Dean’s Leadership Council – Community Impact Fellowship
Fellowship details
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The Community Impact Fellowship highlights and supports doctoral and MFA students whose current research shows substantial impact in the immediate vicinity of Orange County. Ideal candidates will be involved in research designed to significantly improve or enrich the lives of Orange County residents or improve the impact of Orange County organizations.
This fellowship is made possible by the Dean’s Leadership Council, an advisory board to the Dean of the Graduate Division and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at UCI. The council was founded nearly a decade ago and each member serves as a significant leader in either academia, industry, or both. They aid the Dean and Graduate Division in moving graduate education forward, implementing programs, and strategies to make sure UCI graduate students are set up to thrive.
The award consists of $500 stipend that may be used for personal, professional development or research purposes.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum graduate-level UCI GPA of 3.7 (at least 3 quarters of graduate coursework completed at UCI)
- Be a current, full-time doctoral or MFA student
- If a doctoral student, be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. by March 3, 2025
- Conduct research that has critical community impact. (Examples of relevant research include studies that aim to improve economic opportunity and well-being, health care, social justice, political participation, cultural engagement, and scientific or technical solutions to pressing social issues.)
- Be willing to have research spotlighted/featured on both the Graduate Division’s and UCI’s website, brochures, and social networks, and be able and available to effectively communicate and discuss their research in lay terms with prospective donors, legislators and/or their staff, and the media during the school year.
- If selected as a recipient, students must be available to give a brief presentation in-person to the Dean’s Leadership Council regarding their research in April 2025 (exact date TBD).
Submit an application using the DLC Community Impact Application Form. Be prepared to provide the following information:
- Applicant Biographic Statement (300 word maximum)
- Include, where applicable, undergraduate university and previous degrees, research interests, current projects, honors, work experience, outside interests, and any special characteristics or activities.
- Applicant Research Statement (500 word maximum)
- Provide a research statement that is written for a committee of non-specialist in the field. The statement should highlight the potential community impact of your research and include your progress to date and plans for the future.
- Community Impact Statement (300 word maximum)
- Provide a brief statement outlining any community impact experiences you’ve had to date. This may include volunteer work, sharing your research with the public, etc.
- A Current Curriculum Vitae
- Students should review the terms of any funding that they have accepted for AY 2024-2025 to ensure that they are eligible to receive additional fellowship funding before applying.
- For students already receiving financial aid, acceptance of a fellowship or scholarship may affect their overall financial need-based support package. In such cases, students are strongly encouraged to consult with the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- If selected as a recipient, students must be available to give a brief presentation in-person to the Dean’s Leadership Council regarding their research in April 2025 (exact date TBD).