Brittany Pickering named a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow

2018 Mar 9

Brittany Pickering, a Kennesaw State University sociology student, was named a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit working to advance the public purposes of higher education. Pickering was among 268 college students named this year and the only one from Kennesaw State.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

At Kennesaw State, Pickering is a member of several student organizations, including American Association of University Women, Student Organization of Sociology, Eco Owls, Phi Eta Sigma and Trends Global. Her primary focus is to improve ethical and sustainable practices at Kennesaw State.

Pickering organizes monthly campus clothing swaps, called Owl Swap, where students can donate their gently used clothes. The events benefit local nonprofits, animal shelters and KSU's CARE Services, which offers support to students who have experienced homelessness, food insecurity and/or the foster care system.

"We're developing ways to raise awareness and educate others on the myriad of issues related to the clothing industry, such as materials sourcing and working conditions," said Pickering, who works with a collaborative group of KSU faculty and students on these issues.

As part of a directed study through the Geography Department, Pickering also partners with graduate students and citizens in Bangladesh researching the effects of the garment industry.

"As consumers, we neglect to see how our purchases directly affect the livelihood of others and the planet," she said. She hopes to enlighten fellow KSU students about their own clothing choices while working to create policies and practices that have global impact and benefit people and the environment.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation.

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