Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced the 212 students who will make up the organization’s 2021-2022 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows, including the University of Maine at Augusta’s own Celena Zacchai. This year’s cohort includes students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico.

Celena Zacchai is a UMA Social Science major, who attends many classes at the UMA Rockland Center. In addition to being recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow, Zacchai was also selected as a 2020 Maine Policy Scholar, researching the topic of the Role of Maine State Policy in Increasing Access to Affordable Housing for Maine Seniors. At UMA’s 2020 Convocation Ceremony, she delivered the student perspective on the year’s academic theme of “Outbreak” and in 2019, she was honored as a UMA Rising Scholar.

“I am honored to represent UMA as a Newman Civic Fellow and grateful to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside so many bright and dedicated students,” said Zacchai, in a news release. “I chose to pursue a degree in the Social Sciences because I want to help make a difference. The Newman Civic Fellowship provides training and networking opportunities that will help me toward that goal,” she continued.

As an undergrad, Zacchai has developed an interest in the relationship between physical space and human health and well-being, environmental racism, and affordable housing issues. She plans to pursue a master's in policy, planning, and management upon completing her BA in 2022.

“It was my privilege to nominate Celena as a Newman Civic Fellow,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “She has demonstrated resilience, commitment, and leadership in her time at UMA and dedicated herself to improving her community. This is a well-deserved recognition of her commitment to civic issues of importance to Maine.” 

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

“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.”

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.

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs. https://www.uma.edu

UMA is the third largest public university in Maine. In addition to campuses in Augusta and Bangor, UMA also serves students at its UMA Centers around the state. With its multiple locations and long-term expertise in online and distance learning, UMA is generally considered the university of choice for Mainers of all ages who want to attend college without uprooting their lives.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, we provide professional development to administrators and faculty to enable them to engage effectively, facilitate national partnerships connecting campuses with key issues in their local communities, build pilot programs to test and refine promising models in engaged teaching and scholarship, celebrate and cultivate student civic leadership, and convene higher education institutions and partners beyond higher education to share knowledge and develop collective capacity. Visit www.compact.org.