UWT NextGen Civic Leader Corps Program Builds Impact

UW Tacoma’s NextGen Civic Leader Corps Program continues to grow with 24 students enrolled and the first cohort to graduate in Spring 2024! Students earn a microcredential that entails course work, experiential learning, and demonstrated leadership in at least three signature events that include tri campus and national and regional events and conferences. 

On March 7, student ambassador Jannat Musawi organized a NextGen Link, sponsored by the Volcker Alliance and co-hosted with the Global Innovation and Design Lab. The event featured a presentation by Zakiya Nicole, founder of The Chayah Movement, a nonprofit in the fashion industry that equips aspiring professionals with the tools and mindset needed to drive sustainable change in the fashion industry through workforce and leadership development initiatives. The Chayah Movement vision is a future where every facet of fashion embodies sustainability and ethics. NextGen Link brings together UW Tacoma students to learn about NextGen and build connections as a cohort. 

The cohort model is a core feature of the NextGen Program coordinated by the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement. Students have been highly active, many already holding ASUWT positions and serving in other leadership roles across campus. Activities included the tri campus annual January 27 Huskies on the Hill event, an interactive day in Olympia filled with advocacy by legislators on issues impacting students, and the February 19 Health Equity Circle lobby day to voice support for legislation critical to health equity. Both events included training sessions to prepare students to make their voices heard at the state capitol and build a community among like-minded students from across university campuses.

Musawi was recognized with Caleb Rasmussen from UW Bothell at the NextGen Leadership Conference at Arizona State University, February 2-4. They will share what they learned in Spring quarter during the first ambassador-led, tri-campus NextGen student gathering, the planning for which is underway.

Dr. Divya McMillin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Global Engagement, and Mike Wark, Program Specialist for NextGen, received an enthusiastic reception in meetings with several leaders across the city who are eager to build internship opportunities for NextGen students, including with Mi Centro, MultiCare Foundation, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tacoma. The NextGen Program is well supported by an executive committee of faculty and staff across UW Tacoma Schools.