Fiona Hutchison ’25 and Dr. Susan Gabert ’91 were among those who received awards from the Education Alliance for New Hampshire for community engagement work.
The Education Alliance for New Hampshire, formerly known as Campus Compact, is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents and private sector partners who are united in their commitment to expanding education access for New Hampshire students.
This year, they celebrated their 21st annual President’s Award Ceremony. This award recognizes various individuals and organizations that are dedicated to creating a culture of civic and social impact in their communities.
Saint Anselm student Fiona Hutchison ’25 received a Presidents’ Student Leadership Award. This award is given to those students who have made outstanding contributions to community and civic engagement efforts on campus.
Fiona began her civic engagement at Saint Anselm College through the Meelia Center, acting as a Community Partnership Coordinator. In this role, she mentored various high school students, forged connections with community partners, and dedicated herself to mentoring fellow student mentors. In her Senior year Fiona continues her service, taking on the position of Student Support Manager at the Meelia Center, leading community engagement trips through Campus Ministry, and serving on several inclusivity and connection committees on campus.
Vice President for Student Development and Mission and Dean of Students Susan Gabert ’91 was a recipient of the Presidents’ Good Steward Award. This award goes out to faculty or staff members who are dedicated to community engagement, as well as contributing professional expertise to the overall community.
Dr. Gabert started her career at Saint Anselm as a Campus Minister, later becoming Director of Campus Ministry. She took great care to be sure that community need and engagement were at the core of the various programs she both led and fostered. She stated that her focus had been particularly on developing student leadership so they can understand the importance of listening and understanding various perspectives within a diverse community. Gabert continues her work in her current role, making sure to continue emphasizing the importance of community engagement.
Finally, the International Institute of New England received the Community Partner Award, which honors a nonprofit organization which partners with a campus to extend engagement and better community life. The Institute of New England has worked closely with the Meelia Center, enhancing engagement among Saint Anselm students with the Manchester community. This has been done through assistance at various community centers, the offering of ESOL classes, and unique learning circles in which volunteers teach non-native English speakers who are stuck on the long waitlists for ESOL classes.