Herewith a variety of undergraduate, dissertation and post-doctoral opportunities. This list needs updating so take a moment to ascertain the program(s) remain extant! Some institutions have paused or ended opportunities, so be proactive and don’t wait to investigate programs that appeal to you. Some programs below specifically aim at increasing diversity, in its broadest contours, in academia. One or two of these links lead you to sites that provide links to multiple opportunities.
When possible I will update this page. I would be delighted to hear about other fellowships and opportunities so do contact me with such information.
Undergraduate Summer Programs
You should know: Many programs provide summer stipends, with some even including travel allowances. Some have early deadlines so follow the links today.
I will start with a tip of the hat to my colleagues at Georgetown University’s African American Studies program. They have a page on summer research opportunities that is very much worth reading as it includes links to multiple programs, including but not limited to those at Northwestern University and the University of California at Irvine.
Penn State has a one week intensive program for students interested in Africana studies and/or Latine Studies and/or History. Check out https://richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/catto-lecount-fellows-program/
The American Bar Association has opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. https://www.americanbarfoundation.org/programs/
Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program: Housed in the Institute of African American Research (IAAR) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) is a graduate-level research experience for highly talented undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing doctorates in the humanities, social sciences, or fine arts.
The University of Texas at San Antonio African American Literatures and Cultures Institute cultivates students to join the US professoriate by providing research stipends, rigorous mentoring, and innovative academic training. This program may be on pause or run virtually.
The University of Michigan has two summer research fellowships whose goals are to increase the number of under-represented students in the academy. The first is for a 8-week program, held on the Ann Arbor campus, culminates in a research symposium where each participant presents their research project. The second one is aimed at students in the humanistic disciplines.
Opportunities of particular interest for students coming from communities under-represented in the academy, although all interested parties should check them out. Please read to the bottom for additional programs.
For Future Graduate Students
Princeton University offers a peek behind the scenes at doctoral education to current and recent undergraduates. See their website https://graddiversity.princeton.edu/pre-doctoral-fellowship-initiative
Considering a doctorate in the humanities and Black studies? Interested in public-facing work? The University of Delaware recently launched the African American Public Humanities Initiative, supporting graduate students in Art History, English, and History. From their website: Are you interested in obtaining a fully funded Ph.D. in the Humanities with an emphasis on African American/Africana Studies? Are you looking for graduate training that emphasizes public scholarship, community outreach, collections based research, and digital humanities? The African American Public Humanities Initiative (AAPHI) provides fully funded graduate fellowships for Ph.D students in History, English, and Art History in a five-year, 12-month, cohort based program.
Delaware also offers the option of a fully-funded master’s in Africana Studies. This program gives students the opportunity to continue after the master’s to an advanced graduate level, as well as the chance to be a teaching assistant in the Introduction to Africana Studies course. https://www.africanastudies.udel.edu/
Thinking about graduate study, part two: Princeton’s pre-doctoral fellowship is a one-year, fully funded fellowship that includes an offer of regular admission to the sponsoring doctoral program the following year. The fellowship is intended for students who would benefit from an additional year of training before formally entering the sponsoring departments’ PhD program. You might be particularly interested in their Graduate Scholars Program.
Still thinking . .. ?
What about the “bridge program” between English and Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison?
Georgia State University has a master’s program in Religious Studies which fully funds almost all of its students for the 2 year MA. [My colleague informs me other programs in the College may have similar funding packages. ] See: https://religiousstudies.gsu.edu/graduate/
The Yale Graduate School offers funded opportunities for recent undergraduates considering doctoral programs: https://gsas.yale.edu/programs-of-study/post-baccalaureate-programs
Asian American Studies at UCLA offers a funded two-year MA program. Tuition is covered if students TA during their second year. More information can be found here: https://asianam.ucla.edu/graduate-study/
For Dissertation Writers and New or Recent PhD’s
Indiana University’s Center for Research on Race and Ethnicity in Society offers two post-doctoral fellowship opportunities for scholars in the humanities and social sciences. Check out their website for more information: https://crres.indiana.edu/programs/postdoctoral-fellowships/index.html
Rochester Institute of Technology has opened up its Preparing Future Faculty Career Exploration Program. Designed for African American, Latino American, and Native American scholars and artists , this four day programs allows you to experience a “behind the scenes” glimpse into life as a faculty member at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Participants will spend time learning from and networking with RIT administration, faculty and students, practicing their interview skills and job-talk presentation – all while exploring the research, teaching and service expectations of RIT faculty. Application date is March 15, 2021.
