Tulane student receives Newman Civic Fellowship award

Diana Gonzalez, a third-year student at Tulane University, has been named a Newman Civic Fellow for the 2017-2018 school year. The fellowship recognizes students who have shown a passion for finding solutions to challenges facing their communities. Fellows receive training and resources designed to nurture their commitment to achieve social change.

Gonzalez is a double major in communication and public relations at Tulane. She serves as the president of GENTE, Tulane’s Latinx student organization, working to create a space for Latinx-identified students and their allies to support and advocate for each other. She’s also a leader in the Student Organizing Against Racism collective, and is a member of the Presidential Commission on Race. Gonzalez works as a Service Learning Assistant at the Center for Public Service, where she earned an “advocacy essentials” certificate from the University of Notre Dame and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Gonzalez was nominated for the fellowship by Tulane University president Michael Fitts. “What makes Diana a particularly effective advocate for change is her ability to both push and challenge our university to do more, while also working within the framework of our institution to help make these changes possible,” Fitts says.

The fellowship is a one-year experience for students in which fellows have access to in-person and virtual learning opportunities, networking events and mentoring.

“It's an honor to become a Newman Civic Fellow,” Gonzalez says. “It feels really good to know that I've been recognized for my passion in creating social change and helping others. I'm very excited to meet my cohorts soon and learn how to develop my leadership skills through this fellowship.”