During her fellowship year, Bratić collaborated with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Student Government Association to advance an initiative that strengthened campus-community connections and student civic participation.
Anya Bratić ’26, an international & global studies major, has completed her service term as a North Carolina Civic Impact Fellow.
The North Carolina Civic Impact Fellowship (NC-CIF) is a statewide civic leadership program through North Carolina Campus Engagement that equips exceptional student leaders to build a stronger civic life on their campus. Fellows are nominated by their institution’s president or chancellor and campus administrators, and selected based on their outstanding civic leadership potential.
During her fellowship year, Bratić collaborated with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Student Government Association to advance an initiative that strengthened campus-community connections and student civic participation. Bob Frigo, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, served as Bratić’s mentor for the project.
Bratić began her fellowship by assessing Elon’s civic engagement efforts and identifying opportunities to fill gaps in awareness, access, or participation. Guided by her findings, Bratić organized a campus-wide Town Hall through the Student Government Association (SGA), where students heard directly from local community leaders and changemarkers about pathways into service. This event helped students visualize their own trajectory into a life and career of service. Bratić then institutionalized SGA’s commitment to service by advancing SGA bylaw amendments that formally require a Civic Engagement Senator to lead at least one substantive civic initiative for the student body during their term.
“I’m proud of the number of students from diverse groups and backgrounds who demonstrated a genuine commitment to learn more from civic, business and educational leaders in Alamance County,” said Bratić, “College students are uniquely positioned and equipped with the resources of their campuses to make tangible changes in their communities. A space like this provides a platform for students to exercise their strengths and creativity that will last beyond their four years in college.”
Bratić presented the outcomes of her fellowship project and offered recommendations to sustain the work during a capstone presentation to several project stakeholders and local community partners.