Sinceits establishment last fall, MooreTOGETHER has empowered, inspired, and connected individuals with diverse abilities across the Hilltop. This formal partnership with The Moore Center has deepened Saint Anselm’s dedication to community-engaged learning and introduced mutually advantageous programs that vitalize and strengthen both organizational communities.
Among these programs is the MooreTOGETHER Fellowship, which brings individuals served by the Manchester-based organization (deemed “Moore Center Fellows”) to campus on a semiweekly basis to experience college life alongside Anselmians through academics and activities. Facilitated through the College’s Meelia Center for Community Engagement, Saint Anselm students can participate in the program freely or as part of a community-engaged learning course.
“[The MooreTOGETHER Fellowship] creates opportunities for both the students and the Fellows to show up authentically on a college campus where they are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones in an inclusive and supportive environment,” says Director of Community Engaged Learning Allyn Doyle ’13. “The Moore Center and Saint Anselm share a mission that allows both college students and the Fellows to grow together, learn together, and build meaningful relationships with one another.”
So, what does a day for the MooreTOGETHER Fellowship look like?
Walking Club / Recreational Fun
On Tuesdays and Fridays, the Fellows and students begin their mornings with Walking Club. During this half-hour stroll, the Carr Center sparkles with laugher, conversation, and the Fellows’ footsteps. While some complete as many consecutive laps as they can, others enjoy occasional water breaks and jump back in once they feel refreshed.
Walking Club is the perfect opportunity for students and the Fellows to catch up before their next adventure. There’s even room for improvised fun with basketballs and volleyballs that anyone can toss around.
Activity Hour / Class
After Walking Club on Tuesdays, the Fellows attend a student-led lecture in Grappone Hall. On Fridays, they head to Activity Hour, which offers everything from karaoke and chair yoga to board games, rock painting, and various other sensory activities.
Presently, all MooreTOGETHER Fellowship lessons are taught by Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences students enrolled in specific nursing, community and public health, and psychology courses. The lessons change throughout the semester, giving the Fellows an exceptionally diverse educational experience.
“Saint Anselm is such a wonderful community, and [the Fellows] add to it immensely,” says Nursing major Caden Sanborn ’27, who teaches a MooreTOGETHER Fellowship course. “Their smiles, warm energy, and willingness to learn make us so lucky to have them on campus. We can learn so much from them, such as how a good attitude can shape someone else’s day.”
In a recent lesson, NU 449 - Community/Public Health Nursing students taught a class on summer hygiene, sun protection, and heat safety. The Fellows listened intently to detailed information about SPF rankings and application methods, proper hydration and nutrition tips, and swimming safety guidance. After answering beach-themed “Would You Rather” questions and discussing their favorite summer pastimes, the Fellows participated in an enthusiastic game of bingo that tested their takeaways.
“I like the classes with the college girls,” says MooreTOGETHER Fellow Heather when asked about her time on campus. “I like being with friends.”
“We hope MooreTOGETHER continues to grow,” says Professor Pamela Preston, who teaches the course and has several students involved in organizing and facilitating MooreTOGETHER Fellowship lessons. Preston feels that the Fellows’ life experiences and perspectives enrich the overall learning environment on the Hilltop. “This collaboration fosters a mutually beneficial exchange with both nursing students and the Fellows gaining insight and knowledge from one another,” she says.
Having witnessed her students develop a creative, thoughtful approach to health education that caters to the Fellows’ needs, Preston can’t help but smile while watching them shine as classroom leaders.
Lunch Buddies
Action-packed mornings call for hearty lunches. Through Lunch Buddies, Saint Anselm students join the Fellows in Davison to enjoy tasty dining hall dishes. While some garnish their plates with salads, pasta, and sandwiches, others opt for something sweet—like ice cream!
This social hour invites the Fellows and students to form more personal connections with one another and gives the Fellows a chance to indulge in campus cuisine. Along with many others, Business Administration major Maxwell Walker ’29 frequently finds himself dining with the Fellows.
“I strongly encourage current and future members of the Saint Anselm community to consider this fulfilling opportunity,” he says. “Lunch Buddies has been a phenomenal opportunity to harness the power of sharing a meal [together] to connect with members of The Moore Center, think deeply about what it means to be a Benedictine community, and take time to engage with one another in what can seem at times to be an increasingly busy world.”
Inclusive Pickleball / Class
Tuesdays end where they begin—back in the Carr Center—and this time, the gym glimmers with a hollow percussion of pickleballs and paddles.
While games can be leisurely or competitive, all parties seem content to partake in a relaxed post-meal back and forth. On Fridays, the Fellows wrap up their time on campus with a lesson.
“I like going to classes to learn new things like the right way to use sunscreen, and I love pickleball!” says Nick, one of the Fellows. Nick feels that visiting Saint Anselm has given him a nice new group of friends.
Since the program’s inception, Jennifer Meyer ’04—vice president of The Moore Center—has been moved by the genuine relationships that the Fellows have built with Saint Anselm students, faculty, and staff.
“In just two semesters, [MooreTOGETHER] has grown from a shared vision into a strong, thriving reality, creating meaningful opportunities where students and fellows learn, connect, and grow together,” shares the Saint Anselm alumna. “[There are] limitless possibilities for what we can build next.”
The MooreTOGETHER Fellowship will continue in the 2026-2027 academic year. If you’d like to get involved with the Fellows or learn about the overall partnership, please contact the Meelia Center at meeliacenter@anselm.edu.