The Virginia HBCU Scholars Fellowship funds the humanities research of scholars affiliated with Virginia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in service of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) heritage, stories, and communities. The fellowships are made possible by a major grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation built on their long record of support for HBCUs.
Selected candidates will join the nearly half-century legacy of Virginia Humanities’ fellowship program and become part of a distinguished family of writers, scholars, and researchers that includes Nikki Giovanni, Robert Trent Vinson, Cassandra Newby-Alexander, and Margot Lee Shetterly.
Applications will close on Sunday, January 21, 2024
Pictured: 2022-23 Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow Derrick Lanois presents a talk at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Photo by Nina Wilder/Virginia Humanities
Participants can look forward to a respite from demanding workloads and find a supportive environment designed to further or complete their research. Thanks to our role as the state’s humanities council and our relationship with the University of Virginia, we can provide fellows with full access to the resources and libraries at the University of Virginia and the Library of Virginia.
Fellows will be awarded a stipend of up to $5,000 per month, for up to one academic year (9 consecutive months). Replacement funds are available as needed and will be awarded to the fellow’s home institution. As part of the fellowship, selected candidates will have the option to choose another expert in their field of study to review their research as well as network, engage, and collaborate with other scholars. In addition, fellows will share their work publicly on Virginia Humanities’ With Good Reason public radio show and podcast and have the option to publish in our digital Encyclopedia Virginia and/or present at a local cultural center/organization of their choice.
Fellowship Timeline
- Friday, November 24, 2023: Application opens
- Sunday, January 21, 2024: Application closes
- March 2024: Recipients are notified
- Summer 2024: Fellowship begins
Press Releases
- Nine New Fellows Explore Stories of Virginia’s History and Culture (6/26/2023)
- Announcing Nineteen New Fellows HBCU, K-12, and Public Humanities Fellows (8/1/2022)
More Information
For more information or questions contact Yahusef Medina, director of community initiatives, at ymedina@virginia.edu.
Support the next generation of Virginian scholarship.
The Fellowship program relies on endowed and named fellowships to uncover stories about Virginia’s history and culture. Be a part of this valuable work by funding a Fellowship today.
