CHESS environmental studies senior Jasmine Oliver earns Newman Civic Fellowship

Jasmine Oliver, a senior environmental studies major in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, has been selected as a 2026-27 Newman Civic Fellow, a national recognition awarded by Campus Compact to students who demonstrate a commitment to community engagement and positive social change.

The yearlong fellowship recognizes student leaders from colleges and universities across the country who are working to address pressing challenges through civic and public service. Named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, the program provides leadership development, networking opportunities and resources to help students expand their community impact.

Oliver, a UNC Charlotte Levine Scholar, and has engaged in work focused on the intersection of environmental sustainability, food access and community well-being. Through undergraduate research, volunteer service and community engagement initiatives, she has explored how environmental and social inequities contribute to food insecurity and how local food systems can help address those challenges.

“My dedication to solving community-based problems through environmental advocacy and research has been inspired by my research, volunteer and community engagement activities,” Oliver said. “These experiences inspired my journey as a solutions-oriented researcher with a specific focus on integrating sustainable and nutritional food production” to help address disparities in food access.

Among her research projects, Oliver has examined how food assistance programs are understood and communicated, as well as how emerging food retail models can strengthen local food systems in underserved communities. Her work also includes a study of food halls and their role in expanding food access.

In February 2026, Oliver and fellow student researcher Neha Panjakar presented a TEDxUNC Charlotte talk, “Why Food Halls Are Everywhere Now,” based on research conducted with Colleen Hammelman, their faculty mentor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences. As research assistants, they helped create a database of operational food halls across the United States and explored the industry’s rapid growth and community impact.

The presentation highlighted how food halls can support small businesses, contribute to local economic development and transform underutilized spaces into community gathering places. The research also examined how food halls may help increase dietary autonomy and expand access to diverse food options in neighborhoods where those opportunities are limited.

Beyond her research, Oliver serves as an EcoRep with UNC Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability, volunteers with the Jamil Niner Student Pantry Gardens, and participates in several student organizations focused on environmental stewardship and conservation. Through the Canvas for Our Climate initiative, she also works with local high school students to explore climate change and environmental justice issues through research, discussion and artistic expression.

“As a student worker and volunteer with the Office of Sustainability and Jamil Niner Student Pantry Gardens, I make locally grown foods available to students at UNC Charlotte, a demographic often vulnerable to food insecurity,” Oliver said. “Overall, I am dedicated to raising awareness about environmental action and food sustainability within my communities.”

Campus Compact’s Newman Civic Fellowship provides participants with leadership training, networking opportunities and access to resources that support community-focused projects and professional development.