About the Program

The Fellowship, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, 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 $30,000 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
• 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.

Eligibility

Who should apply?

• • 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.

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);
  • Please note that if your institution has implemented a “stop the clock” policy due to COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply in your fourth year, as long as your institution considers you to be in the third year of the tenure clock. Applicants in their fourth year at their institution who are considered to be in the third year on the tenure track due to a “stop the clock” scenario must include in their application a brief letter from their department chair.
• • teaching in one of the designated fields (see fields here), 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;
• • able 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 October 23, 2020 (include copy of green card if a permanent resident).

While all faculty members who meet these criteria may apply, those who have been Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows are strongly encouraged to do so.

Important Dates

This is a tentative schedule of events for the selection and announcement of the 2021 Career Enhancement Fellows.

More Information

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Application Instructions

For more information about the program and application materials, contact: [email protected]

Ritu Mukherjee | Mellon Program Associate

Melanie Meinzer |Mellon Program Officer