I want to do something, be in a career, that is positive for the community. Teaching is a great outlet to do meaningful work, where I can help people. The opportunities I've had (at BSU) have reaffirmed this is the right path for me.
Joshua Neff, ’27, has always been interested in politics. As a Voting and Civic Ambassador with the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ), he strives to build a stronger civic culture at Bridgewater State University.
“Essentially, I work with a group of students who are dedicated to teaching other students about voting, we really want to promote civics holistically,” Joshua said.
Last year during the presidential election, Joshua and others set up tables and hosted workshops to help students gain knowledge about the election process and the ways to take civic actions.
He looks to continue that work and recently received news he was named a 2025-2026 Newman Civic Fellow. The fellowship is a year-long program that recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an interest in finding solutions for some of society’s toughest challenges.
The program is run by the nonprofit Campus Connect.
Joshua will network with fellows from campuses across 38 states, Washington D.C., and Mexico.
“I am incredibly excited,” he said. “I’ll be working with others in the cohort and exposed to so many opportunities. This program will support me in building a stronger civic culture on campus.”
Joshua said his effort to educate is non-partisan, it’s about getting his peers to have confidence when it comes to voting issues and civic engagement.
“I’m excited to sink my teeth into everything and see our programs and events turn into something more traditional, something that continues year after year here at BSU,” he said.
He has been involved in other programming at BSU, including the Alternative Break Program, also run through MRISJ, where he traveled to Boston and met with local legislators last spring.
“It was a really great experience for me,” he said. “I was able to talk with them about transparency issues. It broke down barriers for me and helped me to recognize my power as a constituent.”
All these experiences are helping him prepare for a career in education. The BSU junior double majors in secondary education and history, with the goal to one day teach in the classroom.
He wants to teach to have an impact.
“I want to do something, be in a career, that is positive for the community. Teaching is a great outlet to do meaningful work, where I can help people,” he said. “The opportunities I’ve had (at BSU) have reaffirmed this is the right path for me.”
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