Fellowships for Faculty- Career Enhancement Fellowship Grant

Fellowships for Faculty- Career Enhancement Fellowship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Institute for Citizens & Scholars
Amount: Up to US $35,000
Last Updated: September 20, 2025

Summary

The Career Enhancement Fellowship, offered by Citizens & Scholars, supports junior faculty from diverse backgrounds in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. With stipends up to $35,000, funding for research, and travel support, this program nurtures academic diversity and enhances campus perspectives. Since 2001, over 400 fellows have advanced their careers while fostering a rich academic community. The fellowship promotes innovative scholarship and leadership roles, contributing to a more inclusive academic environment.

Overview

Fellowships for Faculty Citizens & Scholars offers three Fellowships for Faculty at the college or university level. Career Enhancement Fellowship More Diverse Campus Perspectives The Career Enhancement Fellows are exceptional scholars whose work broadens the range of perspectives and understandings offered on college campuses and creates opportunities for crucial new scholarly voices to be heard in disciplines and institutions. Fellows are outstanding junior faculty committed to campus diversity and innovative research in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Through the program, Fellows build a diverse academic community and system of support as they pursue careers as university faculty and administrators. The program is funded by the Mellon Foundation and supports scholars working in the arts and humanities. Fellows receive stipends up to $35,000, funding for travel and research, and attend a retreat to connect with other scholars and mentors. The Challenge: Diverse perspectives have been historically excluded from higher educationThe Fellows: 235 Fellows have gained tenure, 44 Fellows have been promoted to full professor, and at least 13 hold joint academic and administrative positions as deans, provosts, and Vice PresidentsThe Impact: Young adults have increased access to a diversity of perspectives and deepen their understanding of people of all backgrounds Career Development for Junior Faculty Administered at Citizens & Scholars since 2001, the Career Enhancement Fellowship has supported more than 400 junior faculty members, creating a robust network of scholars committed to eradicating racial disparities in core fields in the arts and humanities. Fellows have gone on to serve in administrative and leadership roles, receive high honors like MacArthur Fellowships, and teach new generations of students. Funding & Program Benefits The Career Enhancement Fellowship provides each Fellow with a six-month or one-year sabbatical grant; a stipend for research and travel or publication; and participation in an annual conference/retreat. A total of 30 Fellowships are awarded each year. A stipend of up to $35,000 will be sent to the institution. A grant of up to $1,500 for research, travel, or publication will be sent to the Fellow. The Fellow’s institution is expected to supplement the Career Enhancement Fellowship stipend so that the Fellow receives his/her academic salary. The Fellow’s institution is expected to provide yearly health and benefits coverage Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programs alumni Minority junior faculty: African Americans, Latinos and Latinas, Native Americans, and Native Alaskans Junior faculty with a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities, breaking down stereotypes, and promoting cross-racial understanding in their university communities.You must hold a Ph.D. to be eligible for this fellowship. Applicants must meet the following criteria:At the time of application, considered by your institution to be in the third year of the tenure-track teaching appointment (the award is distributed in the fourth year of the tenure track);C&S understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted tenure clocks for many junior faculty and are aware of “stop the clock” situations. If you were currently in your third year on the tenure clock as of Fall 2021, but have been paused/stopped, please note that you will be able to apply this year (Fall 2022). You will be eligible as long as your institution acknowledges that you are in your third year.Teaching in one of the designated fields, although interdisciplinary work will also be considered; Completed no more than two years on the tenure track at another institution prior to joining your current institution; Ability to accept the Career Enhancement Fellowship in the upcoming academic year. Please note that the Fellowship must be continuous; and Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States as of the specified date (include copy of green card if a permanent resident).Eligible Fields:Humanities: Area/Cultural/Ethnic/Gender Studies, Art History, Classics, English, Film, Cinema and Media Studies (theoretical focus), Musicology, Ethnomusicology and Music Theory, Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Linguistics, Literature, Performance Studies (theoretical focus), Philosophy and Political Theory, Religion and Theology, Theater (theoretical focus) Social Sciences:  Anthropology and Archaeology, Demography, Sociology, Geography and Population Studies

Ineligibility

Those receiving early-tenure are not eligible for a Career Enhancement Fellowship. The award cannot be transferred to another institution. It will be sent to the institution that the applicant indicates when applying for the Career Enhancement Fellowship.