Fisher Student Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

This spring, St. John Fisher University student Vincent Perfetti was selected to the 2024-2025 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.

Sponsored by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, the fellowship includes students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. The fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. Fellows are nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.

A rising sophomore at Fisher, Perfetti is pursuing a degree in criminal justice and history. He credits his family with sparking an interest in civic engagement, civic discourse, and service.

“My grandfather and father instilled these values in me while I was growing up, often at the family law practice,” he explained. “Growing up, I realized that being civically involved was a part of me.”

As a high school student, Perfetti represented his peers as the student member of the Board of Education advocating for mental health services, access to the arts, and financial stewardship of the budget. At Fisher, he continued his community engagement, participating in the Office of Campus Ministry and serving as a member of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. He also sits on the executive board for Fisher Swingbirds, the University’s band. Additionally, he is actively involved in the League of Women Voters, which promotes voting rights and access to elections for all people.

As a fellow, Perfetti will engage in learning and networking opportunities that will help him develop as a civic leader. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower fellows 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 pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.

“We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowship is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds—and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.”