Border Immersion Program
The Mulvaney Center’s Border Immersion Program is an opportunity for students to dive deep into the vibrant culture and unique challenges of the Border Region with a core understanding of the interdependency that connects the U.S. and Mexico. Students will learn about grassroots issues and organizations advancing social justice on the border, foster community engagement, nourish their personal development and promote global dialogue. We promote the understanding of immersion as a practice, an evolving lived experience that results in unique learning and growth. Common learning for participants includes:
- Greater capacity to engage in authentic relationships cross-culturally
- Greater capacity to reflect and break down stereotypes and assumptions
- Greater awareness of one’s impact on other communities
- Greater respect and compassion for the humankind as a whole
Border Immersion Program 2018-2019




Immersion Experiences

Mulvaney Center’s Border Immersion Program has significantly expanded and deepened its presence in the San Diego/Tijuana community. One-day immersion experiences in both San Diego and Tijuana continue to be a practical way to expose students, faculty and staff to the border community.

In Spring 2014, CASA expanded Border Immersion to include the Nogales Sonora/Arizona community. Through a partnership with Outdoor Adventures, students embarked on an “Alternative Spring Break” experience that included a road trip to and from Nogales as well as a three-day immersion in Nogales, Sonora.
For one week a group of students from the Mulvaney Center stayed with the Lopez Family in the small town of La Blanca located in northwestern Guatemala. The focus of the trip was centered on the idea of Borders- both their significance, as well as their insignificance.
Student Leadership
Beyond Borders Student Leaders
The Beyond Borders team is composed of a group of students who create immersive experiences with neighbors on both sides of the border. They shed light on the challenges, opportunities and unspoken narratives of border communities.

Micah Fellows
The MICAH Summer Fellowship is a collaboration between the University of San Diego and Saint Mary's College of California. It allows current USD and SMC students the opportunity to cultivate personal and social responsibility through intentionally joining communities that are working to create positive social change. Tijuana Micah Fellows intern with different community partners that do work on the ground with migrant and refugee communities.
