Student Leader Selected for Prestigious Civic Fellowship

BALTIMORE, Md- A student leader and recognized community change-maker will represent Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) in the prestigious Transform Mid- Atlantic Civic Fellowship program, recognizing student leaders committed to community engagement and creating solutions to our region’s most urgent problems.

Morgan Williamson ‘26, was one of over 15 students chosen from colleges and universities across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Delaware to join a cohort of like-minded student leaders for the year-long fellowship that supports students committed to building partnerships between higher education and local communities.

“Ms. Williamson embodies leadership in the spirit of service and civic engagement and as a result of all of these exceptional qualities, she would make an excellent choice for Transform Mid Atlantic’s Civic Fellowship program.” President Marylou Yam wrote, “Our campus and local community is made better by the work of Morgan Williamson, and we look forward to seeing her continue to develop as a leader prepared to transform the world.”

At NDMU, Morgan’s passion to help her community is already making a significant impact. Morgan has worked to grow Gator Thrift, an on-campus initiative that offers new and gently used clothing to students, employees, and alumni. The store is open daily from 10am to 5pm and is powered by a dedicated team of 10 student volunteers, whom Morgan leads and coordinates.

“This fellowship is a very exciting opportunity for me to hone in on leadership skills” Morgan said. “I’m also eager to apply what I learned during my trip to the UN Commission on the Status of Women over spring break, including integrating the 17 sustainable development goals into my service. That trip inspired me to develop my role as a global citizen, and I hope to do so through the fellowship.”

Morgan has expanded beyond campus by launching Gator Thrift Pop-Up events in the surrounding community, distributing clothing essential items to those in need, an initiative that has benefitted hundreds of local residents. Morgan considers Gator Thrift to be a passion project. Her main focus for Gator Thrift’s long-term success is finding ways to build sustainable relationships with other community partners.

“There are so many elements that I love about it, from making self-expression accessible to the community to reducing textile waste” she said. “It addresses social and environmental issues at the same time!”

Among Morgan’s many accolades, she maintains a 4.0 GPA, holds a leadership position for the Bonner Leaders program, is a participant in the selective Morrissy Honors Program, and is the recipient of NDMU’s Presidential Scholarship. She is also on track to graduate early in Spring 2026 through NDMU’s accelerated five-year program for art therapy, combining her passion for creativity and service into her future career plans.

Morgan’s commitment to service began before college. “I come from a relatively small high school where I was heavily involved in our National English Honor Society chapter. As president my senior year, I led an initiative to review and make suggestions regarding my county’s list of approved curriculum books and raised awareness on banned books. I believe this is where my spark for community service and leadership came from, and I knew that joining the Bonner program would foster that passion. I’ve always valued the importance of a strong community, and as I grew as a person, I found that I had a deep desire to play a part in creating those communities.”

As she looks ahead to her year with the Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellowship, Morgan remains committed to helping others get involved in service too. “Notre Dame is a wonderful place for service-oriented students!”, she said. “If you are a student who wants to start a community project, find students who are just as passionate as you are and jump right into it. Sometimes getting the courage to start is the hardest part, so be confident. Working closely with the Community Engagement & Service Learning Office has been key to Gator Thrift’s success, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them with any ideas.”