations in NYC.
Caitlyn Hagarty is from Colfax, Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2016 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Caitlyn is particularly interested in using her engineering skills to improve the quality of patient health care and will put this passion to good use at one of our two Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis. Caitlyn loves playing the piano and listening to all kinds of music. She’s an avid sports fan - loyal to the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoys all things nature: hiking, canoeing, beaching. She’s also a knowledge junkie, if you will - loves learning in all forms.
Glen Bradley is from Kansas City, MO and graduated in 2016 from Santa Clara University with a degree in Commerce/Marketing. During college Glen was involved with Catholic campus ministry and worked at the university’s Rainbow Resource Center. Glen is passionate about creating spaces where Catholic spirituality and queer identity can co-exist and will engage this value at New Ways Ministry in Washington, DC this year - an LGBT-positive Catholic advocacy organization co-founded by Loretto sister Jeannine Gramick. Glen also loves cooking projects, brewin’ kombucha, and is skilled at Irish step dance.
Hannah Dorfman is from Columbus, OH and graduated in 2015 from Tufts University where she double majored in Religious Studies and American Studies. After graduating college, Hannah was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at a community development organization in East Boston. This year she is working at the Women’s Alliance for Theology Ethics and Ritual (WATER) in Silver Spring, MD with Mary Hunt and Diann Neu, two dear friends of Loretto. Hannah is an ultimate frisbee player, long-time cellist, and finds zen in the kitchen.
Lizette Guevara is from Merced, CA and graduated from St. Mary’s college of California in 2016 with a degree in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies. During college Lizette joined a baile folklorico group (traditional Mexican folk dancing) which was the highlight of her college experience and initiated some of her closest friendships. This year she is working on the legal team at Bread for the City, a large social service non-profit in Washington, DC.
Mary Louise Pabello is from Creve Couer, MO and graduated in 2016 from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO with a degree in history. Fun fact: Mary Louise is a graduate of Nerinx Hall High School (one of our Loretto-founded placement sites) and is excited to reconnect with these Loretto roots as a volunteer at the Interfaith Committee on Latin American in St. Louis (IFCLA). She’s also a lifelong choir gal and held the position of song chair in her college sorority.
Merette Khalil is from Cairo, Egypt and graduated in 2016 from St. Louis University with a degree in Public Health, Business Management, International Studies and Local/Global Social Justice Studies. This year Merette is working at the Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center as a patient advocate for women and families in the DC-area - a beautiful fit for an aspiring midwife. Merette self-identities as a foodie and loves swimming and being near bodies of water.
Michelle Hernandez is from Laredo, TX and graduated in 2016 from St. Edwards, University in Austin, TX with a degree in religious and theological studies. This year she is working in campus ministry/service learning at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, a loretto-founded, all-girls high school located on the property where volunteers live. She is an avid music listener and enjoys playing the piano and guitar as well as dreaming up cheesy parodies of Mexican telenovelas for her eventual YouTube channel.
Natalie Gaviria is from Cary, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2016 with a bachelor of social work. This year Natalie is working at the Peace Economy Project (PEP) in St. Louis doing research and advocacy around peace-based economies. She enjoys playing the guitar/ukulele/piano, singing, crafting, playing soccer, and listening to podcasts particularly of the storytelling variety.
Nikki Munsayac is from Tracy, CA and graduated in 2016 from St. Mary’s College of California where she majored in Allied Health Science. This year Nikki is engagin her passion for community-based healthcare work at our other Family Care Health Centers location in St. Louis as a wellness coordinator. Nikki enjoys adventuring and exploring locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops. She loves listening to music and singing - both in English and Tagalog.
