Students, faculty, and a community partner received awards at the April 19 Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact awards, held at Macalester College.
Each year, the 51 member campuses of Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC) gather to recognize special achievements on campus and in their communities. This organization is dedicated to educating students through community and civic learning experiences, and to making an impact in communities through reciprocal partnerships, which address community-identified goals.
President Rebecca Koenig Roloff ’76 honored three Íæż½ã½ã awardees during the April 19 celebration at Macalester College. Additionally, the national Campus Compact has announced a Íæż½ã½ã's recipient of the Newman Civic Fellowship.
Please join us in congratulating these community members' accomplishments:
Presidents' Student Leadership Award
The Presidents’ Student Leadership Award recognizes a student who models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.
Photo by Eva Ngono ’25
Leena Abdulla ’24 embodies Íæż½ã½ã’s values of community, leadership, and social justice through her community engagement and advocacy. As an intern at through Íæż½ã½ã’s Community Leaders program, Abdulla informed residents about tenant protection efforts and shared the history of housing justice in the Twin Cities. She raises awareness of community issues on campus through social media and graphic design for the Center for Community Work and Learning, Justice Reads, and the Muslim Student Association. She has organized campus events and actions advocating for issues affecting BIPOC students. Abdulla seeks to nurture radical love and authenticity in all she does.
Presidents' Civic Engagement Leadership Award
The Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration, or staff who has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement.
Photo by Rebecca Zenefski Slater ’10
associate professor of public health, has supported collaborative research projects with the National Network to End Family Homelessness and Mile in My Shoes, an organization for which she also volunteers. She involves Íæż½ã½ã’s students in community-engaged research through the Assistantship Mentoring and Summer Scholars programs, and has also helped honors students design capstone projects with community organizations. For many years, Mason has taught community-engaged learning courses in public health and the core curriculum. As program director for the undergraduate public health program, she mentors instructors to support community-engaged learning across the curriculum.
Presidents' Community Partner Award
The Presidents’ Community Partner Award recognizes a community-based partner or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university.
Face to Face team members at the 2024 Campus Compact Awards at Macalester College
provides wraparound services, which include medical care, mental health, housing support, workforce development, youth justice, and community programs, for low-income and insecurely housed youth aged 11 to 24. In 2023, they served over 3,000 youth, with 85% identifying as BIPOC and 15% as LGBTQ+. Students in Íæż½ã½ã’s community-engaged learning (CEL) courses work with Face to Face at their SafeZone drop-in center. Face to Face coordinator Ashley Bauer-Yuen eagerly engages with Íæż½ã½ã's students, and has visited campus to meet with Student Senate. One Íæż½ã½ã’s graduate continued volunteering after her CEL course and now works as a housing case manager with Face to Face.
2024 Newman Civic Fellow named by national Campus Compact
From the national Campus Compact, has been named Íæż½ã½ã’s 2024–25 Newman Civic Fellow. The fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world.
Photo provided
"Sofia has already demonstrated a profound commitment to civic service in her short time at Íæż½ã½ã," says President ReBecca Koenig Roloff ’76 in her nomination. "As a descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sofia is actively involved as a leader and advocate in our campus community. She cares deeply about social justices, is already a public problem solver, and is motivated to continue to impact our campus and broader community. Sofia is a phenomenal student leader who will certainly make positive change as part of and in learning from the Newman Civic Fellowship."
Vanderlan's goal for the fellowship is to "create better learning environments for Indigenous students so they feel more supported, acknowledged, intelligent, and empowered," she says. "I am committed to educating non-Indigenous peoples to be more understanding and knowledgeable allies for their Indigenous relatives."
Through the one-year fellowship, Vanderlan will receive Campus Compact learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth.