James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership | Jamelah P. Jacob '21
The James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership honors an undergraduate who, in the spirit of James Monroe, has demonstrated sustained leadership combined with initiative, character and an unfailing commitment to the ethic of service.
Jamelah Jacob, Class of 2021, you have consistently demonstrated active citizenship through your volunteer experiences. You serve as a catalyst of innovation and leadership and have earned the respect of your peers, advisors and community members.
As president of the Filipino American Student Association, chair of the Asian American Student Initiative and editor in chief of Art & Hatsuye, you have promoted cultural awareness in order to address the needs of Asian Pacific Islander Americans, Middle Eastern Americans and African
Americans.
As student chair of the Asian American Student Initiative, you successfully lobbied for representation of APIA students at faculty meetings where programs were being constructed. As part of this initiative, you created a resource list of internships for students either majoring or minoring in APIA, developed a mentor program for prospective and current APIA students and championed an Asian Pacific Middle Eastern graduation ceremony. For these efforts, you were awarded a grant from the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) to study external civil rights.
In support of the Center for Student Diversity, you developed and supported educational programs that foster social justice awareness. Furthermore, you used social media to encourage reflection on the issue of pervasive racism, advanced programming for the Preparing for Life as a University Student (PLUS) program and orchestrated a Get Out The Vote initiative.
Beyond the boundaries of William & Mary’s campus, you have interned or worked in the Washington, D.C., Mayor’s Office, for the 1882 Foundation and for the Japanese American Citizens League. You advocate for policies and educational programming pertaining to COVID-19, ICE detention centers, immigration reform, the negative impacts of gentrification in Asian-American neighborhoods and strengthening relationships between the United States and Japan.
Jamelah Jacob, as a proven leader and role model for social justice and community advocacy, you show promise for a lifetime of community engagement and civic action. The university is proud to honor you with this year’s James Monroe Prize in Civic Leadership.
