Dean’s Fellowship

The Dean’s Fellowship is awarded to domestic, first-year PhD students who come from educational, cultural, familial, geographical or socioeconomic backgrounds that are often underrepresented in STEM disciplines or who are committed to promoting the inclusion of a diverse population of students in higher education.

Examples include:

• Students who faced financial hardships that may have limited their choices for higher education, such as initially attending a community college, needing a Pell Grant to attend a four-year institution, or working full-time while putting themselves through college.
• Students who attended a minority-serving institution or an institution in an underserved geographical area.
• Students who, through community engagement or leadership of student and/or civic organizations, have demonstrated a commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Students who are the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Students are nominated by their graduate program during the admissions process and awards are communicated at the time an offer of admission with financial aid is made.  The fellowships are “top-off” awards of 10% of the graduate program’s typical offer of funding.  For example, if a program offers a stipend of $31,000, the first-year stipend will be increased to $34,100 for recipients.  The number of fellows will depend on the availability of funds.

The basis for nomination may include any, or all, of the following: answers to questions on the PhD application for admission, information provided by the applicant in their personal statement, and information provided by those writing letters of recommendation.

The inaugural fellowships will be awarded for PhD students admitted for Fall 2023.