Building on the legacy of NC State Chancellor John T. Caldwell, the Caldwell Fellows program invests in students selected during their first year at NC State who share a passion for learning, growing, and serving others. The Caldwell Fellows program challenges scholars to “Think BIG” and facilitates the goal of maximizing the college experience by providing intensive programming and leadership training and fostering collaborative interaction with alumni, faculty, and community partners.
“You just don’t know how magnificent you might be. Think big! Think big about your possibilities in this world.”
John T. Caldwell
Former NC State Chancellor, 1959-1975
Our Guiding Values
Servant-Leadership
In service-based leadership, we engage in the continuous, voluntary exercise of mutual influence between ourselves and others toward a common purpose.
Principled Reflection
According to our principles and as a practice, we deliberately cultivate knowledge of our character and critically consider our purpose in our environment.
Personal Development
In exploring the challenges of personal betterment, we are committed to fostering ongoing self-discovery and improvement within ourselves and others.
Rigorous Integrity
We uphold honesty and honor, despite our limitations, via meticulous empathy, discipline, and humility.
Authentic Self
In pursuit of who we want to be, we endeavor to become more fully human through genuine interactions and openness within our communities.
We strive toward these values by engaging in a continuous process of hands-on learning involving active engagement, personal reflection, meaningful feedback, and active listening.
caldwellfellowsSep 17
Meet Evan Byrd, Class of ‘28!
Evan is our new co-teaching assistant for the Open Door Clinic service learning team alongside Eiad Yakout! After working with the clinic as a sophomore, one moment that stayed with him was arriving for a normally busy Tuesday morning and finding the clinic unusually quiet as staff called patients who did not feel safe leaving their homes due to events in the Raleigh area. Seeing the clinic’s leaders quickly reorganize their day around what their patients needed showed Evan what it means to lead for a community, rather than simply lead a community. The experience also gave him a deeper awareness of his own privilege and the importance of understanding the circumstances that shape the lives of those being served. Now, Evan is returning as a TA to help the next cohort build the same connections and shared experiences that made his time at the clinic so meaningful. “I benefit from shared struggle,” Evan reflects, remembering the moments of working alongside Eiad to communicate with a Portuguese-speaking patient and collaborating through group projects. He is excited to help the new cohort find that same sense of connection while developing their own approach to servant leadership. His service-learning experience has also reinforced the importance of body language and nonverbal communication, a lesson he continues to apply as he pursues a career in medicine.
Evan is our new co-teaching assistant for the Open Door Clinic service learning team alongside Eiad Yakout! After working with the clinic as a sophomore, one moment that stayed with him was arriving for a normally busy Tuesday morning and finding the clinic unusually quiet as staff called patients who did not feel safe leaving their homes due to events in the Raleigh area. Seeing the clinic’s leaders quickly reorganize their day around what their patients needed showed Evan what it means to lead for a community, rather than simply lead a community. The experience also gave him a deeper awareness of his own privilege and the importance of understanding the circumstances that shape the lives of those being served. Now, Evan is returning as a TA to help the next cohort build the same connections and shared experiences that made his time at the clinic so meaningful. “I benefit from shared struggle,” Evan reflects, remembering the moments of working alongside Eiad to communicate with a Portuguese-speaking patient and collaborating through group projects. He is excited to help the new cohort find that same sense of connection while developing their own approach to servant leadership. His service-learning experience has also reinforced the importance of body language and nonverbal communication, a lesson he continues to apply as he pursues a career in medicine.
#CaldwellFellows #ServiceLearning
53
8
caldwellfellowsSep 13
The Caldwell Fellows had a great time hanging out at the Carmichael rock wall this morning before our September Dinner Seminar!
The Caldwell Fellows had a great time hanging out at the Carmichael rock wall this morning before our September Dinner Seminar!
74
5
caldwellfellowsSep 10
Meet Eiad Yakout, Class of ‘28!
Eiad is our new co-teaching assistant for the Open Door Clinic service learning team alongside Evan Byrd! After volunteering as a Welcome Coordinator at the clinic as a sophomore, one experience that stayed with him was seeing the food bank line wrap around the entire building following changes to federal food assistance benefits. Witnessing the immediate impact of systemic changes on his local community deepened Eiad’s understanding of food insecurity and showed him how servant leadership requires understanding both the people being served and the larger factors affecting their lives. His time with the Open Door Clinic transformed the way he views the medical field and reinforced the importance of organizations that meet community needs directly. Now, Eiad is returning as a TA to help the next cohort discover the same lessons and develop their own understanding of servant leadership. “Understanding the principles of servant leadership is completely different than practicing and experiencing them first-hand,” he reflects, “which adds to the vital nuance of learning more about being a leader.” Through service-learning, Eiad has learned that effective leadership requires adaptability and that every leader develops their own approach. He is excited to help the next cohort find their own leadership values and understand how those values can shape the way they serve others.
