University of Notre Dame junior Prathm Juneja has been named a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Newman Civic Fellows actively address issues of inequality and political polarization and demonstrate the motivation and potential for effective long-term civic engagement. The fellowship lasts one year and provides training and resources that help students develop innovative and collaborative strategies for social change. The fellowship was created to honor the legacy of education leader Frank Newman.
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., wrote in support of Juneja’s nomination that he “draws upon his deep understanding of others, personal experiences, and classroom learning to create opportunities for his fellow students to practice civil discourse, advance voter education, and increase electoral turnout among students and local residents.”
During his time at Notre Dame, Juneja has been engaged in civic and political activity both on campus and in the city of South Bend. As current student government chief of staff, he works with students, faculty and administrators on issues of innovation, diversity and inclusion, sexual assault and community relations. He has also interned on political campaigns in the city and recently served as an intern in the mayor’s Office of Innovation.
“As the son of Indian immigrants, my parents always taught me that we, too, were American,” Juneja said. “This constant reminder of my unique story as a part of our greater national story drove me to grow passionate about civic engagement and politics.”
Since his freshman year, Juneja has participated in NDVotes, a nonpartisan campaign of the Center for Social Concerns, The Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy and the Constitutional Studies Minor to promote voter education, registration and mobilization.
In 2016, Juneja was Notre Dame’s delegate to #CollegeDebate16 at Dominican University of California, a national, nonpartisan initiative to empower young voters to identify issues and engage peers in the presidential election. In 2017, he presented a paper on his delegate experience at the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Contact: Rosie McDowell, Center for Social Concerns, 574-631-0468, mcdowell.9@nd.edu
Originally published by J.P. t conductorshare.nd.edu on March 9.