Championing Student Mental Health Earned This Pitt Junior A Newman Civic Fellowship

Mohammad Shedeed, a junior in the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and David C. Frederick Honors College, received a 2025-26 Newman Civic Fellowship. This national honor from Campus Compact recognizes student leaders who are making a difference in their communities.

Shedeed earned the honor for his long-standing commitment to mental health advocacy, youth mentorship and community service. Working with organizations such as Mental Health America, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Work2BeWell, he has organized national summits, lobbied for school mental health legislation in the Pennsylvania Capitol and helped lead youth advocacy networks dedicated to reducing stigma around mental illness.

In addition to his mental health work, Shedeed serves as community engagement director for Pitt's Muslim Student Association, where he helped raise $50,000 for children in the Middle East and organized a winter clothing drive for Pittsburgh's homeless population. He also volunteers at a local Islamic center, teaching and mentoring youth while organizing large-scale community events and food drives. Along with a major in neuroscience from the Dietrich School, Shedeed is pursuing minors in chemistry and Spanish as well as a Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate.

"Mohammad is a remarkable student whose commitment to mental health advocacy and community service embodies the values of the Newman Civic Fellowship," said Nicola Foote, dean of the Frederick Honors College. "His work reflects our college's mission to cultivate leaders who not only excel academically but also dedicate themselves to lifting others and creating meaningful change. We are incredibly proud of his leadership and look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to make both here at Pitt and beyond."

Newman Civic Fellows participate in virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the annual convening of fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over the course of two days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and postgraduate opportunities.

Photography courtesy of Mohammad Shedeed