From the president
During his time at Providence College, Chase has used his ability to connect and build relationships to further inform his commitment to social change, especially as it relates to systems and institutions. He has succeeded in bridging the gap between his academics and service by focusing much of his studies on how college campuses support, integrate, and operate within their surrounding communities. Most notably, he is involved in the NERLab, a collaborative research group of undergraduate students committed to building more equitable community-campus relationships through a “neighborly” lens. Over this past academic year, Chase and his NERLab peers have conducted interviews with local residents, attended community meetings, and analyzed qualitative data to better inform their work. Most recently, Chase and his peers, alongside Dr. Perrotti, presented their research at Campus Compact’s national conference in Atlanta. What makes Chase truly stand out is his ability to seamlessly connect research, leadership, and action. He does not just simply study civic and community engagement—he actively cultivates it by building relationships that lead to meaningful change. His intellectual curiosity, critical thoughtfulness, and ability to bring people together make him an outstanding candidate for this fellowship.
Personal Statement
Although I’ve always been interested in examining leadership, policy, and governance through a historical lens, I’ve often felt powerless when it comes to addressing deep- rooted issues within systems that feel so disconnected from our lives. This has been the case with my involvement in higher education community engagement and, specifically, community-campus relationships. What empowers me, however, is to get to know the very people navigating these structures at a local level—and to work directly with the neighborhoods my institution is situated within. I’ve been fortunate to engage in this work through community-based research as well as advocacy and organizing both on and off campus. We have a duty to collaborate through this work to—not just care for one another collectively, but to hold each other accountable. Long-term commitments are essential in creating thriving communities, and relationships are key to deepening our connections. I care deeply about uplifting the voices of others, but even more about making space for those voices to be heard. This work is, at its core, relational. I'm committed to authentically building relationships that humanize us and create space for the small, everyday conversations where we find and share the little things that unite us all.