USD Magazine Spring 2009

nline gathering spots like RateMyProfessors.com have some nasty things

to say about many a pedantic science professor, but Mitch Malachowski’s profile shines squeaky clean. He’s head over heels for organic chemistry — and all of his students feel the love. “I teach my students that I will do whatever I can to help them be successful,” he muses. “I think they’re surprised sometimes to hear that, but I tell them I make a commitment to them every day when I show up. I work really hard for them and I ask them to make the same commitment to them- selves. I think [students] tend to identify with people who gen- uinely want them to be success- ful.” Malachowski wants everyone in his classes to “become more than someone who’s reading a chemistry book.”With his guid- ance, “They think like chemists. They personalize their education.” And they go on to shape and mold, create and cure. “They become chemists.” — Stefanie Wray

oan Kroc had a vision for the institute that bears her name at USD: that it be a place that not only talked about peace, but made peace. The creation of the

up with tears. I became aware of a war I had no clue about, that had gone on longer than I’d been alive.” Colabianchi, majoring in Spanish and biology, speaks four languages and has studied in Italy, Argentina and Mexico. She tracked Guatemala and South Africa. “I love being in other countries, seeing new cultures and learning from them. Studying abroad gives you a better perspective. There are so many things that need to change, and this makes you want to help make that change.” Groth will finish a yearlong stint as the IPJ’s inau- gural graduate intern this spring. He’s tracking the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal. “When I was doing my master’s, I followed what the IPJ did in Nepal. It’s exciting to be a part of it now, even if I’m contributing a small piece. The country is really transitioning, with elections and democracy at work.” Smith covered Columbia and Bangladesh. She says the IPJ internship whets her appetite for more. “There’s so much information out there on world affairs at our fingertips that it’s hard to sit back and watch what’s going on without trying to do some- thing to get involved.” —Ryan T. Blystone

internship program in 2002 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice was a firm first step. The program has flourished ever since, attracting those students — both locally and internationally — who have a keen interest in becoming peacemakers. “The internship program is [former IPJ Director] Joyce Neu’s brainchild. She loves nurturing the next generation of leaders,” says IPJ Internship Director Elena McCollim. The Fall 2008 class consisted of senior Elisabetta Colabianchi, Chris Groth ‘06 (M.A.), senior Ali Wolters and UC San Diego senior Carolyn Smith. Their duties included working with the Women PeaceMakers participants, supporting IPJ events and writing weekly reports on current events in two countries. Wolters, a political science major, focused on Peru and Uganda. She’s studied and worked in both Uganda and Rwanda; her passion stems from seeing the documentary film Invisible Children . “There was a guy sitting next to me from Uganda, his eyes welling

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