A Day at St. Edward's: Vivian Phillips

By Robyn Ross

When the phone rings at the nonprofit law firm the Equal Justice Center (EJC), Vivian Phillips ’21 answers, ready to help. As an intern, Phillips is the first point of contact for callers seeking to renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, work permits. She conducts a brief interview in the caller’s preferred language — English or Spanish — to gather the information EJC needs and schedules the appointment.

A Global Studies and Spanish double major, Phillips started paying closer attention to politics and government after the 2016 primary, during her junior year in high school. At St. Edward’s, classes about dictatorships, democracies and human rights in Latin America helped her understand how events in the region prompted waves of immigration to the United States and how the U.S. government has sometimes reacted by limiting who can settle in the country.

“That’s where my interest in law began,” Phillips explains. “I wanted to make sure people were not targeted or discriminated against.”

The people Phillips helps with their DACA renewals are just a few years older than she is. Many were particularly anxious in November as the Supreme Court heard a challenge to the DACA program, a case it will decide this summer. “You could definitely feel the pressure in the office,” she says.

Phillips also works on campus in the dean’s office for the School of Natural Sciences, where she answers phones, delivers the mail and helps schedule events. She also has honed her marketing skills, designing flyers for events like Donuts with the Dean, and she helps maintain the school’s Instagram account.

Outside of class, Phillips is the fundraising coordinator for the pre-law organization Phi Alpha Delta and a member of It’s On Us, a student-led group that focuses on sexual assault prevention. In her free time, she explores Austin’s coffee shops — especially ones with eye-catching décor. “I’ll text friends and say, ‘OK, we have to get work done, but we might as well go somewhere cute,’” she says. Her new favorite spot is Plaza Colombian, which checks all the boxes: good coffee, good food (smoothies and arepas) and thoughtful design.

Phillips often finishes her day hanging out with friends in her on-campus apartment. When classes are over, she’ll do homework and then text Gianni Zorrilla ’20 and Sierra Rozen ’20. They’ll watch something light — Netflix or reality shows like Top Model — to relax. After thinking about so many weighty issues, she says, “I think it’s important to wind down every once in a while.”

The image depicts a young woman with long, light brown hair and wearing a dark green long-sleeve shirt and jeans. She is standing in front of a wall of mail slots, organizing or placing mail into the compartments. The setting appears to be an office or a mailroom, with various posters and notices pinned on the wall in the background. The woman is focused on her task, holding several pieces of mail in her left hand while using her right hand to insert a piece into a slot.

In her on-campus job as an office assistant, Phillips distributes the mail for faculty and staff in the School of Natural Sciences.

The image shows a young woman with long, light brown hair, wearing a dark green long-sleeve shirt and jeans, sitting on the floor of an office. She is holding a small dog with light brown and white fur, smiling warmly at the pet. The office environment features desks with computer monitors, chairs, and office supplies in the background. The scene conveys a sense of warmth and friendliness, highlighting the bond between the woman and her dog.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ori, an emotional support animal for one of Phillips’ colleagues, provides Phillips and other students a welcome break.

The image shows a young woman with long, light brown hair, wearing a dark green long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. She is walking outside along a curved walkway, holding several pieces of mail or papers. The building she is next to has a red exterior and large glass doors. The scene is framed with some greenery in the foreground, indicating an outdoor setting, likely on a campus. The woman appears focused as she walks.

In addition to running errands for the School of Natural Sciences, Phillips designs flyers for events and helps with the school’s social media.

The image depicts two women in an office setting. One woman with long, light brown hair is wearing a sleeveless gray dress and is seated at a desk. She is engaged in conversation with another woman, who has dark hair tied back and is wearing a black top. The second woman is holding pink papers and has several brown folders stacked on the desk. The office is decorated with various posters and pictures on the wall. A corkboard with drawings and notes is also visible.

Phillips checks in with Paola Hernandez, her supervisor at the Equal Justice Center, about tasks they need to complete after a citizenship clinic.

The image shows a group of people in a classroom-like setting, engaging in a craft activity. They are seated and standing around tables, decorating clear plastic ornaments with various materials such as glitter and colored paper. The participants, who include both men and women, appear focused and engaged in their tasks. The room has a casual atmosphere with supplies scattered on the tables, including scissors, glue, and additional craft materials.

For the last Phi Alpha Delta meeting of the semester, the group decorated Christmas ornaments to counterbalance the stress of finals.

The image depicts two young women sitting at an outdoor café, engaged in a lively conversation. One woman has long, light brown hair and is wearing a white shirt, while the other has curly hair tied back and is wearing a tan jacket. They are seated at a round table with notebooks, a water bottle, and bags. In the background, a vintage red Jeep and some string lights add a charming, rustic feel to the setting. Both women are smiling, enjoying their time together in the casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Phillips takes a study break with her friend and fellow Global Studies major Hildana Adhanom ’21, who hails from Ethiopia. Plaza Colombian, a new coffee shop on South Congress Avenue near campus, is Phillips’ and Adhanom’s go-to spot for caffeine, food and productivity.

The image shows three young women sitting on a couch, laughing and enjoying each other's company. They are covered with blankets, indicating a cozy and relaxed setting. The background features a decorative tapestry with a colorful mandala pattern. One woman has curly hair and is wearing a green shirt, another has long, light brown hair and is wearing a beige sweater, and the third has long, dark hair and is wearing a dark green sweater. The atmosphere is joyful and warm, highlighting their close friendship.

After a long day of classes, Phillips winds down by watching movies or reality TV with her friends Sierra Rozen ’20 (left) and Gianni Zorrilla ’20 (right).

Photography by Chelsea Purgahn