Alixandria James ’23 One of 173 Students Nationwide Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named 173 student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2022-2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. 

Alixandria James ’23, a public health major in the School of Education and Health at Manhattan College, will join students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the cohort.

“As a public health major, I aim to better understand the intricacies of our healthcare delivery system, with the intention of expanding healthcare access, improving quality, and lowering costs,” James said. “Both the healthcare and education systems are responsible for providing services that are fundamental human rights, however certain populations continuously fall through the cracks.”

James is currently an Outreach Program intern with NewYork-Presbyterian’s Division of Community and Population Health. As part of the Outreach Program, she helps provide basic, preventive healthcare services to Black and Brown communities throughout New York City. 

“This experience has taught me that healthcare is not just about giving a service, but about using education to create trusting relationships with community members,” James said. “In addition, I have been able to use my research skills to create change within my collegiate community. The findings from my project have led to the formation of new policies and interventions aimed at increasing spatial and resource accessibility for minority populations on campus.”

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.

“Alixandria James has been a leader in efforts for transformational change on campus” said Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., president of Manhattan College. “Alixandria is committed to making her career in improving health care access for low-income people and people of color, drawing on innovative health delivery systems that provide low-cost, high quality services.”

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 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.

The Newman Civic Fellowship program is supported by the KPMG Foundation. Learn more at https://compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship.

You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort at https://compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship/the-2022-2023-newman-civic-fellows.