View of Saint Joseph Hall, a stone building with terra cotta roof tiles, through the trees

LENS – Leaders Engaged in Service

Chestnut Hill College recognizes and values the importance of service to our ‘Dear Neighbors,’ both here in our College community and in the local community in Philadelphia. It is with this in mind that we have introduced the Leaders ENgaged in Service (LENS) program at Chestnut Hill College. LENS is a unique early move-in program for incoming first-year students who value service, social justice, and community. This is an impactful opportunity for new CHC students to get to know Philadelphia and our CHC community.

Our LENS program will be offered during spring break of 2026. Stay tuned for more information and contact Anna Ryan-Bender (bender-ryana@chc.edu) with any questions.

“Participating in LENS has been incredibly enriching in expanding my context and understanding of Philadelphia. Engaging with the city has allowed me to see its diverse communities, challenges, and strengths up close. Through this lens, I’ve deepened my connection to the CHC community and gained a greater appreciation for the complexities of addressing systemic social injustices.” – 2023 LENS participant

Students accepted into the LENS program come to campus early to participate in a four-day service-immersion in Philadelphia with our community partners and Sisters of St. Joseph sponsored works. Students will participate in community service, along with structured reflection activities, and leadership development. With a focus on social justice, the LENS program uses a model of servant leadership to recognize and respond to issues of social inequality in our society. In addition, LENS students have time to explore the fun things our city has to offer! We build plenty of time into the schedule to discover many of Philadelphia’s social and cultural gems.

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