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Gabriella Rodriguez, a student at Millersville University, will join students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the next class of Newman Civic Fellows. Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education recently named the student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2022-2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.
The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for the late Frank Newman, recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world.
“It’s really an honor. I didn’t think I’d ever be nominated for something like this,” ” says Rodriguez, a junior who is double majoring in sociology and language & culture studies with a concentration in Spanish. “I’m so grateful to Dr. Mahaffy in the Sociology Department who saw potential in me for something like this, and for the board of faculty who chose me as well. I am so honored.” She says she is excited to represent Millersville University on a national scale and looks forward to connecting with other student leaders.
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact will provide students with a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional and civic growth. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive 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.
Rodriguez is a student leader known for her dedication to inclusion and social justice and is a respected leader among her peers. “Gabriella has excellent leadership skills and engages in collaborative action with others from campus and from surrounding communities in order to create long-term social change,” says Dr. Daniel A. Wubah, president of Millersville University. “She leads by example and is a mentor to her peers. She provided informal support to other students in a social statistics course and regularly bolstered their confidence through her patience and empathy. Her bilingual skills give her the ability to advocate for our local Latinx community.”
Among her many achievements, Rodriguez is also a first-generation college student and serves as an orientation leader and president for the First Gems organization. She says she’s passionate about addressing public problems and took on a leadership role as an officer in the University’s student NAACP chapter and the first-year student mentoring program to do just that.
“We are proud to name such an outstanding and diverse group of students Newman Civic Fellows,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “Their passion and resolve to take action on the wide range of issues challenging our neighborhoods and communities is inspiring and deeply needed. We cannot wait to engage with them through this transformative experience.”
The Newman Civic Fellowship program is supported by the KPMG Foundation. Learn more at Newman Civic Fellowship. You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort at 2022-2023 Newman Civic Fellows.
