Sponsored by Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholars Fellowship helps HBCU-affiliated writers, community scholars, faculty members, and doctoral candidates with their research process through funding, access to academic publishing outlets (journals and presses), public promotion of their work, and professional community/peer support. In doing so, we aim to develop and amplify underrepresented voices and research within the academy and applied humanities spaces.
Projects of interest can range across the disciplines of traditional humanities, public, and digital humanities, and human-centered social sciences. Preference is given, but not limited to, topics that feature Virginia’s historical significance, engage historically marginalized groups and stories and touch on broader South Atlantic themes. We are excited to begin offering both short-term (3-6 months) and long-term (9-12 months) options. Read more in the requirements section.
Fellows are expected to dedicate a significant amount of their time toward their project and are advised to reduce their workload or take leave, if possible. The fellowship term should result in a scholarly contribution or meaningful public humanities work engaging a large audience. There is No residential requirement; however, recipients must attend at least one in-person gathering at our headquarters in Charlottesville, VA.
Program Benefits
The program provides both short-term (3–6 months) and long-term (9–12 months) fellowships. Based on the applicant’s proposed budget, short-term fellowship awards range from $5,000 to $15,000 and long-term fellowship awards range from $20,000 to $45,000. In addition to the amount awarded to each fellow, 10% of the total award amount will also be gifted to the fellows’ HBCU or to a cultural organization of their choice (e.g., Black History Museum of Virginia). For example, if a professor is selected for a long-term fellowship and awarded $25,000, an additional $2,500 will be gifted to their department/institution for the continued development of humanities-related activity at that institution.
In support of their research, fellows will receive access to various resources and the library system at the University of Virginia and the
archives available at the Library of Virginia. In addition, they will share their work publicly on Virginia Humanities’ With Good Reason radio show and present their scholarship at a cultural center/organization of their choice. Fellows are also encouraged to publish in our online resource, Encyclopedia Virginia.
Eligibility
HBCU Scholars Fellowship Eligibility:
- HBCU affiliation is required and defined as alumni, faculty, or current doctoral candidate.
- Must be a professor, doctoral student, or public humanities practitioner with a project primarily focused on humanities or human-centered social sciences.
- No residential requirement but there is at least one in-person commitment at our Center in Charlottesville.
- Fellowship deliverables should result in a scholarly contribution or meaningful public humanities work engaging a large audience (e.g., journal article, book proposal, chapter or folio, higher-ed related pedagogical or curricular outcome, documentary, etc.).
- We do not fund advocacy or political action projects that promote a certain policy, exclusively K-12 focused work (please see our K-12 Educator fellowship), or non-humanities related projects.
This fellowship does not require Virginia residence or Virginia HBCU affiliation. All HBCU affiliates are welcome to apply.
How to Apply
Complete the application form, including:
- Curriculum Vitae (Resume)
- Proof of HBCU affiliation
- Project Proposal
- Working Bibliography (not to exceed 2 pages)
- Budget (template in application)
- Two letters of recommendation
Deadline: Sunday, March 2, 2025
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of 56 humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
Not ready to apply this year? Bookmark the Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowship to your ProFellow account.
© 2024 ProFellow, LLC. All rights reserved.