Andrea Rivera '24 Honored as Newman Civic Fellow: Junior recognized for commitment to solving public problems
May 1, 2023
Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named 154 student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2023-2024 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Andrea Rivera ’24 will join students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the cohort.
The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one outstanding student from their campus each year.
“Andrea exemplifies a strong commitment to civic engagement and justice” said President Kim Mooney ’83. “She is a model Raven, taking a leadership approach that enables others to act in support of justice and equity and inspires advocacy, consistency, empathy, and inclusivity.”
An involved student leader, Andrea is connected to programs on and off campus, with the ability to motivate those around her to build strong, inclusive communities. She is passionate about the work she is engaged with and is always seeking new opportunities. For the last three years, she has worked to help build the University’s diversity program A.L.A.NA student organization. On campus, she is an effective advocate for equitable academic and social support for all students, specifically, the needs of historically underrepresented students. Her leadership skills are enhanced through her involvement in the Raven Leadership Academy and Peer Leader program. In the Monadnock community, Andrea volunteers with the Jaffrey-Rindge MLK Committee, a local community organization that celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and organizes a day of action for the local towns of Jaffrey and Rindge, New Hampshire. Andrea continues her work through this organization to lift up the dignity of others.
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact will provide these students with a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over the course of two days.
The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
“We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds—and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.”
Learn more at www.compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship. You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort here.
