Sofia Jacob has been appointed as the inaugural Shinnyo Pathways Fellow at Berkeley City College (BCC) this year. On April 15, Sofia, alongside Skyler Barton—counselor, instructor, and her supervisor—and Lissette Flores, Acting Dean of Enrollment Services, visited the Shinnyo-en USA Head Temple in Redwood City. They were warmly welcomed by temple members and staff, and shared how Sofia has been serving students at BCC and neighboring schools, including Longfellow Middle School and Berkeley High School.
Following Skyler’s heartfelt expression of appreciation and gratitude to both the temple and Foundation staff, Sofia spoke about her work supporting several key initiatives, some of those initiatives include the Society of Scholars Program, the Dual Enrollment Program, the Dual Enrolled Students Club (DESC), and co-teaching a counseling course with Skyler. To promote the Dual Enrollment Program—which enables middle and high school students to take college-level courses free of charge—Sofia conducts outreach by speaking at local middle and high schools and leading enrollment workshops at BCC. As students enroll, she continues to support their individual learning goals through personalized guidance and advising within DESC.
After the presentation, Sofia, Skyler, and Lissette were given a brief tour of the main worship hall and the first-floor photo gallery, guided by an experienced practitioner and temple staff member.
Reflecting on the visit, Sofia shared, “It was truly an honor to share my experiences as this year’s Shinnyo Pathways Fellow at the Head Temple. This experience has enabled me to engage in meaningful community service within the field of education while demonstrating the values of peace, compassion, and interconnectedness that guide the fellowship. I had such a positive and memorable experience visiting the Shinnyo-en Head Temple. Everyone was so welcoming, and I immediately felt a genuine sense of care and community from the moment we arrived. It was deeply meaningful to see the values that have guided my fellowship in action, and I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on my work.”
Skyler similarly noted, “Our visit to the Shinnyo-en Head Temple was truly heartwarming and memorable. Interacting with community members served as a powerful reminder of how interconnected we are. The positive energy, thoughtfulness, and nurturing engagement demonstrated by all were uplifting and inspiring—providing validation and affirming the vision of our collaborative partnership created through the Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship.”
Lissette reflected on the broader impact of the fellowship program as she wrote, “With the Foundation’s support, we are able to provide young professionals like Sofia with the opportunity to serve and guide underrepresented high school and community college students in their educational journey.” She added, “Berkeley City College is incredibly grateful for our partnership with Shinnyo-en Foundation. We were honored to visit the Head Temple and meet the staff and members who make the work of the Shinnyo Pathways Fellow at Berkeley City College possible.”
Echoing their sentiments, we extend our sincere gratitude for their visit and presentation at the Shinnyo-en USA Head Temple. We also deeply appreciate the gracious hospitality of the Head Temple staff and members in creating such a welcoming space for connection and reflection.
The continued evolution of our fellowship model at community colleges would not be possible without the steadfast dedication, commitment, and guidance of instructors and administrators such as Skyler and Lissette. We are sincerely grateful to all who support and mentor our Shinnyo Pathways Fellow at BCC.
Please view more photos from their visit and presentation on our Flickr page at this link.