MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (September 29, 2025) — Monmouth College student Taylor Whitaker has already built a strong foundation for a future career in politics and public service.
The senior from Germantown Hills, Illinois, recently added another layer to her résumé when she was named a 2025-2026 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact.
Newman Civic Fellows are a group of community-committed students who are already impacting communities where they live, learn, and serve. Campus Compact says it is "pleased to recognize such an inspiring group of emerging public problem solvers."
The Annual Convening of Newman Civic Fellows will be held October 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
"That's what I'm most looking forward to," said Whitaker, a political science major with a minor in psychology. "Making meaningful connections, networking, and learning about the ways I can show up for my college and my classmates is something I'm very excited about. Monmouth has given me so much, and I'm just very grateful for all the opportunities that keep coming my way."
Already a Senate staffer
Whitaker has interned in the office of Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler (IL-46) since her freshman year at Monmouth. She said the experience "completely changed the course of my plans."
"Working with Senate staff and constituents, arranging meetings, learning the finances behind all of the work, and making meaningful connections in the political world is insurmountable in this field," she said.
"I cannot even begin to say how grateful I am for the opportunity they've given me, and the leg-up they've provided me with in this field. In particular, I owe everything to Sen Koehler's chief of staff, Jennifer Allison, who has been the most incredible mentor."
Whitaker's plan after Monmouth is to apply for and be accepted to the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program, a ten-month, full-time program providing unique experience in state government.
"Hopefully, I'd be on Senate staff while I'm in Springfield, and I would also love to get my Master's degree while I'm there," she said. "Eventually, I would love to be asked to be on Senate staff full-time after the program is over and later become a lobbyist for a private firm once I've made those important connections in the Capitol."
Whitaker has participated in several cocurricular activities at Monmouth, and they've dovetailed nicely with her career plans.
"As a writing tutor and editor of the Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research, I'm learning how to adapt to different writing styles and improve my own writing through discussions," she said. "And being a member of Student Senate relates to my experience working for Sen Koehler. I love the experience of being behind the scenes of work that is heavily impactful to a community, or to a group of people. I find so much satisfaction in the things that I've been able to accomplish on campus."
Newman Civic Fellows have access to a variety of virtual and in-person learning opportunities, including competitive mini-grant funding opportunities for social-impact projects, monthly online leadership webinars, and a mentorship program with a local mentor. Fellows will also have access to exclusive scholarships and post-graduate opportunities. These opportunities support fellows in their personal, professional, and civic growth.
