Meet our 2025 National Bonner Summer Interns! Michael Deem Jr. from Rider University brings his expertise in film and storytelling, while Spelman College's Olivia Gray focuses on advancing educational equity. Oberlin's Joseph (JP) Liddy contributes his experience in event coordination and community building, and Centre College's Kayla Rogers brings her passion for policy advocacy and civic engagement. Together, these talented student leaders will support the Bonner Foundation's mission while gaining valuable professional experience in the nonprofit sector.
Maranda C. Ward, Ed.D., MPH, Spelman College Bonner Scholar ‘02 Alum has been awarded Campus Compact’s Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement. Dr. Ward is the assistant professor and director of the Equity Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
TCNJ’s Bonner Community Scholars Program launched 20 years ago, it started with just 12 Bonner Scholars — students who commit to 300 hours of community service annually in exchange for needs-based scholarships. Now, with close to 100 participants each year, the TCNJ program is one of the largest and most successful in a nationwide network of Bonner college programs.
In celebration of Elaine Wheeler's retirement, we honor her invaluable contribution to the Bonner Foundation. Her commitment and mentorship have been instrumental in our growth as a Foundation and the Network we have today. As she embarks on her retirement, we celebrate her legacy of dedication and look forward to the path she has paved for us.
With over three decades sharing campus examples, guides, and documents to download, the Bonner Foundation is excited to announce a recently updated Bonner Resources Wiki.
This summer, the five National Bonner Summer Interns at the Foundation — Anu Baskar (George Mason ‘24), Camila Guayasamin (The College of New Jersey ‘24), Dominique Dore (University of Houston ‘22), Mikaela Chin (High Point University ‘24) and Selah Ndouta (Capital University ‘22) — worked with the Foundation staff to refresh the look of the wiki’s homepage and, more importantly, update campus examples and other documents.
They devoted particularly attention to the Bonner Program Management and Community-Engaged Learning sections. In addition, Mikaela and Dominique also created a short video on how to navigate this wealth of knowledge.
Aidan Isaac has always held service close to heart.
Even before his service as a Bonner Scholar at Centre College, the senior and Lexington, Kentucky, native earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served his local community.
He highlighted his service as a Bonner Scholar at Centre College and a lifetime of community involvement in his application to the American University School of International Service, a top-10 program for international affairs and Bonner Foundation graduate school partner.
Danielle Aira Savellano, a Bonner Scholar majoring in Biology and double minoring in Computer Science and Global Health Studies at Allegheny College, was recently selected for the prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship. As a 2024 fellow, Danielle will be participating in the data analytics track for the Junior Summer Institute in Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.
In celebration of Elaine Wheeler's retirement, we honor her invaluable contribution to the Bonner Foundation. Her commitment and mentorship have been instrumental in our growth as a Foundation and the Network we have today. As she embarks on her retirement, we celebrate her legacy of dedication and look forward to the path she has paved for us.
Jahmarley Vivens ’26 and Sonalini Sapra were recognized for their work in strengthening Guilford's community in the classroom and beyond. Jahmarley, a business major from Miami, was commended for his leadership and efforts to bring students together. Sonalini, the Associate Director for Guilford’s Center for Principled Problem Solving and Excellence in Teaching, was acknowledged for her student-focused lessons and commitment to inclusivity. Both individuals were honored at the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, highlighting their significant contributions to Guilford College's community.
Meet Dexter Horne '16! Passionate about public policy and government, Dexter works at The Council of State Governments, focusing on leadership development. Inspired by Centre College, he values empathy, research and lifelong learning. Dexter was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award this past fall.
An excerpt from the Q&A below. Read the full interview here.
workers have a preference for informal work styles, tightly defined schedules, and are unlikely to settle for subpar pay. As a young professional in civic engagement, Sophia Lombardo shared her thoughts, as a Gen Zer herself, that Gen Z prioritizes their own health and happiness and are hesitant to commit to all-consuming, low-paying positions in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits need to tap into the good feeling toward the sector and offer competitive benefits to attract young workers. However, integrating Gen Z into the charitable world can be challenging due to their demands for change and potential tensions with older nonprofit leaders. The revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness program could be one way to attract young workers to the nonprofit sector.
