Marian University is pleased to announce that Brendan McNamara, a sophomore majoring in history and secondary education, has been named a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a Campus Compact one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional, and civic growth.
McNamara received the honor because of his commitment to racial equality. He became concerned about racial inequality during his freshman year at Marian University and decided to do something about it. He organized and wrote a grant for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, bringing together more than 170 students to serve the community and learn more about racial issues in this country.
“Brendan’s leadership and collaboration efforts have resulted in continued discussions and positive actions, and he’s planning programs for next year, too,” President Daniel J. Elsener said.
McNamara is studying to be a high school teacher and plans to use what he has learned and will learn to promote the Franciscan values of Dignity of the Individual and Peace and Justice.
“We are continuing discussions in order to raise awareness on racial issues,” McNamara said. “I plan to be a high school teacher and, during the next two years here, I want to continue to not only learn more on racial issues, but to learn how to respond to them with other students.”
As a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, McNamara will be a part of the first cohort to benefit from a completely re-designed fellowship which includes national, regional, and state convenings of Fellows, a skill-building webinar series, a self-assessment tool, and a local mentor.
“The cultivation of community-committed leaders has never been more crucial,” Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn said in a press release. “We rebuilt the Newman Civic Fellowship experience because our country needs more people who know how to bring communities together for positive change. We are thrilled to welcome this group of 273 exemplary students as the first cohort to participate in this new model.”