Answering the Call: How the Honors Vocare Summer Fellows and Other Campus Programs Help Shape Students’ Paths

For many Villanova students, the question of what comes next isn’t just about landing a job; it’s about discovering a call. Through initiatives like the Honors Vocare Summer Fellows Program and a growing network of campus funding opportunities, students are gaining meaningful, hands-on experiences that help them connect their passions with the world’s needs.

At its core, the Vocare Summer Fellows Program is designed to make that discovery possible. Offering up to $5,000 in funding, the program enables students in the Villanova Honors Program to pursue unpaid internships that serve the common good, opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach financially.

“‘Vocare,’ meaning to call, reflects the program’s deeper purpose: helping students explore vocation as ‘the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need,’ according to American writer and theologian Frederick Buechner,” explains Catherine Ricketts, Director of Program Operations for the Honors Program.

“These experiences align closely with the goals of Villanova’s Honors Program, which emphasize helping students understand their unique gifts while engaging with the needs of the broader community,” said Anna Moreland, PhD, Anne Quinn Welsh Endowed Chair, and Director of the University Honors Program. “By removing financial barriers, Vocare allows students to explore career paths in fields like public health, the arts, environmental conservation and social services—areas that are vital to the common good but often lack the financial incentives of other industries.”

In the fall of 2026, the Vocare program introduces a new one-credit course in vocational discernment, designed to help students process these powerful experiences. Through reflection, small-group discussion, mentorship and practices like silence and self-examination, students are encouraged to think critically about what they’ve learned—and where it might lead. The course complements the hands-on nature of internships by creating space for deeper reflection, helping students make more intentional decisions about their futures.

Opportunities like these are not limited to Honors students. Villanova offers a range of funding options across campus to support unpaid internships, ensuring broader access to transformative experiences. Resources include the Ellis Center CLAS Professional Development Funds, Villanova Engineering Service Learning for International Development (VESL), the Elenore and Robert F. Moran Sr. Center for Global Leadership, the Summer Service Internship (Philadelphia Area Service and Justice Internship) and the Career Connections funding portal.

“This commitment reflects a shared belief across the University: that all students should have the chance to explore meaningful work without financial constraints,” said Ricketts. “Fields such as public service, social work and the arts are essential to societal flourishing yet often come with less financial support. By investing in these experiences, Villanova empowers students to pursue paths that align both with their passions and with the needs of the world.”

Today’s Vocare Fellows continue to embody that mission across the globe—from an arts festival in San Diego to a health clinic in Brazil, from a nonprofit serving older adults in the UK to international development work in Peru and Washington, D.C. Each placement represents more than an internship—it is an opportunity for students to test possibilities, reflect deeply and take another step toward answering their call.

For students wondering what’s possible, the message is clear: meaningful experiences are within reach—and Villanova’s community is here to help guide the way.