Rafael Volkamer-Pastor ’27 named Newman Civic Fellow for 2025–26
The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes Volkamer-Pastor for using his Spanish language skills to narrow the digital divide in his community.
Rafael Volkamer-Pastor ’27 has been named a member of the 2025–26 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education. For 2025, this group includes students from campuses across 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, each fellow is nominated by their campus president or chancellor, who is invited to select one exemplary community-committed student from their campus each year.
Carleton President Alison Byerly praised Volkamer-Pastor for the work he does with the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE).
“Rafael has served as a Northfield Public Library Spanish Language Programming Assistant through the CCCE’s community-based work study program for two years,” Byerly wrote. “Rafael is particularly interested in using his Spanish language skills to narrow the digital divide in our community. Our local public library has ambitious goals to provide a robust array of bilingual services in our small town, but it has limited staff capacity. Through the contributions of students like Rafael, the library is able to offer better support for residents who need help using computers and completing essential online applications. Over these last two, Rafael has become a trusted resource in the local community. We are eager to see how his community work can develop further through the Newman Civic Fellowship.”
Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides students with learning and networking opportunities that help to nurture their development as civic leaders. Programming emphasizes personal, professional, and civic growth that can empower them to collaborate effectively across disciplines and create large-scale positive change.
“Born into a quadrilingual household in Boulder, Colorado, language has always played a key role in how I engage with my community,” Volkamer-Pastor said in his personal statement. “A current project I am leading focuses on bridging the digital divide in the Hispanic community. I teach Spanish-speaking adults how to use computers from the basics of the Google workspace to the intricacies of applying digitally for health insurance and better-paying jobs to support their families. Through this, I have witnessed incredible growth in a community far too alienated from the digital revolution. In addition to technological courses, I also run conversation tables in both Spanish and English. Some of the greatest satisfaction I experience at Carleton comes from watching my students grow linguistically, unlocking new communities, discovering new careers, familiarizing with new cultures, and building self-confidence. The open heart and dedication I bring to every project is deeply rooted in the values instilled in me from an early age. Driven by cultivating a strong connection to my community, I am eager to carry this commitment forward in all my endeavors.”
The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over three days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.
“It is an honor to welcome this group of accomplished and dedicated students to the Newman Civic Fellowship,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “As higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these students exemplify the power and possibility of civic and community engagement on campus. As they emerge as the leaders of tomorrow, we are proud that this fellowship will be part of their story. From a variety of institutions and with diverse backgrounds and experiences, these Fellows represent a bright future for public problem solving.”
About Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities that supports, engages, and challenges higher education to realize its public purpose. Campus Compact empowers colleges and universities to advance their academic and civic missions by partnering with communities to address complex social issues and further equity, justice, and prosperity for all. Founded in 1985, Campus Compact is the nation’s largest and oldest national association dedicated to advancing the civic and community engagement mission of higher education. Its members make up a force of thousands of presidents, faculty, researchers, students, and civic and community engagement experts. Campus Compact envisions colleges and universities as vital agents and architects of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their education and improve the quality of community life. Campus Compact challenges all of higher education to make civic and community engagement an institutional priority. Learn more at compact.org.
Erica Helgerud ’20 is the news and social media manager for Carleton College.