Student Kedean 'Kay' Brown named as 2024-25 Newman Civic Fellow
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 2024-25 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Kedean "Kay" Brown, a junior property management major, was named as a member of the cohort.
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 Newman’s leadership, fellows are nominated by their campus presidents or chancellors, who are invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campuses each year.
“Kay has served in numerous leadership roles centered around community engagement, change-based activism, and service-learning opportunities since coming to Virginia Tech. Because of her passion for creating collaborative, asset-based partnerships, she has created positive changes not only on our campus, but for the New River Valley community as well,” said Heather Wagoner, acting director for VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service Learning.
Brown is an active advocate for community-based learning, championing first-generation students, and serves as a connector between peers and community organizations. Recent involvements include the Hokies First Peer Mentoring program and Alternative Break program.
“My perspective underwent a significant transformation upon entering college and being accepted into the first-generation living-learning community. Being part of this community changed my perspective on social justice and provided me with a deep understanding of community impact,” said Brown.
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.
“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.”
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.
