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By Eva Diaz

The first year of college is a journey of discovery — an opportunity to explore passions, embrace
new challenges and forge lasting friendships. It is a time of excitement but also of uncertainty, as students navigate a completely new experience. For students in the Creative Collective, a new living-learning community at Mount Saint Mary’s, that journey is guided by art, spirituality and a shared commitment to creative expression.

Living-learning communities offer more than just housing on campus — they provide an immediate support system, offering students the opportunity to live with peers who share interests and goals to create a built-in network of friendship, mentorship and academic collaboration.

These types of programs integrate residential life with academic and co-curricular experiences, allowing students to live and learn alongside peers who share their interests and goals. Research shows that living-learning communities are a high-impact practice that enhance student engagement, improve academic success and foster a deeper sense of belonging within the university.

Launched in Fall of 2024, the Creative Collective brings together students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who share a passion for creativity. Living together at the Burns Hall residence at the Chalon Campus, the program offers a space where artistry, academic exploration and spirituality intersect, shaping not just students’ college experiences but their personal growth as well.

“By combining the benefits of a residential program with a focus on artistic and spiritual exploration, this community is providing students with the tools to shape their futures, build lifelong connections, and make an impact through their creativity,” says Christie de la Gándara, PhD, director of Campus Ministry and Spirituality, and founder and director of the new living-learning community.

The Mount’s Creative Collective is a national flagship program because it is the only collective in the country that combines undergraduate residential living, interdisciplinary artistic exploration and a commitment to spiritual formation throughout a yearlong experience.

A space for reflection, creation and community

Throughout the year, students in the Creative Collective embark on a journey of artistic and personal exploration. Through workshops, off campus experiences and guided discussions, they channel their creativity into self-expression, using music, dance, visual art and writing to tell their stories.

For Dulce Romero, a first-year student majoring in pre-nursing and psychology, the program has been transformative. A dancer at heart, Dulce has learned to embrace her unique artistic voice. “Being part of the Creative Collective has helped me trust that my perspective is valuable, a practice I have taken into the classroom as well” she says. “It is about discovering who I am and realizing that art can be a powerful tool for communication and growth.”

For many students, the Creative Collective is as much about the network they have formed as it is about the art. Music major Julia Silveira, originally from Brazil, has found comfort and confidence within the community. As an international student, Julia has also found a home away from home during her first year at the Mount.

From exploring Los Angeles with new friends to participating in American traditions and celebrations for the first time, the program has provided unique and meaningful opportunities as she navigates campus life in a new country. “Writing music and singing in a language that isn’t my first isn’t always easy, but my friends encourage me. They remind me, ‘Julia, you got this. You are enough,’” she says. Amy Elias, an art and film student, echoes that sentiment. “This community has given me the space to explore my faith and spirituality in a way that feels authentic to me,” she says. “We all have different mediums to express ourselves, but each person here is talented in their own way.”

Learning beyond the classroom

The Creative Collective extends far beyond campus. Students embark on immersive experiences throughout Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from the city’s vibrant cultural and artistic landscape. Visits to museums such as The Broad and the Getty, performances at The Pantages, and hands-on workshops bring their learning to life.

Industry professionals also bring their expertise to the students. For instance, a storytelling seminar with TV writer Jeffrey Jay (Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars) helped students refine their artistic voices, while a pottery workshop with Mount psychology professor Robin Bishop, PhD, encouraged self-reflection through clay.

Beyond creativity, the program fosters leadership and project management skills that support their academic journeys. Dulce, for instance, has discovered that creativity is a valuable tool in problem-solving, both in her coursework and in her future career in healthcare. “Thinking outside the box is crucial in both art and nursing,” she explains. “This experience has made me a more creative thinker.”

Other students have found that the reflective practices encouraged by the program help them approach their studies with a greater sense of clarity and purpose. The integration of creative thinking with academic disciplines encourages students to explore connections among different fields, deepening their engagement with both the arts and their chosen majors.

A culmination of art and reflection

The Creative Collective will be presenting its inaugural artistic showcase at the end of the academic year,
centered around the theme of “Voice.” This exhibit will serve as both a celebration and a reflection of the students’ journeys, offering the Mount community a glimpse into their work and transformation.

For these students, art is more than a passion — it is a path to self-discovery, deeper spirituality and meaningful connections. As they continue to explore and create, their voices will resonate far beyond the walls of their residence hall, shaping not just their own lives, but also the world around them.