April 14, 2017

Gabriela Marrero, a junior psychology major from Reading, Pa., has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Connect, a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility.

The recognition honors student leaders who have demonstrated through service, research and advocacy that they can find solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, students have the opportunity to share ideas and materials to further their work through an exclusive online community for fellows.

Marrero was nominated for the award by Susquehanna President L. Jay Lemons.

She is the Community Partnerships Service Scholar with Susquehanna’s Johnson Center for Civic Engagement. In this role, she organized one of Susquehanna’s most important service events, SU GIVE (Get Into Volunteer Experience).

“The intention of SU GIVE is to introduce students to both the social issues within our community and the organizations that help combat those issues,” Marrero said. “I hope to be that connection between students and community partners that creates meaningful experiences for both parties.”

In addition to her work with the Johnson Center, Marrero leads Susquehanna’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, coordinating and leading students on numerous service trips throughout the eastern United States. She is also a resident assistant and a senior community assistant for first-year students.

“It is easy to be blind to the issues in the surrounding community while on a college campus. However, civic engagement can be a source of hope and social change,” Marrero said. “Through my leadership roles, it is my aspiration to instill a passion for civic engagement in my peers through future programming and collaborations focused on supporting our beloved community.”