Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
About
Established in 1988, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) promotes multivocality in the academy by providing mentoring and research support to students from groups historically underrepresented in the humanities and social sciences. The fellowship is supported by the Mellon Foundation, which was founded in 1969 to “strengthen, promote, and defend the arts and humanities as essential to democratic societies,” and draws its name and aims, in part, from the life and legacy of esteemed educator and advocate Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. Consistent with the vision of the Mellon Foundation and Dr. Mays, the MMUF aims to mitigate the financial and cultural barriers that hinder matriculation into Ph.D. programs and supports emerging scholars whose research and representation in higher education will elevate marginalized narratives and amplify muted conversations. Mellon Mays fellows study topics ranging from immigration and intersectionality to carceral studies and Indigenous history, using diverse approaches across varied time periods. The fellowship supports approximately 500 undergraduate students each academic year and has roughly 800 fellows in Ph.D. programs in any given year.
Since its establishment, over 1,100 Mellon Mays fellows have earned Ph.Ds. Moreover, over 850 fellows have served or currently serve in college and university faculty positions and over 500 are tenured or tenure-track faculty, while others have applied their education towards roles in nonprofit organizations and museums. Notable MMUF alumni include President of the American Museum of Natural History Sean Decatur and National Book Award winner Imani Perry, among others. Stanford is proud to be one of forty-seven member schools and three consortia who house this prestigious program.
Stanford MMUF Coordinators
- Ingrid Anderson, Undergraduate Advising Director
- Laura Selznick, Undergraduate Advising Director
- Alexis Wells-Oghoghomeh, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Program Benefits
- Up to $10,000 undergraduate loan repayment
- Stipends for Research up to $8,500 per year
- Faculty mentoring and structured programming
- Additional financial support for expenses related to pursuit of graduate degree
- Membership in a lifetime community of Fellows
More Information
- Staff Co-Coordinators: Ingrid Anderson and Laura Selznick (Office of Academic Advising)
- Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship National Website
Eligibility
- Strong academic record and/or evidence of academic promise
- Aspiration to pursue a graduate degree, particularly a Ph.D., in one of the following fields: Anthropology and Archaeology; Area/Cultural/Ethnic/ Gender Studies; Art History; Classics; Geography and Population Studies; English; Film/ Cinema/Media Studies; Musicology/Ethnomusicology/Music Theory; Foreign Languages and Literatures; History; Linguistics; Literature; Performance Studies/Theory; Philosophy and Political Theory; Religion and Theology; Theater; and Interdisciplinary Studies.
- Interest in a college or university teaching career
- Demonstrated commitment to research, social justice, and representation in the academy
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
How to Apply
- The application to Stanford's MMUF Program will be made available on March 1st through this SOLO link.
- Application Workshop – Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 5:00pm in Sweet Hall, Rm 020. A dinner buffet will be provided.
- Application Deadline – Monday, April 7, 2025
Additional Resources
- You are strongly encouraged to consult with your faculty mentors about the application.
- Meet with a UAD if you'd like help finding faculty mentors
- View Asking for Letters of Recommendation
- Get feedback from consultants at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking on your application essays
Make an appointment with Laura Selznick, the MMUF campus liaison
Questions?
Contact the Co-coordinators Ingrid Anderson or Laura Selznick