Loyola student named Newman Civic Fellow

Cara Lamina, ’27, a sociology and English double major at Loyola University Maryland, was named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change.

“During my time at Loyola University Maryland, I have engaged with my passion for economic and environmental justice through education, advocacy, and community building,” Lamina said. “In my sociology classes, I have become keenly aware of how global supply chains exploit garment workers and degrade the environment.”

Committed to Jesuit values that uplift every person, Lamina has advocated for ethical supply chains through her work with the Catholic Ethical Purchasing Alliance. She was the social justice and advocacy intern in Loyola’s Office of Campus Ministry, where she led an ethical purchasing campaign across Loyola’s campus. She also held internships with the Ignatian Solidarity Network and a Pennsylvania state senator.

“Through her leadership, Cara strengthened Loyola’s connection to a national movement for ethical purchasing practices, building student interest and encouraging meaningful institutional reflection around how Loyola’s campus makes purchasing decisions,” said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola. “She offers concrete steps to learn and grow, engaging students in direct advocacy and a plan for just consumption for the care of others and care of the earth.”

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. The coalition named students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico who will form the 2026-2027 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. The fellowship provides students with learning and networking opportunities to help them develop as civic leaders.

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 pathways to apply for exclusive opportunities, including mini-grants to help fund community projects, scholarships, and post-graduate opportunities.