Campus News

Juniata College Senior Joins National Cohort of Newman Civic Fellows

(Posted September 22, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named the student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2025-2026 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.   

Tamanna “Tann” Chhabra of Indore, India, a senior at Juniata 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 their local communities and around the world. 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, fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one outstanding student from their campus each year.  

“I love Juniata because it’s a place where community matters, and where I’ve always felt encouraged to grow, connect, and contribute. I’ve learned how powerful it is to listen, build relationships, and work together toward positive change,” said Chhabra. “Juniata has given me the confidence and support to pursue my goals, and I feel grateful to carry its spirit of care and collaboration into this fellowship.”  

Chhabra is studying psychology and serves as a campus tour guide, has served as the temporary Title IX student coordinator, and as a student advocate in the SPoT (Safe Place to Talk), providing peer support and advocacy.   

“My time at Juniata has truly shaped who I am and deepened my passion for civic engagement,” Chhabra said.   

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact will provide these students with a year 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 in-person 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.  

“Through her many roles on and off campus, Tann consistently seeks to connect people, promote well-being, and foster a sense of belonging—qualities that align closely with the mission of this fellowship,” said Juniata College President James A. Troha. “Tann Chhabra is precisely the kind of student the Newman Civic Fellowship aims to recognize: a community builder with a strong capacity for collaborative leadership and the courage to turn her values into action.” 

"It is an honor to welcome this group of accomplished and dedicated students to the Newman Civic Fellowship," said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. "As higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these students exemplify the power and possibility of civic and community engagement on campus."  

Learn more at compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship. You can read more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort at compact.org/current-programs/newman-civic-fellowship/newman-civic-fellows.  

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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.  

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.