{"id":471403,"date":"2026-09-22T01:02:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T01:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/471403\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T01:02:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T01:02:17","slug":"stories-news-events-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/471403\/","title":{"rendered":"Stories – News & Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

As new Broncos settle into their new campus digs, a group of faculty and Residence Life staff is moving in alongside them, providing mentorship, spiritual guidance, therapy, and other support\u2014just down their halls.<\/p>\n

That kind of proximity is by design.<\/p>\n

First- and second-year students are required to live on campus, and nearly all of them land in one of Santa Clara\u2019s eight Residential Learning Communities (RLCs)\u2014themed neighborhoods like Cura, Loyola, and Modern Perspectives that organize residence life around a shared interest, from faith and social justice to sustainability and the arts. Students rank their preferred themes before move-in, and often spend the year taking classes, attending programming, and building friendships with people down the hall who care about the same things they do.<\/p>\n

But no matter which RLC students reside in, each one is staffed to embody the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, or caring for the whole person\u2014mind, body, and spirit. Beyond the usual Resident Directors and Community Facilitators (what other schools call RAs), Santa Clara offers additional wrap-around care to help students find their home in Santa Clara.<\/p>\n

Faculty Directors anchor the academic side of work-life balance, connecting classroom learning and mentorship to daily life in the RLCs. A therapist-in-residence puts licensed mental health support just an elevator ride away. A spirituality facilitator, typically a graduate student, helps residents work through questions of identity, purpose, and values.<\/p>\n

Read on to meet a few of these dedicated Residence Life team members.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n \"A <\/p>\n

Filiaggi with his cat, Marshall.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Justin Filiaggi<\/p>\n

Therapist-in-Residence, Nobili Hall<\/p>\n

From: Philadelphia, PA<\/p>\n

What do you like to do outside of work?<\/p>\n

I love to be outside. Hiking, camping, dancing, playing sports: soccer, disc golf, and all board sports really, from skateboarding to snowboarding. I\u2019m also a writer\u2014that was my first degree, and I make tie-dye art. Lastly, I do yoga and meditate daily.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn\u2019t guess?<\/p>\n

I played club soccer in college, and I made the All-Star Tournament Team at the National Club Soccer Championships, which was a big, cool thing for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ask me about:<\/p>\n

My wellness practice.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s exciting about the opportunity to be living among the students you\u2019ll be working with?\u00a0<\/p>\n

For me, I see humans as diverse and dynamic, so living here is a good opportunity to meet students where they\u2019re at, while allowing them to see a side of me\u2014maybe skateboarding or meditating on the lawn\u2014that shows that I\u2019m not just a therapist.<\/p>\n

You lived in Finn Hall last year\u2014what excites you about moving into Nobili Hall?<\/p>\n

Nobili has this reputation as a quieter dorm, maybe from being right by the Mission Church. I think that kind of contemplative space is something I\u2019m looking forward to.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing in this room that you couldn\u2019t live without?\u00a0<\/p>\n

I really enjoy that white Peugeot bike over there. That\u2019s my go-to bike that gets me around. I think biking has so many benefits for your physical health, and it helps you save money and save the environment.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your advice for the incoming first-years?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Take healthy risks through new experiences\u2014like meeting new people, or being as present as possible in this very busy world.<\/p>\n


\n \"A <\/p>\n

Akbari brews espresso in his Dunne Hall apartment.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hamed Akbari<\/p>\n

Faculty Director, Dunne Hall<\/p>\n

From: Mashhad, Iran<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn\u2019t guess?\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have a dual background, with both an MD and a PhD. I got my MD in Tehran, and my PhD in AI robotic surgery in Tokyo. I\u2019ve been to many other cities too\u2014Atlanta, Philadelphia\u2014but Tokyo is my favorite city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where are your favorite spots on campus?\u00a0<\/p>\n

If I want to take a walk, I really like the Mission Gardens. If I want to sit and enjoy myself, I go to the balcony in SCDI.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If I have free time, I go to the Malley Center gym and use the elliptical: one hour, 1000 calories, four times a week. Although I\u2019m not sure that I will be able to this quarter, because I teach classes every day.<\/p>\n

What excites you about living in Dunne?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here in Dunne\u2019s Modern Perspectives RLC, I have heard that students are more eager to enjoy their lives and have work-life balance.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing that you couldn\u2019t live without?<\/p>\n

My students.<\/p>\n

Really? What about something in this room?<\/p>\n

My coffee machine! It\u2019s like my medicine.<\/p>\n

What do you want first-years to know?<\/p>\n

Need to vent about classes? Having problems with math or chem? Worried about the future, finding jobs, or picking a major? I\u2019m always here for you\u2014if you feel homesick or need someone who cares about you. I\u2019m here for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n \"A <\/p>\n

Snyder adopted his two cats this year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nick Snyder \u201925, MA \u201928<\/p>\n

Spirituality Facilitator, Swig Hall<\/p>\n

From: Corte Madera, CA<\/p>\n

What\u2019s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn\u2019t guess?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m fluent in Spanish and studied Latin American cultures in my undergrad Bronco years.<\/p>\n

What do you like to do for fun when you\u2019re not in grad school classes or on the clock?<\/p>\n

I like playing and writing music, taking walks around Santa Clara\u2019s beautiful campus, and exploring great food spots in the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What excites you about returning to the dorms\u2014this time as a staff member?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m excited to be present for everyone and meet my students where they are. Living in Swig Hall will be uniquely fun because of its energy and location on campus.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing in your life that you couldn\u2019t live without?<\/p>\n

My two cats, Sailor and Bandit. I adopted them this year, and I couldn\u2019t imagine life without them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talk to me about:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Food recs in the area! My faves are Taqueria El Noa Noa and Shwarmaji.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your advice for the incoming first-years?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Introduce yourself to everyone on your floor and get out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As new Broncos settle into their new campus digs, a group of faculty and Residence Life staff is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471404,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[88,90,89],"class_list":["post-471403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-jose","tag-san-jose","tag-san-jose-headlines","tag-san-jose-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=471403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/471403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/471404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=471403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=471403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=471403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}