Lindsey Smith named Newman Civic Fellow for 2022-2023 academic year

Lindsey Smith ’24 has been named Salve Regina’s College Compact Newman Civic Fellow for the 2022-2023 academic year. She joins a group of 173 students from 38 states and Mexico who will have opportunities to build their leadership skills and develop more ways to help the community at large.

The College Compact Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports students who are committed to their community and who strive towards change and problem-solving at Campus Compact institutions.

As a sophomore in the Pell Honors Program, Smith is majoring in social work and Spanish. Dedicated to helping the community around her, Smith has been a service advocate at the Newport String Project and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

“[At the Newport String Project], I dedicated 100 hours of service work before I left in January,” Smith said. “I was able to teach students how to play instruments and assist the teachers there with anything they needed.”

Smith’s acts of service started her first year at Salve Regina amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when she worked with Learning Unlimited to connect with individuals in the Newport community who have learning disabilities.

“Although we were not allowed to meet in person, this organization worked hard to make the experience as close to in-person as possible through different games and activities each week,” she said. “I formed a wonderful bond with my partner and looked forward to talking with her each week.”

Starting next semester, Smith will begin her junior placement for social work, giving her the chance to further explore and develop her work with the community and those in need.

Smith said she appreciates the support and guidance of Kelly Powers, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service; Dr. Heather Pizzanello, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work; and Dr. Mary Montminy-Danna, professor in the Department of Social Work. She is also grateful to Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president of Salve Regina, for nominating her to the fellowship.

“I am honored to be selected for this enriching experience and to have the ability to eventually meet and work with others who have been selected by their universities,” she said.

Article written by student writer Taylor Majkowicz ’22