Spring Break, Well Spent

Whether networking with professionals at leading tech companies, touring iconic production studios in Los Angeles, or participating in a service immersion trip to San Diego, Fairfield students turned their March 2026 vacation break into journeys of growth and transformation.

Fairfield Dolan: Silicon Valley Immersion Trip

In an annual spring break trip to Silicon Valley, students gained behind-the-scenes access to some of the world’s most influential tech companies. The immersion experience was supported by the Charles F. Dolan School of Business and the generosity of alumni Packy Kelly ’90 and Robyn Kelly ’91; Stephen Pilch ’83; Joe Bronson’70; Pat Slocum ’00 and Jaime Slocum ’01; Joseph Jaeger’75; and the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Executives and founders at leading startups and companies such as KPMG, Uber, Meta, Salesforce, and Google shared personal stories and career lessons centered on innovation and entrepreneurship.

“It was meaningful to reflect not only on how much we learned from business leaders, CFOs, and CEOs, but also how much we learned from each other,” said Stephanie Pratt ’27. “Being surrounded by such a smart and driven group of students was incredibly inspiring.”

Travel across Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Napa Valley underscored the region’s role as a global hub for innovation, exposing students to deep-tech companies at the forefront of fields from quantum computing to semiconductor manufacturing.

Fairfield Meditz: Stags in LA Trip

For the first time ever, 13 students from the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences spent spring break in Los Angeles, Calif., where they visited Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company, Paramount, Netflix, Paradigm Talent Agency, Picture Shop, and the creative studio MakeMake. The Stags in LA trip was organized by Fairfield Meditz’s Office of Career and Professional Development.

Accompanied by Fairfield Meditz Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, and Associate Professor Patrick Brooks, director of the Film, Television, and Media Arts program, students participated in studio tours, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with professionals across film, television, law, and media.

“The LA company visits really solidified that this is indeed the right career path for me,” said Alexa Sewell ’26. “I was so invested and interested in everything they had to say and presented. I can really see myself excelling in positions like these post-grads.” 

A defining feature of the experience was the strong presence of Fairfield Meditz alumni, who welcomed students into their workplaces: John Power ’96, Brooke Lathe ’25, Fiorela Canaj ’11, Aileen O’Brien ’17, John Mancini ’86, Claudia Capria ’18, Tommy Petroskey ’17, Sean McDermott ’11, and Bob Cammisa ’10. The trip also included an academic visit to University of California–LA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television and a networking event hosted by media and entertainment attorney John Mancini at his law firm, Mayer Brown.

Campus Ministry: San Diego Immersion Trip

Eleven Fairfield students traveled with Campus Ministry to San Diego, Calif., for an annual immersion experience that explores migration, culture, and community. The group was led by Jesuit novice Joaquín Pannunzio, who is currently serving at Fairfield Bellarmine; Melody Nuñez, an area coordinator in the Office of Student Life; and student leader Aydee Cruz Mejía ’28.

Through conversations with local leaders and residents, students discovered how storytelling can amplify the work of building more just and inclusive communities. Upon their return to campus, the group “felt a collective responsibility to share these stories with our own communities,” said Nuñez.

Engaging directly with the realities of border life, immersion trip participants spent time in Barrio Logan and visited Friendship Park. Accompanied by students from Merrimack University, they participated in workshops, cultural exchanges, and service projects. Sessions such as “Healing as an Act of Social Change” and discussions on art as a form of community power deepened the group’s understanding of border communities and the human experience of migration.

“We learned to see people not as issues, but as people to walk with,” said Pannunzio.

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