Student leader honored as Newman Civic Fellow

LAWRENCE – Ashlie Koehn, a junior from Burns at the University of Kansas, was recently named the KU Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Koehn joins 196 student leaders across the country who have demonstrated an investment in their community to be Newman Civic Fellows. Through service, research, and advocacy, these Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

Koehn believes in a multifaceted approach to social issues. She founded and leads the KU Coalition against Slavery and Trafficking, an organization that takes a three-pronged approach that emphasizes research, outreach and advocacy. Beyond her focused efforts with KU Coalition against Slavery and Trafficking, Koehn is actively involved in many other groups and initiatives, such as KU Environs, KU Global Scholars and the KU Russian Club. She is a major in environmental studies with a co-major in Russian, East European & Eurasian studies. She is the daughter of Rodney and Carolyn Koehn.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Koehn will join a network of Fellows around the country. Together – sharing ideas and tools through online networking – the Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for service and change, and they will continue to set examples for their classmate and others.

“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. It is our honor to recognize Ashlie as KU's Newman Civic Fellow, and we look forward to learning of her future accomplishments,” said Andi Witczak, director of KU’s Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. 

“With this recognition, Campus Compact is highlighting the remarkable impact these students are having on their campuses and communities,” said Bernard Milano, president of the KPMG Foundation and Campus Compact board member. “We are proud to support Campus Compact in bringing attention to these extraordinary students. KPMG seeks a diverse talent pool of students who share our values, one of which involves service to the communities in which we live and work.”

“Dr. Frank Newman, a founder of Campus Compact, had a tremendous impact on American education and its role in the development of citizens who are eager and prepared to make a difference,” said Campus Compact President Maureen Curley. “He dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform, and this new group of Newman Civic Fellows would have inspired him. They are reflections and affirmations of his life’s work.”

Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. For more information about the organization and the award, visit Campus Compact.