From the president
Jacquelyn is an outstanding Action Scholar at Drew University. Her blend of intellect, compassion, and initiative has made a tangible difference on our campus and in the wider community. Few students have her ability to translate academic interests into meaningful public health advocacy, and even fewer do so with the humility and quiet determination that define her leadership style.
At Drew, Jacquelyn has turned a passion for reproductive and public health into real world impact. She designed campus wide events to combat “period poverty” and improve menstrual health education, engaging 50-100 participants annually with interactive simulations and evidence-based resources. Partnering with Drew Health Services, she also created an online guide to affordable local care, ensuring students can move from awareness to action. Her advocacy extends well beyond campus as well. Certified in AIDS and STD prevention, she produced student centered testing flowcharts now used by peers to navigate confidential screening options. She is currently leading a supply drive for mothers experiencing homelessness in collaboration with Morristown Family Promise—an effort combining logistical skill with deep empathy.
In every context, Jacquelyn exhibits the qualities graduate programs and professional organizations prize: intellectual curiosity, ethical clarity, and an unwavering commitment to equity. A review of her resume indicates her passion and enthusiasm for the work that she does, and the ways in which she demonstrates academic excellence and commitment to her values. I recommend her without reservation and look forward to the impact she will continue to make in the field of reproductive health.
Jacquelyn Dal Bon is an excellent candidate for the Campus Compact Newman Fellowship, and we would be proud to have her in the program to represent Drew University.
Personal Statement
The U.S. faces a deadly shortcoming in sexual-reproductive health education, research, and healthcare access. For example, our maternal mortality crisis is the highest of all high-income countries, with an alarming 80% of deaths determined preventable (CDC, 2024). Research supports that poor patient health education is a contributing factor to this crisis (Sangdang, 2025). This must change. How do I help?
Through my work in a reproductive neuroendocrinology research lab, I was uniquely equipped to serve as a science educator in sexual-reproductive health, creating solutions to target health education gaps in my community. I conducted a community needs assessment on my campus, finding students struggled to define terms such as “menstrual cycle” and identify cost-friendly healthcare resources. In response, I created an initiative, “Drew Access to Sexual Health,” aimed at distributing sexual health education and health supplies in my community. This work included collaborating with medical clinics to create educational campaigns, presenting research at international conferences, serving sexual assault survivors as a patient advocate, hosting annual campus education events, and securing grants to distribute menstrual health products. I am honored to join the Newman Civic Community to continue developing this work as an aspiring research physician in reproductive medicine.