Funding
This article recaps the “Demystifying the Ford Foundation Fellowship Application” info session organized by Miroslava Chávez-García and held on Thursday, October 27.
Below is a recap of the "Demystifying the Ford Foundation Fellowship Application" âinfo session organized by Miroslava Chávez-García and held on Thursday, October 27.
Mission Statement
"Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students." (Source: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/index.htm)
Who is Eligible
- All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation;
- Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations); and,
- Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level.
If eligible, you will be evaluated on a diverse array of "Selection Criteria." Go to the Ford Foundation website and familiarize yourself with those criteria as well as the other criteria. The suggestions they provide are helpful and speak directly to how you will be evaluated. Pay attention to all components, especially the supplementary materials.
Description and Deadlines
Ford Predoctoral Fellowship: A three-year program for graduating senior undergraduates as well first- and second-year students in a doctoral program. You are eligible to apply as long as you have three years remaining before your oral exams or before you become ABD. You will be asked to submit a form verifying your status. Deadline: November 17, 2016, (5:00 p.m. EST), Supplemental Materials: January 10, 2017. Award: $24,000.
Ford Dissertation Fellowship: A one-year fellowship for doctoral candidates in their last year of dissertation research and writing (with the emphasis on the writing). Deadline: November 10, 2016 (5:00 p.m. EST), Supplemental Materials: January 10, 2017. Award: $25,000.
Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship: A one-year fellowship for recent Ph.D.s. It is meant to help junior faculty (usually in their second, third, or fourth years) to publish their first book and secure tenure. Candidates sometimes propose a second book but the goal is to help applicants dedicated to diversity secure tenure. Deadline: November 10, 2016 (5:00 p.m. EST), Supplemental Materials: January 10, 2017. Award: $45,000.
Tips for Applying
Please access and download the information page for details on Components of the Application, as well as the article Preparing a Successful Fellowship or Grant Application by Ernesto Chávez, Miroslava Chávez-García, and Luis Alvarez.
Additional Resources and Information
- For past resources on earlier Graduate Division-sponsored Ford workshops, click here.
- To view samples of successful essay submissions related to the Ford Fellowship, you may visit the Graduate Student Resource Center in the Student Resource Building Room 1215.
- For questions related to interdisciplinary research and preferred submission area or subarea, contact Chris O'Brien at the National Academy of Science Fellowships Office: cobrien@nas.edu or 202-334-2883.
- For writing resources, some suggested books are:
- Becker, H. S. (2010). Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. ReadHowYouWant. com.
- Cahn, S. M., & Cahn, V. (2013). Polishing Your Prose: How to Turn First Drafts Into Finished Work. Columbia University Press.
- Zinsser, W. (1991). On writing well. HarperCollins Publishers.
Recognition of Contributors
A big "thank you" to Ester Trujillo, a former UCSB Graduate Division Funding Peer and current Ph.D. candidate, who shared her insights in drawing up this document. Thanks as well to all the current and past Ford Fellows for sharing their insights on the process of applying. Finally, gracias to the panelists at this workshop for their illuminating insights and practical tips, Professors Edwina Barvosa (Feminist Studies) and Denise Segura (Sociology), and Ph.D. Candidate Rosie Bermudez (Chicana/o Studies), all current and former fellows.