The UCLA Office of Research and Creative Activities and the UCLA Institute of American Cultures (IAC) with the UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will offer up to four (4) Chancellor’s Postdocs at UCLA (with a possibility of renewal for a second year). These fellows will form a cohort and be affiliated with the IAC’s organized research units: the American Indian Studies Center, the Asian American Studies Center, the Bunche Center for African American Studies, and the Chicano Studies Research Center. Applicants must find a mentor at UCLA to sponsor their application to be eligible. The deadline is November 1.
https://ppfp.ucop.edu/info/how-to-apply/index.html
The Career Enhancement Fellowship award for third-year faculty, sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. This fellowship seeks to increase the presence of minority junior faculty (African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans and Native Alaskans), and other junior faculty members committed to eradicating racial disparities, breaking down stereotypes and promoting cross-racial understanding in core fields of the arts and sciences.
Jackie McLean Fellowships: Jackie McLean was a world-renowned alto saxophonist, educator, composer and community activist who served on the faculty at the University of Hartford for 36 years. Competition for the Jackie McLean Fellowship is open to candidates who have completed all coursework toward a terminal degree (doctoral degree or MFA). Post-doctoral candidates are also eligible.
Gain information about pre and post-doctoral opportunities at a consortium of liberal arts colleges.
American Association of University Women funds dissertations and research.
A two-year faculty post-doctoral position at University of North Carolina.
Northeastern’s Future Faculty fellowships.
The Ford Foundation ended its Ford Fellows Program.
The University of Michigan/LSA Collegiate Fellows Program.
Gaius Charles Bolin Dissertation and post-MFA fellowships at Williams College.
University of Chicago/Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship.
The University of California’s Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Marilyn Yarborough Dissertation Fellowship at Kenyon College.
Indiana University Bloomington Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center on Race and Ethnicity in Society.
University of Pennsylvania Provost’s postdoctoral fellowship for Academic Diversity.
New York University offers future faculty an inside look at academic life; check it out if you are a new PhD, or about to finish one: https://www.nyu.edu/faculty/teaching-and-learning-resources/faculty-advancement/faculty-recruitment.html
General Opportunities and Useful Sites
Thanks to Tuma Ussiri, my doctoral advisee, for pointing us to this useful site from the University of Illinois: https://apps.grad.illinois.edu/fellowship-finder/?action=main.search&grp1=12&grp1=35&grp2=20&grp3=21&grp5=32&grp5=13&q=
The University of Chicago has a very helpful fellowship finding tool on their Graduate School’s website. Find it here.
Thanks to Professor Julie Orlemanski of the University of Chicago. Some of the opportunities noted in this document have been spotlighted elsewhere on this site; her listing is truly a labor of love and generosity.
Building on the success of the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in Critical Bibliography, this scholarly organization identifies and investigates matters of new, compelling cross-disciplinary interest in the areas of bibliography and book history. The Society especially directs its energies toward addressing the interpretation of original textual artifacts in concert with emerging techniques and technologies for the analysis and transmission of texts. The Society invites applications for the Junior Fellows program from early-career scholars and researchers from all fields. We welcome applications from tenure track faculty, Ph.D. candidates, curators, librarians, those in postdoctoral research and teaching positions, and independent scholars. The Society especially encourages applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, individuals from under-resourced institutions, and individuals working on topics currently underrepresented in the fields of book history and bibliography. More information on the Fellows Program
Rice University announces a post-doctoral fellows program housed at the Rice University Academy of Fellows.
Cornell University Klarman Fellowships (you need a letter of invitation).
The School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico has fellowships for those working in Native American Studies as well as general humanities fields.
The American Antiquarian Society has long and short-term fellowships for scholars seeking archives of pre-1900 United States materials. I had a Peterson residency one summer and it was a great experience; two former graduate students of mine crafted winning proposals and enjoyed their time there.
The Council on Library and Information Resources offers post-doctoral opportunities: “Fellows work on projects that forge and strengthen connections among library collections, educational technologies, and current research. The program offers recent PhD graduates the chance to help develop research tools, resources, and services while exploring new career opportunities.” The application process goes live by late September.
The Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Slavery, housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has both long and short-term fellowships; graduate students are eligible to apply for the shorter residencies.
Dartmouth has a Society of Fellows offering postdoctoral opportunities.
New PhD’s in humanities and social sciences: check out the Public Fellows program, a two year opportunity offered through the American Council of Learned Societies.
Mahindra Humanities Center Postdoctoral Fellowships (Harvard University) supporting interdisciplinarity and internationalism.
Izaak Walton Killam Postdoctoral Fellowships at Dalhousie University in Halifax (yes–it’s open to non-Canadians).
USC’s Society of Fellows offers residencies on a two-year cycle; 2020 is an off year.
Stanford University has a site intended for its own students but the information is useful to those in graduate school elsewhere. View the site
Johns Hopkins University hosts a similarly useful page–again, although the material was assembled for its own students, the information will be useful to many others. View the site
Michigan State University’s Libraries website allows you to sort your search by various categories. View the site