“The biggest impact was the way PULSE planted and nurtured in me a love for a particular neighborhood, a particular city and a civic identity…Embedded in that love was a sense that I could have a real, lasting impact on the places I love. “-Chad Martin, ’98-’99 Alumnus Chad Martin is a 1998-1999 PULSE alumnus....Read More

“Having grown up in a rural area, I was uncertain about whether I would enjoy living in an urban setting, but Pittsburgh was very welcoming… My experiences living in Pittsburgh fostered my interest in the structure of cities, leading to my decision to pursue studies in the urban planning field. “-Layne Wyse, ’07-’08 Alumnus Layne...Read More

“A lot of organizations provide fellowships, but the seminar component is what sets PULSE apart.  It’s during the seminar where the formation and the enrichment happens, where you can reflect on the relationship between vocation, faith, and the city, and where you can grow in community with other participants.”-Joel Shenk, PULSE ’04-’05 Alumnus Joel Shenk...Read More

“During PULSE I learned how my interests in service and social justice can be operationalized in a career setting.  I came with many interests and PULSE helped me develop focus.”– Anne Horst Hanby, PULSE ’01-’02 Alumna Anne Horst Hanby is a PULSE 2001-2002 alumna.  When Anne began PULSE in 2001, she brought with her a...Read More

“PULSE offered me a chance to get to know Pittsburgh on a meaningful level much quicker than if I had just moved to a new city on my own. Turned out that the gritty and green character of the city fit me well.” – Neil Stauffer, PULSE ’01-’02 Alumnus Neil Stauffer is a PULSE 2001-2002...Read More

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed about studying plant pathology is the opportunity to share my excitement about plants and plant diseases with other people (whether it’s growers or people from the community). In this picture, I am showing a sick cabbage plant to local third graders. My year in PULSE taught me to...Read More

PULSE gave me a way to positively express my passions and encouraged me to think differently about the world. PULSE taught me how to be a leader. PULSE allowed me to see the natural talents and gifts I had, which I never had discovered in college … My year in PULSE has been the most...Read More

When Marisa Smucker joined PULSE in 1994, the program was in its pilot year. She and her seven fellow PULSErs came to understand the challenges inherent in being part of a program’s pilot group. Today PULSE is well known in Pittsburgh, but in 1994 it was thanks to mavericks like Marisa Smucker who forged the...Read More

“Having majored in religion at a liberal-arts college (Carleton), I still didn’t know what I wanted to do professionally. PULSE gave me the chance to explore several of my interests including art.” This is a quote from Randi Sider-Rose, a mother of three children, Pittsburgh resident, and PULSE 1998-1999 Alumna. While her sentiments seem to...Read More

PULSE Alumna Katherine Yoder’s major didn’t have much to do with designing clothes. But thanks to a metal working class at Goshen College and her time as a PULSE fellow, she found herself in New York designing clothes for Eileen Fisher. Her love for art and design really took off when she took the aforementioned metal...Read More