A unique aspect of the ACE Center is the ACE House, where four SMU students live and work year-round in a neighborhood four miles from the SMU campus. The ACE House provides an opportunity for SMU students from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds to cultivate a sense of community among themselves, the SMU student body, and the neighborhood in which they live.
ACE House residents engage in 5 hours of community engagement with their surrounding neighborhood by hosting events at the house such as trick-or-treating, Zumba classes, coffee klatches, etc. In addition to this, students are involved in 20 hours of service work at a local nonprofit agency of their choice.
Residents this academic year are actively working with the following area community agencies: Resolana, Habitat for Humanity, Love of the Lake, North Texas Food Bank, and Big Thought.
ACE House and ACE course alumni have gone on to graduate and professional schools at Harvard, Yale, the University of Texas, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Michigan, UT Southwestern, The Mayo Clinic, The London School of Economics and other leading national and international universities.
ACE Center students have pursued successful careers in teaching, finance, higher education, medicine, law, business, engineering, and in the non-profit sector.
For students interested in considering the ACE House to live, the house is a four bedroom, two bath house with a shared kitchen and living room.
Housing applications can be located here. For more information please contact Dr. Cruz.
Meet the ACE House Residents
Alejandra Aguirre
Alejandra Aguirre is currently a junior at Southern Methodist University. She is majoring in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. This will be her 3rd year living at the ACE House. For the Fall 2012 semester she is in Washington DC working as a Congressional Intern at the office of Senator Blumenthal. This internship opportunity is part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Ruby Sanchez
Ruby Sanchez is currently a junior at Southern Methodist University. She is majoring in Psychology. This is her 2nd year living at the ACE House: “The ACE House has such a positive influence on the community and I am thrilled to be part of it for another memorable year of service.”
Karissa Jobman
Karissa Jobman is currently a junior at Southern Methodist University. She is majoring in Advertising and minoring in statistics and photography. This is her first year living at the ACE House. “I’m excited to live at the ACE house this year and have an opportunity to help the community around me. As a college student, I can provide a fresh perspective to community organizations.”
Demi Martinez
Demi Martinez is currently a sophomore at Southern Methodist University. She is majoring in Chemistry with the goal to go to medical school. This will be her 1st semester living at the ACE House. “The ACE program is allowing us to create the leaders of tomorrow. ACE House is an excellent program that allows me to assist the community and make a difference in the lives of these children.”