Student Leader & Mentor Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

(BALTIMORE, Md.) – An outstanding Notre Dame of Maryland University student leader was recognized for her community involvement with the prestigious Newman Civic Fellowship by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education. 
 
Rochelle Thompson ‘22, an English and political science double major, is one of 212 students from 39 states, Washington, DC, and Mexico selected for the 2021-22 cohort. She is only the second NDMU student to receive this award. 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.  

“Ms. Thompson embodies leadership in the spirit of service and civic engagement, and throughout her time at NDMU, Rochelle has reflected what it means to be a Notre Dame leader,” said NDMU President Marylou Yam.

Thompson holds several student leadership positions, including engagement coordinator through NDMU’s Legacy Leaders program and campus president of Sigma Tau Delta, an internationally recognized English honor society. She is a mentor to local youth through NDMU’s York Road Education and Service (YES) Program and at her church. She is also chief editor of Damozel, Notre Dame’s literary magazine, and a member of the United Nations Club. Additionally, she has interned with the legislative team for Senator Shelly Hettleman in the Maryland General Assembly, engaging in local advocacy in Baltimore County. 

“It is a great honor to be a part of so many communities and use my voice to promote change on a local and national level while advocating for those whose voices are silenced or ignored,” said Thompson. "My commitment to leadership is demonstrated through my acts of service, love, and compassion."

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.” 
 
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. 

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.