• Alexander Chotai

    President

    Alexander is a Junior at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a major in Philosophy and Linguistics. Further drawn to the Catholic faith in high school in part due to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the writings of thinkers such as Saints Thomas Aquinas and Augustine, Alex has long taken interest in philosophy as it applies to faith. Through taking part in various Collegium modules - such as Catholic Humanism, Lectio Humana, and the various intellectual retreats and seminars offered throughout the year - he has gained a new appreciation for the vast and rich history of Christian thought. Alex is conversant in several languages and aims to use this skill in reading texts as they were originally written. In his free time, Alex enjoys learning about the faith, self-studying various foreign languages.

  • Sophia Silva

    Vice President

    Sophia Silva is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a double major in Multinational Management and Retailing. In her leisure time, she finds joy in playing golf, mostly in the friendships it fosters. Additionally, she has a passion for baking and cooking, with a special fondness for Mexican recipes passed down from my family. Sophia's journey with collegium began my freshman year, by engaging in 'Food for Thought' discussions and further deepened during the 'Catholic Humanism' seminar. Eager to immerse herself in the Intellectual Tradition of her Catholic Faith, she looks forward to the transformative experience this fellowship offers, anticipating that it will further enrich her personal and intellectual growth, building on the profound impact it has already had.

  • Rachel Fischer

    Blog Editor-in-Chief

    Rachel Fischer (C ‘26) is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a double major in chemistry and Hispanic studies, with a minor in neuroscience. In her free time, Rachel enjoys exploring cultures through her cooking and also has a passion for reading, painting, and playing the piano. Rachel first became involved in Collegium her freshman year through its “Socrates on College” seminar and “Food for Thought” weekly discussions. As an Undergrad Fellow, she is excited to continue to spark her intellectual curiosity exploring the various programs Collegium has to offer while immersing herself in the values, community, and joys of this institution.

  • Katherine Beeson

    Treasurer

    Katherine is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Chemistry. She first got involved in Collegium through the Food for Thought program and subsequently got involved in the Catholic Humanism program where she has enjoyed delving deeper into the Catholic intellectual tradition. She appreciates how Collegium gives her the chance to have lively discussions with a community of intelligent and curious peers. In her free time she enjoys reading, drawing, and the outdoors.

  • Pierce Bruner

    Secretary

    Pierce Bruner (C‘26) is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and minoring in Classical Studies. Pierce became involved with the Collegium Institute through the Socrates on College Preceptorial during New Student Orientation as well as the Food for Thought program and has since enjoyed the multitude of talks, panels, and discussions that the Collegium has sponsored. Through the open dialogue that the Collegium Institute provides, Pierce enjoys learning more about the intersection between religion, philosophy and other areas of study. Outside of the classroom, Pierce is an editor for the Penn Science Journal of Undergraduate Research, a consultant for Penn Sustainability Consulting, and enjoys watching soccer, reading, and running.

Undergraduate Fellows