Simmons College student Jessica Rush of Marion, Massachusetts was recently selected for a prestigious 2018 Newman Civic Fellowship. The announcement was made earlier this month by Campus Compact, a Boston-based national coalition comprised of more than 1,000 colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education by preparing students for civic and social responsibility.
Campus Compact announced that Rush is one of 268 students who will make up the 2018 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows, which is named for Campus Compact’s co-founder Frank Newman, and supports students’ personal, professional and civic growth. Rush was nominated for the fellowship by Simmons College President Helen Drinan because of her commitment to issues related to income equality and accessibility to higher education.
“We are thrilled that Jessica Rush has been chosen as a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow,” said Drinan. “As a proud Campus Compact member institution, Simmons College fully supports the mission of the Newman Civic Fellowship and our shared goal of preparing students for a life of civic engagement and a long-term commitment to social responsibility. Jessica has distinguished herself as a leader at Simmons and in her community. I am confident that Jessica will use the Newman Civic Fellowship experience to turn her ideas into action.”
The one-year fellowship provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities. The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation.
“I am honored to be chosen for this fellowship, and I am grateful to President Drinan for nominating me,” said Rush, a second year student who is expected to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2019 and a master’s degree in public policy in 2020. “My work will focus on researching how colleges and universities, including Simmons College, can be more accessible and inclusive for first generation and low-income students. I am grateful to Simmons for recognizing my passion for helping others.”
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate and engage with such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year’s Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are bringing people together in their communities to solve pressing problems. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it’s what our country and our world desperately need.”