Southern Education Leadership Initiative Fellowship
The Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) is an intensive, eight-week, paid summer fellowship for Emerging Leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education across the pre-K through college continuum. Placed in nonprofits, school districts, higher education institutions, or state education agencies in the South, SELI Fellows spend the summer developing as leaders, engaging with valuable stakeholders, and acquiring practical job skills through direct learning experiences.
Through SELI, talented and diverse young leaders have conducted important research, policy analysis, advocacy, and organizing efforts for over 100 partner organizations over the course of its 15-year tenure. SELI alumni can be found today working as educators, policymakers, researchers, community organizers, and committed civic leaders dedicated to improving the lives of all children.
Fellows Receive:
- Experience: an opportunity to work for eight weeks (May 20- July 24, 2020) in an organization concerned with equity and excellence in education;
- Stipend: a living expense stipend of $4,500 (for undergraduate juniors or graduating seniors) or $5,000 (for graduate students who will have completed at least one term by June 1, 2020);
- Travel: all airfare/car mileage expenses associated with traveling to and from SEF trainings to summer placement site (assistance also provided by SEF in making travel arrangements);
- Orientation (May 20-22, 2020): training that exposes students to research in the field, stresses the importance of civic engagement, teaches strategies for making change, and provides opportunities to meet and learn from inspiring leaders involved in education policy and practice (attendance required);
- Fellowship Placement: guidance and supervision provided by seasoned sector leaders to work on challenging research, education policy, and nonprofit program related projects; placements change annually and are made based on students’ interests and regional needs for students; and
- Closing Meeting (July 22-24, 2020): an opportunity to present summer emersion experience to peers while reflecting and brainstorming lessons learned from this learning opportunity and how they may be taken back to their communities; solidifies role as a member of a network of emerging leaders in the sector (attendance required).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be between the ages of 20-35 years old to qualify for the program.
- Must be currently enrolled in a four-year college or graduate level program in or outside the South.
- Must have completed 60 credit hours (equivalent of junior status & above in undergraduate program) or be currently enrolled in a masters, law, or doctoral program at a college or university. No minimum GPA is required.
- All majors are accepted but you must have demonstrated an interest in social justice and/or education policy and practice.
- Excellent interpersonal, writing, and critical thinking skills, with flexibility to respond well to diverse people, settings, and tasks.
- Deadline for the submission of a complete application is March 1, 2020, 5pm ET. Please see our website for more details on required materials and directions on how to submit them. (No exceptions can be made on late applications).
- Must only work on assigned projects from placement site and SEF during the fellowship months. Students do not design projects for this experiential learning opportunity but are assigned projects by the placement site supervisor.
- Must relocate to another city or town, abstain from taking any kind of coursework, test preparation, or taking other job opportunities during summer program.
- Fellows must attend in full the Orientation and Closing Meetings.