Chaco Iwase

Class of 2025
BHA Psychology and Fine Arts, Minor in Immersive Technologies in Arts and Culture
Hometown: Bayonne, New Jersey

During a bus ride from Somerset State Correctional Institution, Chaco first learned about the fellowship from Eric Moreno, a Fall 2022 fellow. They had spent a semester discussing psychological interventions for personal and societal change alongside incarcerated students as part of the CMU Prison Education Project.

Community has opened its way when they have experienced feelings of isolation and non-belonging. Education has continually blurred the line between us and them, the inside and outside, you and me.

Chaco Iwase is interested in research, design, art, and advocacy that centers children, immigrants, queer and trans, POC, and incarcerated perspectives.