Jai Kozar-Lewis, a first-year majoring in supply chain management, has been named a 2023-24 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. The fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students proactively working to make positive changes to social, political and environmental issues affecting communities.
“Jai continuously demonstrates his commitment to addressing issues of food insecurity and health disparities through his longstanding service and leadership, which began at a very young age,” said Renee Brown, director of MSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning. “As an MSU Community Engagement Scholar, Jai has served the City of Lansing’s Public Service Department on projects related to recycling, asset mapping, and neighborhood improvements. I am delighted that Jai was selected to serve as the Campus Compact Newman Fellow representing Michigan State University for the 2023-24 academic year. This new role will allow him to continue his service and scholarship.”
Kozar-Lewis was among 154 students — representing 38 states, Washington D.C., and Mexico — selected. A core component of the fellowship focuses on building a national network of engaged student leaders who can support one another in advancing partnerships between campuses and community. They are nominated by their president or chancellor based on their potential for public leadership.
“Jai’s contributions to university and community partnerships are outstanding,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “His leadership skills and contributions to the scholar cohort are both inspiring and impressive, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of his work within our local communities.”
Through the fellowship, Kozar-Lewis will participate in networking, learning and skill-building with other highly engaged student civic leaders across the country.
“I’m looking forward to the valuable connections I’ll establish with fellow students who share a common passion for community service and civic engagement,” Kozar-Lewis said. “I hope to gain personal and professional skills that will allow me to better serve my community and enact positive social change.”
Kozar-Lewis began serving his community at a young age, collecting donations for local food banks, and later doing community outreach. “I have been able to see how food insecurity impacts people’s lives,” he said. “Through volunteer opportunities, my education and now as a Newman Civic Scholar, I look forward to making effective changes to help eliminate food insecurity in my community.”
After graduation, Kozar-Lewis plans to leverage his knowledge in supply chain management by pursuing a career in consulting and working to find sustainable solutions to complex problems individuals face daily.
This story originally appeared on the University Outreach and Engagement website.
