By Dr. Sunah Hyun
Associate Director of Research and Development and research professor at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life
When I stepped into my role as the Campus Compact Student Program Engagement Research Fellow, I joined a team with a deep commitment to support Campus Compact’s mission in fostering college students’ civic leadership development. From the beginning, I saw how much the Campus Compact staff cared about each Newman Civic Fellow—not just as participants in a program, but as individuals on a journey of growth, leadership, and impact.
In this role, my contribution has been to support that mission through data collection and evaluation. By designing and analyzing pre- and post-program surveys, as well as connecting with alumni, I’ve had the opportunity to help tailor programming to each year’s cohort of fellows. The results allow the team to adjust and refine the fellowship programs so that it truly supports students’ evolving needs.
Being part of this work has been exciting and meaningful. It has given me a chance not only to contribute my skills as a researcher but also to align with Campus Compact’s mission: cultivating a generation of students who see themselves as civic actors and who are prepared to lead with integrity, creativity, and care.
Campus Compact provides these Fellows with a year of programming: in-person convenings, virtual learning opportunities, networking events, professional development workshops, and connections with peers and mentors. But the fellowship is not a rigid curriculum; it is an evolving, responsive experience that changes with each cohort.
That flexibility is intentional. As I learned during my fellowship, each year’s students bring their own strengths, expertise, and aspirations. The task of Campus Compact is to listen closely, identify what support will be most meaningful, and adjust programming accordingly.
Data as a Stepstone, Not a Scorecard
The Campus Compact team and I approached data as a stepstone, not a scorecard. Rather than treating evaluation as a way to prove that the program worked, we used it as a conversation starter that informed continuous learning throughout the year. During the first month of the fellowship, we launched a pre-survey to better understand each Newman Fellow’s starting point.
As data came in, the Program Director and I reviewed responses closely to identify strengths and areas where additional support would be beneficial. These early insights helped us shape programming with intentional goals in mind, ensuring that the fellowship consistently remained relevant, responsive, and empowering. By the time we collected the post-survey at the end of the year, we could see how this thoughtful, iterative approach contributed to fellows’ development and impact.
To guide these evaluations, we used the Tisch College Civic Character Development Framework (Hyun et al., 2023). The framework conceptualizes three interrelated levels of college students’ civic character development that are influenced by active engagement in civic-related programming, such as the opportunities provided through Tisch College. The three levels are the following: Civic Identity (intrapersonal), Civic Leadership (interpersonal), and Civic Agency (structural).
Civic Identity refers to an individuals’ sense of self, efficacy, and purpose as responsible and engaged citizens of the world. Civic Leadership means communicating effectively and working with diverse groups of people toward collective goals for the common good. Lastly, Civic Agency involves addressing structural challenges and opportunities in society, including systemic inequities and root causes of social issues, to promote positive social change (Hyun et al., 2023).
Among the 2023–2024 cohort, we observed notable improvements. Here are some results related to fellows’ civic character growth through the Newman Fellowship:
- The proportion of fellows who regularly challenge themselves to gather perspectives from different viewpoints increased from 79.5% to over 94%.
- Additionally, confidence that they are knowledgeable on utilizing different approaches to addressing social issues grew from 65.3% to 90.5%, a 25.2% increase.
- Those who intentionally collaborate with people from different backgrounds rose from 69.7% to about 90%.
- One student mentioned that, “When a tragedy struck our campus, being a Newman gave me the confidence and the support system I needed to be able to step up and guide hundreds of students through the smoke of the disaster.”
- Another student mentioned that, “Being a Newman Civic Fellow helped me generate new ideas, or gain insight from other fellows, to better center care within civic engagement at my university. Moreover, the networking and teamwork opportunities enabled me to expand upon pre-existing partnerships at my university and adopt new approaches to collaboration.”
- Lastly, another student said, “Being a Newman Civic Fellow impacted my efforts to create change in my local community and on campus by connecting me with other individuals who inspired me to be more creative, thoughtful, and intentional.”
Among the 2024–2025 cohort, we also documented significant growth. This group entered the fellowship with already strong civic character skills, yet the pre-survey highlighted opportunities for continued development—particularly in areas tied to civic agency. In response, the Program Director intentionally refined elements of the curriculum to further strengthen students’ ability to navigate systemic challenges and collaborate across varying interests. The impact of these adjustments was reflected in the post-survey results. For example:
- Before the program, 80.9% of fellows reported that they knew how to build strategies for different stakeholders, and after the program, 94.2% responded positively.
