Corrigan Goldsmith is thoroughly involved on the St. Ambrose campus.
Aside from pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Occupational Therapy in the 3+2 program, the third-year student also is actively involved in Campus Ministry.
"I am so blessed to have been raised in a supportive, faith-filled home," said Goldsmith, whose father is a deacon at Sacred Heart Church in Monticello, Iowa. "As I transitioned onto my own, I realized how difficult it would be to remain so grounded in my faith and have found many challenges in college. I am so grateful for Campus Ministry for helping me stay focused in college."
Goldsmith has taken part in multiple service opportunities, such as a spring break trip to Kentucky. She is also vice president of Ambrosians for Peace and Justice, and has a strong passion for social justice work. While on a trip to Haiti, Goldsmith fell in love with international social justice work.
"With the language barrier, cultural differences, and a completely different understanding of life; it was so amazing to interact with the Haitians," Goldsmith said.
When Christmas morning came around, Goldsmith was awoken to the chatter of children in the orphanage outside of her window.
"At first I thought, 'Oh, it's Christmas, yay!' then realized how utterly different my view of this holiday was from these children," Goldsmith recalled. "Since that moment, and after this whole trip, I have changed my outlook on life."
Since her time in Haiti, Goldsmith has interned with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), and received an alumni grant to work with SAU students on issues of mass incarceration and restorative justice. She recently held a focus group on intentional conversations where Leslie Kilgannon of Quad Cities Interfaith educated members on how to create meaningful relationships. Currently, Goldsmith is working on creating movement around a mental health court in Scott County.
"St. Ambrose Campus Ministry staff, in particular, has been imperative to my development as a Catholic and social justice leader," Goldsmith said. "(During) my first year, Kelly Bush was the Ambrosians for Peace and Justice staff liaison—and she helped light a fire of social justice within me."
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