Show-Me State Times

Saint Louis University senior Russell Hooker Jr. has been selected as a 2025-2026 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow, joining a national cohort of students recognized for their dedication to addressing social challenges.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is an annual program that honors students who show commitment to finding solutions for significant societal issues. The fellowship is named after Frank Newman, one of the founders of Campus Compact.

“This recognition is something I did not know I could have or even be recognized for,” Hooker Jr. said. “Little me, a black queer young man from the southside of Chicago growing up, did not know there was a future for me, but look with this recognition, there is. Being recognized for my efforts towards social justice and equality, and being a person for others, is a huge blessing.”

Hooker Jr., who studies psychology and minors in African American Studies and theatre, has served as an orientation leader at SLU and volunteered with Campus Kitchen. His academic focus and extracurricular involvement highlight his engagement in campus life.

“Russell demonstrates his commitment to community building and service that underscore his belief in the power of education to uplift and empower individuals from all walks of life,” said SLU President-Emeritus Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., in his nomination letter.

In addition to his campus activities, Hooker Jr. received the Better Brothers Los Angeles Scholarship at the Truth Awards' 10th anniversary event. He later returned to Los Angeles as a speaker at the awards ceremony and began working with new scholarship recipients through Better Brothers LA, where he is now developing a mentorship program.

“I look at this program as a means to help me motivate others,” Hooker Jr. said. “I envision a world where queer people are supported mentally much more than they are as of 2025. According to a study by Michelle Johns, LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. That is harrowing, and I am going to change that. I would like to implement anti-bullying strategies for schools to ensure queer students are not being bullied, and to promote safety for queer students.”

The 2025-2026 class of Newman Civic Fellows includes students from institutions across 38 states as well as Washington D.C., and Mexico.