- The proportion of fellows who seek creative solutions to social problems rose from approximately 87% to 94.2%. One student mentioned that, “it [Newman Fellowship] gave me the tools needed to bring honest, tough conversations to my campus with a sense of civility.”
- Another student mentioned that, “the conference taught me how to be a better leader and community member. The message that "the circle can always be larger" has really resonated with me and I think about it weekly.”
- Another student shared that, “on campus, the fellowship elevated my voice and credibility, allowing me to more effectively advocate for initiatives I was passionate about—whether related to rural justice, educational equity, or civic engagement. Through workshops and mentorship opportunities provided by Campus Compact, I developed stronger skills in coalition-building, policy analysis, and public storytelling.”
In both cohorts, data was not just a mirror but a guidepost—a way to ensure that programming was relevant, responsive, and empowering.
In addition to advancing fellows’ civic character, the Newman Civic Fellowship places strong emphasis on social-emotional development and professional skill-building—both of which are critical to sustaining long-term civic leadership. Across both cohorts, we consistently documented meaningful growth in these areas. Among the 2023–2024 fellows:
- Understanding of how emotions influence thoughts, actions, and behaviors increased from 85.2% to 93% by the end of the program.
- More than 60% of fellows reported having effective strategies to cope with fear and anxiety, reflecting an improvement of over 18%.
- Professional confidence also strengthened: positive responses related to teamwork and networking grew by more than 25%, and leadership confidence increased from 60% to 78.3%.
The 2024–2025 cohort demonstrated similar progress:
- Understanding of emotional self-awareness rose from 85.2% to 93%.
- Confidence in communication—both oral and written—improved by 31%, with 88% of fellows reporting positive levels by the program’s close.
- Additionally, positive responses related to critical thinking and problem-solving increased by more than 25%, and professionalism confidence rose to 87%, a gain of more than 17%.
These patterns confirm that the fellowship supports well-rounded development, helping students grow not only as civic actors but also as emotionally grounded and professionally capable leaders.
Reflections on Impact and What Comes Next
Beyond the numbers, what has stayed with me most are the stories and voices of the fellows themselves. Through both program evaluations and the Newman Fellow alumni survey, I had the privilege of witnessing not only their individual development but also the evolving landscape of civic leadership among young changemakers. Their reflections were powerful reminders that the impact of the fellowship extends far beyond a single year.
One fellow shared, “My participation in the Newman Fellowship led to further professional opportunities and imparted valuable practical skills needed for community organizing and program administration.” Another noted, “It has opened doors and helped me get the position I hold now.” A third emphasized the sustaining power of community: “More than any skills or perspectives gained while I was participating, the relationships that I’ve maintained have been more impactful on me… I’ve remained connected to fellow participants who continue to demonstrate civic engagement and share their perspectives publicly in ways that have influenced me.”
Engaging with their words reminded me that research is not just about measurement—it is about care, relationship, and the responsibility to listen deeply. Data can elevate the human experiences it represents, but only when approached with humility and purpose.
As I reflect on my time as a research fellow, what stands out most is Campus Compact’s unwavering commitment to supporting every student’s growth. Every decision—from the structure of programming to the refinement of surveys—comes back to a central question: How can we best nurture the civic leadership potential of each fellow?
Looking ahead, I am energized by the future of evaluation within this program. With the Civic Character measures I am developing through my Wake Forest grant, we will soon be able to conduct even more nuanced assessments that reflect the complexity of student growth. These tools—grounded in student voices and aligned with their lived experiences—will allow us to capture not just outcomes, but the deeper shifts in identity, leadership, and agency that define authentic civic development.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is not a static program; it is a living, evolving community. I feel honored to support Campus Compact’s mission to foster civic character and thrilled to continue building tools that make students’ growth visible, celebrated, and better supported. Ultimately, evaluation is not simply about measuring impact—it is about honoring the journeys of students who are shaping a more just and engaged future.
Sunah Hyun has served as the Student Engagement Research Fellow with Campus Compact since the beginning of the 2023 academic year. As the Student Engagement Research Fellow, Sunah advances Campus Compact’s agenda to deepen civic and community student engagement with member campuses. Sunah works with scholars in the field to help make the case—investigating the link between Civic Engagement and Student Success.
With Sunah’s research and support, Campus Compact seeks to create the foundation for future sustainability and growth by assessing the impact of current student programs, looking for ties between civic engagement and student flourishing, and assessing areas for programmatic growth.