Mary Kamikazi ’21 has always had an aptitude for taking on new challenges. A native of Burundi, Kamikazi has made the most of every opportunity — from her lived experience as a refugee in Africa to immersing herself in college and service as a Bonner Scholar, to post-Centre leadership experiences with General Electric and Amazon. Now, she’ll make the move from a corporate position to become Centre College’s first ever Rangel Fellowship recipient.
The 2016 election cycle left an indelible impression on a young Matthew Brodsky. “I knew I really wanted to get involved in politics and policy and create change,” Brodsky recalled. “It just happened. I mean, I went through a bunch of other phases growing up—dinosaurs. Baseball is something I still love. But politics has always just stuck. And I knew that's where I was meant to be.”
Brodsky, now a senior political science major at Rutgers University in Camden, has never wavered from that political pursuit. With a congressional internship on his résumé and future plans that include public office, Brodsky serves as Student Governing Association (SGA) president, advocating for student organizations and civic engagement, particularly around voter registration.
A College of Arts and Sciences student, Brodsky is the student lead of the RUC Votes, a nonpartisan group whose goal is to increase campus voter engagement and education. Last year, the coalition helped Rutgers–Camden win the state’s Ballot Bowl, a competition among New Jersey colleges and universities to register the most voters and secure the most pledges to vote.
The RUC Votes Coalition project stemmed from Brodsky’s work as a Bonner Civic Scholar, which prepares students for public service leadership through community-based partnerships. The program, which includes 300 hours of service per year, is “just a really rewarding opportunity,” said Brodsky; he credits that work with preparing him for acceptance into the Rutgers-Eagleton Washington Internship Award Program.
In 2023, Genny Castillo was listed in Georgia Trend’s 40 under 40 — recognized as a leader with experience in policy, community outreach and administration. Currently, she’s the regional director of the Southern Economic Advancement Project, facilitating its local programming to improve economic security and access to health care. Previously the senior advisor to Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign, Castillo led one of the most engaged Latinx constituency programs nationwide, earning recognition as one of the top five Latinas reshaping U.S. politics in 2020.
Here she shares Berry’s significant influence on her life choices while touting the value of Berry’s vast network: "I tell people Berry has a small student body, but that student body becomes an alum network with generous reach.”
Castillo adds, “From day one, Berry gave me the space to be an advocate. I was in the minority and felt different, but there was always space to be myself. People call Berry a bubble, but that does not mean there isn't room for different voices.”
Montclair State University's "One Square Mile" initiative is making a significant impact on the city of Paterson, New Jersey. The initiative, which aims to advance racial justice, improve health, and foster student achievement, has established numerous programs and partnerships. These include funding for community schools, support for nonprofits, harm reduction efforts, and educational initiatives. The university's commitment to Paterson is long-term and collaborative, with a focus on addressing the city's challenges and creating meaningful change.
Cyntia Roig, a Bonner Fellow at Brown University’s Swearer Center, selected as one of seven students to be part of the inaugural group of Campus Compact Student Design Fellows.
The Student Design Fellow program is a commitment to a two-year, student-led design process. Student Design Fellows will collaborate closely with Campus Compact staff, member campuses, and national partners to shape student civic leadership development. Through extensive research, the review of existing best practices, and interviews with students and experts nationwide, fellows will actively contribute to the design and facilitation of inquiry workshops. This approach aims to foster innovative thinking and produce a strategic plan for Campus Compact's student-facing initiatives.
From Miami, Cyntia Roig, a first year at Brown University, names her participation in the Swearer Center’s Bonner Fellows as her favorite civic engagement activity and hopes to utilize her Bonner experience and community to shape her involvement in the Student Design Fellowship.
