Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named the student civic leaders from 38 states, Washington, D.C. and Mexico who will make up the 2024-2025 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. NIU’s Alexandra Henriquez was named as a member of the cohort.
Alexandra Henriquez
Henriquez is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences and a member of the University Honors Program at NIU. In her first year, she enrolled in Research Rookies, which allows undergraduates to explore research interests working with a faculty mentor. She was a Huskie Service Scholar, a peer network that gives back to the community, and she returned as a peer mentor the following year.
Henriquez is looking forward to getting involved as a Newman Civic Fellow.
“I hope to expand my involvement on campus and giving back to the NIU community while building everlasting bonds within my fellowship,” Henriquez said. “I know the Newman Civic Fellowship program will be beneficial to my education, community advocacy and professional development and I am committed to giving the utmost dedication to this program.”
“Alexandra has committed herself to her degree and campus involvement with honesty, integrity and accountability,” NIU President Lisa Freeman said in a nomination letter to Campus Compact. “Alexandra is deeply committed to finishing tasks assigned to her and stays focused on her goals. She displays a high degree of honesty, loyalty, integrity and dedication in each activity.”
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. 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, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.
The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, 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.”
