Advising
Unsure of the first step in your service journey? Questions about a service program? Advisors at the Haas Center are happy to help.
General Service Advising
It can be overwhelming to choose from the large number of service opportunities available at Stanford. At the Haas Center, we’re here to help you find opportunities that are a good fit for you!
Visit us on the first floor in the Bing Information and Resource Center (BIRC) for walk-in advising or schedule a time with a Haas Center Peer Advisor (scroll down). We also offer study breaks, workshops, and retreats throughout the year to help you build service skills, explore careers, and develop as a leader.
Cardinal Commitment advising
Need advice on declaring your commitment or help finding an organization to work with?
Contact Cardinal Commitment program staff
Careers advising
Staff who specialize in Cardinal Careers advising are available to help you navigate your service career search or apply for a fellowship.
Peer Advisors
The Haas Center Peer Advisors are current Stanford students who have participated in a variety of Stanford public service opportunities. The Peer Advisors are available to answer questions from students about Cardinal Service opportunities throughout campus and beyond. Feel free to reach out and ask them for advice on all things public service!
See also:
Carolina Nazario (she/her) is a senior majoring in sociology with a minor in political science. She aspires to be a civil rights lawyer to promote and ensure access to justice. She is passionate about encouraging public service for students on campus, and has served as the coordinator for the Service Liaison Program and as a peer advisor at the Haas Center. This year, she will be the community engaged learning coordinator for the course Law 809D: What’s Next? After Students for Fair Admissions, a Law and Policy Lab focused on reimagining college admissions post the Supreme Court Students for Fair Admissions case. She works with the Legal Design Lab to understand how eviction legal services are currently being portrayed in the social media space. In the spring of 2023, Carolina researched local public financing programs for political campaigns at Public Citizen in Washington, D.C. as a part of the Stanford in Washington program. She is interested in socio-legal studies, service, and the ways in which these items become more accessible. Outside of work and classes, her hobbies include reading, watching movies (mainly just re-runs of Legally Blonde), and chit-chatting. Come see Carolina if you have questions about navigating service at Stanford, want to know more about the pre-law track, or just want to talk for a bit!
Dora Plascencia-Macias (she/her) is a junior majoring in sociology with a minor in human rights, which she hopes to use as a lawyer. Throughout her time at Stanford, she has been a Cardinal Quarter fellow, made Cardinal Commitments, and participated with programs dedicated to public service. This summer, through the Public Service Projects Fellowship, she worked with Columbia Gorge CASA to advocate for children in the foster care system and engage the local Hispanic community. She enjoys going to the gym, hiking, watching movies, listening to music, and doing random crafts. Come see Dora if you have a question or just want to get to know each other!
Dylan Vergara (he/him) is a sophomore with a primary major in political science and a secondary major in American studies. Since his frosh year, Dylan has been immersed in Stanford’s public service opportunities as a resident at Otero and Frosh Service Liaison. Inspired by public service in the government, he was a Cardinal Quarter fellow on Capitol Hill in the summer of 2023, where he worked for Rep. Julia Brownley to fight for climate solutions and healthcare. Currently, Dylan works for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice and hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of law and policy. Outside of the Haas Center, Dylan is involved in Stanford in Government, Stanford ACLU, the California Policy Collective, and the ASSU. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball, going to the beach, and watching new movies. Come see Dylan if you want to talk about anything service-related or make a new friend!
Makayla Abril Butters (she/her) is a junior majoring in english with a minor in human rights. Her love of service flourished at Stanford through the mentorship and community she found in Otero, the public service and civic engagement-themed dorm on campus. Through Otero, she engaged in various public service pathways, service opportunities through on-campus service organizations, and Cardinal Courses. During the summer of 2023, she was a Cardinal Quarter fellow with the Access to Justice Program at the San Mateo County Superior Court. In the Family Law Facilitator’s office, she worked with pro-se litigants who could not afford legal representation, learned how to prepare Domestic Violence Prevention Act paperwork, and supported survivors of gender-based violence in their time of need. In her free time, she enjoys trying new baking recipes, journaling, hiking, and sipping on lavender lattes. Come see Makayla if you ever need a helping hand along your service journey or a friend to talk to!
Kelly Harvell (she/her) is a senior majoring in bioengineering. Her involvement with the Haas Center began as a frosh through a Cardinal Commitment with the Cardinal Free Clinics. She continued to pursue public service through a position on the Cardinal Commitment team and as a Cardinal Quarter fellow with Haven Family House, a shelter in the LifeMoves network for families in the Bay Area seeking temporary housing. She has volunteered with Camp Kesem, Stanford Vax Crew, Stanford SPLASH, and Friends of MSF. As a FLI student, she aspires to make healthcare more accessible to underserved populations and wants to be an advocate for her community. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys hiking, camping, photography, and reading. Come see Kelly to chat about connecting with service-oriented student orgs, navigating college as a FLI student, or supporting your journey at Stanford!
Tanner Christensen (he/they) is a senior majoring in psychology and is pursuing his coterm in communication (media studies). He has been involved with the Haas Center since his freshman year, when he joined the Frosh Service Liaison program. Since then, he has participated in three Cardinal Quarter opportunities, served on the National Advisory Board, taken many Cardinal Courses, and declared several Cardinal Commitments. Outside of working at the Haas Center, Tanner is on the Stanford Cheer Team (Go Card!), an advising fellow for Matriculate, EVGR resident assistant, a calligrapher, and a devout lover of caffeine. Come see Tanner at the Haas Center if you need help navigating any part of the Stanford community, or if you just want to have a good laugh over coffee.