Jeannette Wang, a junior at Stanford University, has been recognized as a 2025-26 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. This national coalition of colleges and universities aims to advance the public purposes of higher education. The fellowship honors students who address social and political issues through engagement and leadership.
Stanford President Jonathan Levin nominated Wang for her efforts in uniting students across political divides and encouraging civic participation. As a political science major, Wang has played an active role in fostering public involvement among her peers.
Wang’s journey in public service began during high school when she served on the Mountain View Public Safety Advisory Board from 2021 to 2024. She was instrumental in shaping public safety policy, particularly in mental health crisis response.
Additionally, Wang co-founded AAPI Silicon Valley to amplify Asian American and Pacific Islander youth voices. The organization has lobbied for ethnic studies funding, organized rallies against Asian hate, and hosted cultural festivals.
At Stanford, Wang organized Democracy Day events to encourage student voting and discussions on election day. Her initiatives reached over 2,000 participants through collaborations with campus partners.
Wang’s academic pursuits include research on democratic resilience at the Polarization and Social Change Lab and the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. She aims to continue working in politics with a focus on civic renewal after graduation.
“I hope to work on strengthening our institutions in congruence with emerging technologies,” Wang said about her future aspirations.
Virginia Bock
