NCC Student Named 2025 Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named Northampton Community College (NCC) student Xavier Pacheco as a 2025-2026 Newman Civic Fellow. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities.  

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, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year. 
 
Pacheco is currently working towards his sociology degree at NCC. He serves as an NCC Votes Ambassador at the college through the non-partisan NCC Votes initiative. Through this role, he also works with the Andrew Goodman Foundation as a Vote Everywhere Ambassador on campus. 

President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D, says, “Xavier has been intentional about assisting us with voter registration efforts and implementing aspects of our campus democratic engagement plan. He has a sincere passion for equity and advocacy, grounded in his own lived experiences.” 

Pacheco would like to be a change leader in his community via social assistance and outreach programs. “Sometimes all a person needs is a little help, and I hope to be the provider of this help in order to create a better and more connected community,” he says. 

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides these students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change. 

The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities. 

"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. As they emerge as the leaders of tomorrow, we are proud that this fellowship will be part of their story." 

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