Chavez Jurado Named Newman Civic Fellow

Once again, a University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) student has been recognized as a national leader in community engagement and civic leadership as one of just 290 students recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Newman Civic Fellows are selected from among hundreds of nominees across Northern America by Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education.

Chavez Jurado, an elementary education major, will join students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the 2021 cohort. She is the only Newman Civic Fellow from the state of Nebraska.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a year-long program for students from Campus Compact member institutions. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally, and internationally.

Among Chavez Jurado's contributions to the UNO campus and larger Omaha community include First Forward, a newly-established student organization that supports first-generation college students like herself; supporting increased awareness on initiatives relating to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion through Student Government; and pushing for greater access to members of administration for all UNO students, particularly students representing marginalized groups.

"My interest in social issues did not start with one defining moment, rather it is a compilation of experiences that have led me to where I am today," Chavez Jurado said.

Chavez Jurado also most recently served as UNO Student Body Vice President, helping inform student support needs following the move to remote learning due to COVID as well as overseeing UNO's Freshman Leadership Council, a collection of first-year student leaders.

"Going into college as a first-generation student with strong support systems, I knew I only wanted to continue being an active voice helping elevate social issues," she said. "As I look to further engage in community wide issues, I know these experiences have well prepared me for future advocacy."

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 Professor Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors nominate student leaders from their campuses to be named Newman Civic Fellows.

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides Fellows with a variety 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 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 proud to recognize these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The experience of the last year has driven home to all of us that we need open-minded, innovative, public-spirited thinkers and doers. That is what Campus Compact is about, and the stories of our Newman Civic Fellows demonstrate it's who they are.”

Learn more at compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.