Hosting the 2024 Opus Prize is an extraordinary opportunity for Santa Clara University students, faculty, staff, and the community to engage with faith-inspired champions of change who are addressing the great social issues of our time -- all around the world. Opus Prize laureates combine the spirit of innovation with amazing faith to inspire long-term, local solutions to address poverty and injustice.
Santa Clara University students, faculty, and staff have been select to be Opus Prize Ambassadors. The Ambassadors join team members from the Opus Prize Foundation on week-long site visits to engage with the finalist organizations. Ambassadors share observations with Opus Representatives to inform the decision of the final prizes. Most importantly, Ambassadors see first-hand the incredible work and impact of some of the most inspiring change-makers of the world and bring that experience back to SCU.
The first ambassador group traveled for a site visit during the week of March 24:
- Jake Brathwaite, S.J., M.Div. ‘26, Jesuit School of Theology, graduate student
- Jes Kuczenski, Chair, Department of General Engineering
- Elise Murugasu ’26, Engineering, undergraduate student
- Susan Popko, Associate Provost for International Programs
- Duane Voigt, University Registrar
The second group will travel during the week of June 16:
- Taara Khan ’27, Political Science and Philosophy, undergraduate student
- Sharmila Lodhia, Chair and Associate Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies
- Samuel Lundy ’26, Economics and Philosophy, undergraduate student
- Allan Báez Morales, Director of Programs and Partnerships, Frugal Innovation Lab, School of Engineering
- Shá Duncan Smith, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence
The third group will travel during the week of June 23:
- Jim Bennett, Chair and Associate Professor, Religious Studies
- Marco Bravo, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Education and Counseling Psychology
- Charles Olsen ’26, Engineering, undergraduate student
- Darcy Phillips, Director of Community Engaged Student Learning, Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education
- Akash Ravani ’25, Economics, undergraduate student
- Margaret Russell, Professor, School of Law