Leadership Team
The Magis Emerging Leadership Program leadership team is comprised of five upperclassmen who serve as mentors throughout the program experience. These five Mentors are mostly selected from previous cohorts of the program as well as from the larger USF student leader community. Among the five mentors, one or two serve as Lead Mentors for the program. The Lead Mentor(s) play a significant role in managing and facilitating the program.
The Leadership Team is guided by a full-time professional staff member and/or the Program Director for the Change the World From Here Institute, who designs, facilitates, and coaches the mentors and fellows.
Karolyne Lajera '27 (she/her)
SENIOR LEAD MENTOR
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Major: Chemistry
Places they call home: Oceanside, New York
What makes them smile: Sunny days, puppies, passionate people, and bad jokes!
Areas of Involvement: Muscat Scholars Program (MSP), ASUSF Finance Committee, Kasamahan, Delta Zeta Sorority, Reading Partners, Women in Pre-Med, USF Prime Student Brand Ambassador, Go Team, and PERIOD
Favorite Quote: "Love empowers us to surrender. We do not need to have endless anxiety and worry about whether we will fulfill our goals or plans. Death is always there to remind us that our plans are transitory. By learning to love, we learn to accept change. Without change, we cannot grow. Our will to grow in spirit and truth is how we stand before life and death, ready to choose life.” - bell hooks
Aastha Mirchandani '27 (she/her)
MENTOR
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Major: Business Analytics
Minor: Computer Science
Places they call home: Bangalore, India
What makes them smile: Food and a long nap 😄
Areas of Involvement: The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Alpha Sigma Nu, Women in Technology (WIT), Cybersecurity Committee, Break Through Tech, Saint Ignatius Institute (SII), School of Management Honors Program, Honors College, and Martín Baró Scholars Program (MBS)
Favorite Quote: “Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be.” ~ George Carlin
Caterina "Cat" Ponti '27 (she/her)
MENTOR
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Major: Data Science
Minor: Neuroscience
Places they call home: Perugia, Italy
What makes them smile: The beach, sunny days, road trips, train rides, hugs, late nights/dinners with friends and family 😄
Areas of Involvement: Resident Advisor (RA), McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco, McGrath Scholar '26, Women in Technology (WIT, Research Assistant in the Visualization and Graphics Lab, Association for Women in Mathematics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Dyslexia Center (Data Imaging Assistant), Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (Bioinformatics Intern), Teaching Assistant (Department of Mathematics & Statistics), USF Board of Trustees Development Committee (Student Representative), Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide (Internship), Self-Transformation and Empowerment Program (STEP), Residence Hall Council President (RHC),
Favorite Quote: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” by Pablo Picasso
Anthony Garcia '28 (he/him)
MENTOR
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Major: Public Health
Minor: Biology
Places they call home: Canoga Park, California
What makes them smile: Hanging out with my friends and family, going on fun adventures with my sister 😄
Areas of Involvement: Latine Undergraduate Network of Activists (L.U.N.A), Muscat Scholars Program Peer Mentor (MSP), Community Leadership Program (CLP), City Hope, New Friends Homeless Center, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), Society of First Generation Students (SFGS), and SLE Student Organization Consultant (SOC)
Favorite Quote: “As you discover what strength you can draw from your community in this world from which it stands apart, look outward as well as inward. Build bridges instead of walls.” - Sonia Sotomayor
Michaiah Pettway '29 (she/her)
MENTOR
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Major: Biology
Minor: African American Studies; Chemistry
Places they call home: San Francisco, CA
What makes them smile: People who light up when they talk about something they love 😄
Areas of Involvement: Marshall-Riley Living-Learning Community, Black Scholars Program, Honors College, KP LAUNCH intern - San Francisco Cardiology, SMART Tutor, and Booker T. Washington Community Center volunteer
Favorite Quote: "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" - Kamala Harris
Bob Just (he/him)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR (Full-Time Staff)
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Master of Science: Adult Development Theory & Higher Education Administration (College Student Personnel)
Bachelor of Science: Human Development & Family Studies with a minor in Business Administration
Places they call home: Manchester, VT, Macomb, IL, Concord, CA, and San Francisco
What makes them smile: Kindness ... and nachos, I just LOVE a good plate of nachos 😄
Areas of Involvement: Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network, Gallup-certified Global Strengths Coach, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Leadership Educators Institute (LEI), International Coaching Federation (ICF), City Hope SF, USF Mission Council, and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH)
Favorite Quote: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb shared by Mersert "Mercy" Mehzun (2020 Fellow & 2021 Leadership Team)
Kulsimranjit "Simran" Kaur (She/Her)
PROGRAM MANAGER (Full-Time Staff)
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Doctor of Education: Organization and Leadership (Higher Education concentration) (In Progress; Intended graduation: May 2028)
Master of Arts: Education (Equity and Social Justice)
Bachelor of Arts: Human Development
Places they call home: Pinole, CA
What makes them smile: My dog Henny!
Areas of Involvement: First-generation Initiatives, Muscat Scholars Program (MSP), Transfer Alliance, School of Education
Favorite Quote: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Timeline for 2027-28 Leadership Team Selection
Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level? Apply to be on the Magis Leadership Team!
How do I become a part of the Leadership Team?
Are you interested in continuing your journey through Magis? Become a Magis Mentor! Magis Mentors act as role models and guide Magis Fellows through their individual and group leadership processes. Each Magis Mentor will be assigned a group of 5 Magis Fellows and lead the students through small group discussions and activities at retreats and weekly development sessions over the full academic year.
2027-28 Leadership Team Selection Timeline | Apply starting March 3
Applications open: Early March
Applications due: Late March
Interviews: Early/mid April
Position Notifications: Mid/late April
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