The deadline to apply for the 2025 Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship was February 1, 2025. Please check back this fall for the 2026 application procedures. Please see below for information on fellowship purpose, selection criteria, and a list of past winners.

FELLOWSHIP PURPOSE

The Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), in keeping with its philosophy of active engagement with social problems, participation in social problem solutions, and advancement of knowledge through study, service and critical analysis, established the Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarship at its annual meeting in August 1993. At the 2017 annual meeting, the Board of Directors voted to change the scholarship to a fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship is:

  • To identify and support developing minority scholars who exemplify and give fresh voice to the SSSP history and commitment to scholar activism
  • To give renewed energy and wider lenses to diversity in scholarship
  • To increase the pool of minority social and behavioral scientists
  • To establish a formal commitment to diversity through support of two minority doctoral students in the social and/or behavioral sciences inclusive of course work or dissertation research support who demonstrates a commitment, through their scholarly examination, of any aspect of inequality, injustice, and oppression
SELECTION CRITERIA
  • A person identified as either American Indian or Alaska Native, Arab/Middle Eastern/North African, Asian/Asian-American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students from one of the aforementioned groups, accepted into an accredited doctoral program in any one of the social and/or behavioral sciences so as to expand their perspectives in the pursuit and investigations into social problems
  • Sbmission of a dissertation proposal of no more than 10 single spaced pages is required, plus a table of contents. The student’s dissertation advisor’s letter should note that they expect the student to have defended the dissertation proposal and have achieved advanced status in the doctoral program (completed course work, examinations, and approval of their dissertation prospectus) by the end of the Spring 2025 academic year.
  • A grade point average or equivalent of at least 3.25 in one’s current graduate program [of study]
  • Evidence of a commitment to a career of scholar activism as demonstrated by: course and academic work and research, activism in school and/or community, career plans, mentoring members of marginalized populations, and volunteering and organizing around social justice issues as a scholar activist
  • Financial need should be discussed in two primary ways: 1) as personal financial need within the personal statement, and 2) as programmatic financial need within the letter from the dissertation advisor program chair, or graduate director.
  • With the exception of DACA and undocumented students, who are also eligible, applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
FUNDING

A $15,000 fellowship will be funded to two students. Payments will be made in equal installments in September 2025 and January 2026. SSSP believes that the support of students will foster the commitment required to enable the student to fund living arrangements as well as academic or research costs.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENT
  • Attend the annual meeting to receive the award (except for DACA/undocumented eligible winners who might be excluded from travelling outside the United States)
  • A personal statement of no more than 3 double spaced pages is required. Applicants should include a discussion of their commitment to a career of scholar activism and any personal financial need.
  • Following year, present work (described above) at an appropriate division session
  • Serve on the Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee after completing graduate school, and attend the scheduled meeting of the committee
STUDENT APPLICATION PROCESS

It s the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that their application meets all requirements to be considered eligible for evaluation. Incomplete online applications will not be reviewed. Each application must include the following: 

  1. Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Application
  2. Unofficial Academic Transcript from Doctoral Program
  3. Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  4. Three letters of recommendation addressing the student’s work and progress in the program, including one from the student’s dissertation advisor, are required. A letter from the dissertation advisor, program chair, or graduate director should address the programmatic financial need of the applicant and that the student will have defended the dissertation proposal and have achieved advanced status in the doctoral program (completed course work, examinations, and approval of their dissertation prospectus) by the end of the Spring 2025 academic year.
  5. A personal statement of no more than 3 double spaced pages. Applicants should include a discussion of their commitment to a career of scholar activism and any personal financial need.
  6. No more than 10 single spaced pages of the dissertation proposal, plus a table of contents

Contact Dr. David Brunsma, Chair, Racial/Ethnic Minority Graduate Fellowship Committee with questions concerning the fellowship: brunsmad@vt.edu

PAST WINNERS

Click here to view a list of past winners.