Campus Compact announced that Rutgers University-Camden has been awarded Campus Compact’s Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation. The award recognizes four-year or graduate institutions that have successfully implemented institution-wide efforts to address issues of public concern by aligning teaching, research, practice, and values in service of the common good.
Rutgers University-Camden is recognized as a leading model of holistically embedding civic engagement across every facet of the institution. The University has a rich history with deep engagement with Camden through student success programs, anchor initiatives, and civic engagement, including the Rutgers-Camden Bonner Civic Scholars program. Led by Chancellor Antonio Tillis, Senior Vice Chancellor Nyeema Watson, and, in particular, its Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, Rutgers University-Camden has doubled down on the institution's history in ensuring that civic and community engagement work is resourced and prioritized.
Six schools in the Bonner Network were recognized in the 2024 cycle for the Carnegie Classification: Bates College, Bellarmine University, High Point University, Rutgers University-Camden, Siena College, and Washington & Lee University. Read more about High Point University, Bellarmine University, and Rutgers University-Camden, and Washington & Lee University’s achievements in their press releases.
This recognition is awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is a significant acknowledgment of an institution's dedication to making a positive impact beyond the campus. Each recipient goes through a rigorous self-study process to demonstrate their community engagement efforts. Over the past 19 years, the classification has become a leading framework for assessing and recognizing community engagement in higher education.
Spelman college Bonner Alum, Destinee Filmore is a curator, art historian, and writer dedicated to telling a more complex history of American art that centers women and historically marginalized makers. She has published and presented research on an assortment of artists and topics, including the work of Alvin D. Loving, Nellie Mae Rowe, and Mildred Thompson; and she continues to explore research topics ranging from vernacular African American artistic traditions, the reception history of identity-based exhibitions, and the visual and material culture of Afro-Cosmopolitanism in the early 20th century. As a Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the Williams College Museum of Art, she led efforts to define and expand the museum’s ethical collecting practices, and curated exhibitions and permanent collection rotations.
Josefina M. Ewins, originally from Sicklerville, New Jersey is a graduate of the Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program. She is a New Jersey Governor’s Fellow, a former Bonner Civic Scholar, and TriO Scholar. Driven by a passion for understanding policies that impact students and their higher education, she works with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education as a Policy Fellow, to improve the experience and outcomes for New Jersey students.
Katie Yurechko, a computer science and philosophy double major at Washington and Lee University, has been selected as a Marshall Scholar for the 2024 class. She will pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford and University College London, focusing on combating algorithmic injustice and unjust social media algorithms. Yurechko has a strong commitment to equity and justice in technology and plans to use computer science to explore issues of equity in social media. She has extensive research experience, is involved in various campus organizations, and has received numerous honors and scholarships.
Steve Cope, a sophomore at Maryville College, has found his calling through an internship with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN). As a double major in Philosophy and Psychology, Cope is passionate about suicide prevention and has been actively involved in gathering demographic data, presenting to community groups, and providing guidelines for suicide prevention actions in schools. He credits Maryville College for providing a fertile ground for personal and professional development, and he plans to pursue a joint doctoral program at Yale University.
Spelman College in Atlanta is dedicated to enhancing community engagement programs to promote civic responsibility and innovative problem-solving. The college is striving to achieve recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for its community engagement initiatives, including the SpelREADS Literacy Program and the Refugee and Forced Migrations service-learning course. As a leading Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Spelman College believes that community engagement plays a vital role in cultivating leadership skills and empowering students to make meaningful contributions to society.
The Louisville Metro Housing Authority will have a new leader early next year.
Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Wednesday that Elizabeth (Wisman) Strojan will be the new Executive Director of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority beginning in early 2024.
Strojan is a native of Louisville and graduate of Jefferson County Public Schools. She received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government from Centre College (Danville, KY) where she was a Bonner Scholar. Strojan also served as the Bonner Scholar Program Coordinator at Centre.
