Buffalo State Student Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named 173 student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2022–2023 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Iaya Mohamed, a junior health and wellness major at Buffalo State College, will join students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico to form the cohort.

The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. Mohamed demonstrates these values consistently through her work on and off campus. She has proved herself as a student leader through her on-campus work with the Student Civic Leadership Board and the Buffalo State College Rotaract Club, her involvement as a site coordinator for Bengals Dare to Care day, and her efforts to reactivate the Muslim Student Association on campus.

Mohamed is also very involved in the Buffalo community, serving as a volunteer with FeedMore WNY, the Buffalo City Mission Shelter, Buffalo City Thrift Store, and much more.

“Buffalo State provided great opportunities for me to give back to the community,” said Mohamed, who plans to pursue a career in global health, especially as it relates to health equality. “Getting involved allowed me to provide for the community by volunteering at local food banks and pantries. I learned a lot about food insecurity and understand what it is like to not have access to healthy food.”

Through the fellowship, students like Mohamed are provided with a year of opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth, including networking events, training and skill-building workshops, and access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.

“Iaya is a wonderful embodiment of our commitment to service and community partnership,” said Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner. “She has proven her commitment to social justice and service through her work on campus and in the community.”

“We are proud to name such an outstanding and diverse group of students Newman Civic Fellows,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “Their passion and resolve to take action on the wide range of issues challenging our neighborhoods and communities is inspiring and deeply needed. We cannot wait to engage with them through this transformative experience.”

The Newman Civic Fellowship program is supported by the KPMG Foundation.