The ChesterSemester Fellowship is a transcript-notated interdisciplinary program on social change with an engaged scholarship (ESCH) internship component. The purpose of the program is to facilitate committed student engagement with visionary leaders in the city of Chester and focuses on critically understanding and helping to ameliorate some of society’s most pressing real-world problems by enabling students to participate in civic volunteer programs throughout the academic year.
ChesterSemester consists of the following key elements:
A.The ChesterSemester Fellowship (ENVS 007/BLST 007) is a Fall semester course consisting of a weekly class facilitated by engaged faculty, staff, and community partners. This course combines meaningful readings and in-depth conversations with Chester community leaders.
As an Environmental Studies exercise, the ChesterSemester Fellowship course focuses on the social, economic, and political interactions of residents with the food systems, waste management and related infrastructure needs of Chester city. As a Black Studies offering, the course and internship studies the challenges and contributions of Black Chesterites in relation to historic white privilege within Delaware County and the Philadelphia region. Both areas of study provide the academic backbone for enabling students to address the intersectional disadvantages and harms communities of color face in the wider society.
ENVS 007 is cross-listed with BLST 007 and eligible for credit in BLST, ENVS, ESCH.
B. In the Spring semester, you will have the option to select one Engaged Scholarship (ESCH) course from a variety of those offered across different academic departments to continue building upon your specific area of study within the context of Chester.
A Fall and Spring Internship
Students participating in the ChesterSemester Fellowship are paired with Chester-based organizations and partners. They will have the opportunity to work closely with community mentors. The internship is estimated to be a 4-5 hr/wk commitment which will continue into the Spring as a paid fellowship.
Transcript Notation
Students who successfully complete the program receive a notation on their transcript that they were awarded a “ChesterSemester Fellowship.” This award denotes a student's academic and professional commitment to learning from and with our partners in the city of Chester.
For more information or questions, please contact Ashley Henry at ahenry1@swarthmore.edu.
ChesterSemester Participants & Partners
2023-2024 Fellows
Freddie Lin '24 - CMP Radio
Jesus Saucedo Bucio '26 - Health Educated
Greta Matthies '26 - Health Educated
Carolin Obispo '26 - Chester Education Foundation
Haoyu Wang '26 - Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)
Julia Stern '26 - Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)
Mya Chuluundorj '26 - Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)
India Gray '25 - Chester Eastside, Inc.
Emily McClung '26 - Chester Eastside, Inc.
Sarah Jabir '27 - Yes We Can Achievement and Cultural Center
Thandi Chikuhwa '27 - Digital Storytelling Project (gender activism and anti-gun violence)
Anja Jolin '26 - Digital Storytelling Project (affordable housing)
