Levine Scholar named Newman Civic Fellow

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Christina Neitzey, a junior from Hampstead, is among the 2013 class of 181Newman Civic Fellows as determined nationwide by Campus Compact, a coalition of nearly 1,200 college and university presidents.

Newman Civic Fellows are student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions to challenges that face their communities. They were nominated by their college/university presidents.

“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders,” noted Maureen Curley, president of Campus Compact. “They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can – and does – play in building stronger communities.”

Neitzey, a Levine Scholar who is majoring in psychology and criminal justice with a minor in political science, is focused on the experience of children and families in the judicial system. According to Levine Scholars Program officials, Neitzey is a volunteer guardian ad litem.  In this role, she serves as the court-appointed advocate for six different children who have been abused or neglected and who are currently in foster care.  In her efforts on behalf of the children, Neitzey works with their social workers, parents, foster families, attorneys and judges, to ensure their best interests are protected as decisions are made about their futures.

During a 12-week summer internship at the National Institute of Justice, the research, development and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice, Neitzey focused on grants and research involving violence against women, research-practitioner partnerships and human trafficking.  She also had the opportunity to play an integral role in the launch of a new Department of Justice research initiative.

The Newman Civic Fellow awards honor Frank Newman, a founder of Campus Compact; he dedicated his life to creating systematic change through education reform. Campus Compact is considered the only national higher education association dedicated to campus-based civic engagement. The organization promotes public and community service to develop students’ citizenship skills, helps forge effective community/campus partnerships and provides resources and training for faculty members who seek to integrate civic and community-based learning into the curriculum.

The Levine Scholars Program is UNC Charlotte’s most prestigious merit scholarship program.  Established in 2009 by benefactors Sandra and Leon Levine, the program awards roughly 15 scholarships each year to extraordinary high school seniors based on scholarship, ethical leadership and civic engagement.