Eiad is our new co-teaching assistant for the Open Door Clinic service learning team alongside Evan Byrd! After volunteering as a Welcome Coordinator at the clinic as a sophomore, one experience that stayed with him was seeing the food bank line wrap around the entire building following changes to federal food assistance benefits. Witnessing the immediate impact of systemic changes on his local community deepened Eiad’s understanding of food insecurity and showed him how servant leadership requires understanding both the people being served and the larger factors affecting their lives. His time with the Open Door Clinic transformed the way he views the medical field and reinforced the importance of organizations that meet community needs directly. Now, Eiad is returning as a TA to help the next cohort discover the same lessons and develop their own understanding of servant leadership. “Understanding the principles of servant leadership is completely different than practicing and experiencing them first-hand,” he reflects, “which adds to the vital nuance of learning more about being a leader.” Through service-learning, Eiad has learned that effective leadership requires adaptability and that every leader develops their own approach. He is excited to help the next cohort find their own leadership values and understand how those values can shape the way they serve others.
#CaldwellFellows #ServiceLearning
35
7
caldwellfellowsSep 5
Caldwell fellows take over the Windy City starting with a boat tour of the history and architecture of the city.
Caldwell fellows take over the Windy City starting with a boat tour of the history and architecture of the city.
98
5
caldwellfellowsSep 5
Meet Carina Elrod, Class of ‘28!
Carina is our new teaching assistant for the Walnut Creek Wetland Center service learning team! After working with the Wetland Center as a sophomore, one of her favorite memories was painting old cinderblocks with the team to line the trail. Seeing everyone bring their own creativity to the project showed Carina the power of bringing different skills and perspectives together. The experience reshaped her understanding of servant leadership, showing her that leadership is not about one person having all the answers, but about listening to others and finding ways for everyone to contribute. “Servant leadership is not linear. There is no one way to lead, one style to follow” she discovered. After having such a meaningful experience on the team, Carina wanted to return as a TA to help the new cohort navigate their first year in Caldwell and build the same connections that made her experience so special. As a TA, Carina hopes to create an experience that is both fun and exciting while giving the new cohort space to learn, grow, and develop as leaders. Her time in Caldwell has also taught her the importance of vulnerability, showing her that asking for help is not a weakness, but an essential part of leadership. Carina is excited to bring that lesson into her role as a TA and help the next cohort discover that no one has to lead alone.
Carina is our new teaching assistant for the Walnut Creek Wetland Center service learning team! After working with the Wetland Center as a sophomore, one of her favorite memories was painting old cinderblocks with the team to line the trail. Seeing everyone bring their own creativity to the project showed Carina the power of bringing different skills and perspectives together. The experience reshaped her understanding of servant leadership, showing her that leadership is not about one person having all the answers, but about listening to others and finding ways for everyone to contribute. “Servant leadership is not linear. There is no one way to lead, one style to follow” she discovered. After having such a meaningful experience on the team, Carina wanted to return as a TA to help the new cohort navigate their first year in Caldwell and build the same connections that made her experience so special. As a TA, Carina hopes to create an experience that is both fun and exciting while giving the new cohort space to learn, grow, and develop as leaders. Her time in Caldwell has also taught her the importance of vulnerability, showing her that asking for help is not a weakness, but an essential part of leadership. Carina is excited to bring that lesson into her role as a TA and help the next cohort discover that no one has to lead alone.
#CaldwellFellows #ServiceLearning
49
5
caldwellfellowsAug 27
Meet Lelani Williamson, Class of ‘27!
Lelani is our new teaching assistant for the Dorothea Dix service learning team! After working with the Dix Project as a sophomore, conducting the team’s first oral history interview became a defining moment that brought everything the team had been learning to life and showed the real impact of their work. The experience broadened Lelani’s understanding of servant leadership, showing that leadership can look different depending on an organization’s needs, goals, and mission. After connecting so deeply with the Dix Project, Lelani wanted to return as a TA for her second year in a row to help the next cohort find that same sense of purpose and gain something meaningful from their time on the team. Working as a TA has challenged Lelani to think about leadership in a new way, learning that facilitating a project does not always mean being hands-on. “I was able to provide direction as the facilitator and then take a step back and allow the team to take the project where they wanted and how they saw beneficial” she reflects. Lelani has discovered a passion for facilitating projects, building relationships with community partners, and creating opportunities for lasting collaboration, which she is excited to push even futher this year.
Lelani is our new teaching assistant for the Dorothea Dix service learning team! After working with the Dix Project as a sophomore, conducting the team’s first oral history interview became a defining moment that brought everything the team had been learning to life and showed the real impact of their work. The experience broadened Lelani’s understanding of servant leadership, showing that leadership can look different depending on an organization’s needs, goals, and mission. After connecting so deeply with the Dix Project, Lelani wanted to return as a TA for her second year in a row to help the next cohort find that same sense of purpose and gain something meaningful from their time on the team. Working as a TA has challenged Lelani to think about leadership in a new way, learning that facilitating a project does not always mean being hands-on. “I was able to provide direction as the facilitator and then take a step back and allow the team to take the project where they wanted and how they saw beneficial” she reflects. Lelani has discovered a passion for facilitating projects, building relationships with community partners, and creating opportunities for lasting collaboration, which she is excited to push even futher this year.
#CaldwellFellows #ServiceLearning
83
4
caldwellfellowsAug 21
Thinking back to the 2026 Wilderness Expedition with @voyageuroutwardbound and still pondering the question: "Why do we do hard things?" Partly, we do hard things for moments like these: self-discovery, growth, resilience. Read more at https://caldwellfellows.ncsu.edu/why-do-we-do-hard-things-a-wilderness-reflection/
Thinking back to the 2026 Wilderness Expedition with @voyageuroutwardbound and still pondering the question: "Why do we do hard things?" Partly, we do hard things for moments like these: self-discovery, growth, resilience. Read more at https://caldwellfellows.ncsu.edu/why-do-we-do-hard-things-a-wilderness-reflection/
99
0
caldwellfellowsAug 20
Meet Quinn Weidner, Class of ‘28!
Quinn is our new co-teaching assistant for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle service learning team alongside Jack Proctor! She worked with Inter-Faith Food Farm as a sophomore in service learning last year, where harvesting Scuppernong grapes gave her a deeper appreciation for North Carolina agriculture and the importance of making healthy food accessible to the community. The farm changed the way she understood servant leadership, showing her that meaningful leadership starts with showing up, working alongside others, and meeting people where they are, not simply doling out tasks to subordinates. Now, Quinn is returning as a co-TA to give back to a community that shaped her and help the next cohort find their own connection to service through their time at Inter-Faith Farm. Quinn is “motivated to mentor the next cohort because I want them to have a place that makes them feel connected to their community in a way that gets them outside, involved, engaged in real-world struggles, and collaborating with fellow members of their class.”
Quinn is our new co-teaching assistant for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle service learning team alongside Jack Proctor! She worked with Inter-Faith Food Farm as a sophomore in service learning last year, where harvesting Scuppernong grapes gave her a deeper appreciation for North Carolina agriculture and the importance of making healthy food accessible to the community. The farm changed the way she understood servant leadership, showing her that meaningful leadership starts with showing up, working alongside others, and meeting people where they are, not simply doling out tasks to subordinates. Now, Quinn is returning as a co-TA to give back to a community that shaped her and help the next cohort find their own connection to service through their time at Inter-Faith Farm. Quinn is “motivated to mentor the next cohort because I want them to have a place that makes them feel connected to their community in a way that gets them outside, involved, engaged in real-world struggles, and collaborating with fellow members of their class.”
Emma embraced every opportunity to grow through her time in the Caldwell Fellows Program, using the support of the community to explore her passions and challenge herself in meaningful ways. During her time at NC State, she published research, presented at conferences, studied abroad in Prague, led an Alternative Service Break in Guatemala, and completed a long-term internship at the Open Door Clinic. Through these experiences, Emma discovered that leadership is rooted in a willingness to serve and learn each day. She is excited to continue her education at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine as she pursues her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. Before beginning medical school this summer, she is walking Camino Portugués. We are excited to see the impact she will make in the years ahead!
Emma embraced every opportunity to grow through her time in the Caldwell Fellows Program, using the support of the community to explore her passions and challenge herself in meaningful ways. During her time at NC State, she published research, presented at conferences, studied abroad in Prague, led an Alternative Service Break in Guatemala, and completed a long-term internship at the Open Door Clinic. Through these experiences, Emma discovered that leadership is rooted in a willingness to serve and learn each day. She is excited to continue her education at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine as she pursues her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. Before beginning medical school this summer, she is walking Camino Portugués. We are excited to see the impact she will make in the years ahead!
#CaldwellFellows #Classof26 #ServantLeadership
34
0
caldwellfellowsMay 13
Celebrating Our Graduates: Josue Avalos Jimenez
Through the Caldwell Fellows Program, Josue found a community that continued to support him even from a distance. The program encouraged him to embrace who he is and gave him confidence in his ability to pursue the life and career he wants for himself. That confidence carried into his work with Nintendo, where he brought creativity and thoughtful design to user research, prototyping, accessibility improvements, and custom web experiences for Nintendo.com. His work supported high-traffic digital experiences while helping strengthen consistency across web properties through scalable design system components. This summer, he is on the Camino Portugués with his peers in the Caldwell Fellows. We are excited to see where his work in design and technology takes him next!
Through the Caldwell Fellows Program, Josue found a community that continued to support him even from a distance. The program encouraged him to embrace who he is and gave him confidence in his ability to pursue the life and career he wants for himself. That confidence carried into his work with Nintendo, where he brought creativity and thoughtful design to user research, prototyping, accessibility improvements, and custom web experiences for Nintendo.com. His work supported high-traffic digital experiences while helping strengthen consistency across web properties through scalable design system components. This summer, he is on the Camino Portugués with his peers in the Caldwell Fellows. We are excited to see where his work in design and technology takes him next!
#CaldwellFellows #Classof26 #ServantLeadership
46
0
caldwellfellowsMay 9
Much love to our Spring 2026 graduates! We are proud of you and excited to learn all about your next chapter as it unfolds.
