Amherst Folger Humanities Fellowship

The Amherst Folger Humanities Fellowship provides one Amherst College graduate with nine months of professional development at two world-class institutions—the Folger Shakespeare Library (folger.edu) and the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection (doaks.org). Designed to support career exploration in the humanities, the opportunity offers project-based work that will be responsive to both the skills and potential of the selected candidate, and the work of their mentors at the Folger and Dumbarton Oaks. All fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with staff in the Folger’s collections, research, or exhibitions teams, and departmental assignments at Dumbarton Oaks may include hands-on work in curation and exhibit preparation, research and publication, collection development or conservation, marketing and communication, or education and public outreach initiatives.

The fellowship term runs from September 2025 through May 2026 and includes a $26,000 stipend, a $1,000 research stipend, housing in Washington, DC at Dumbarton Oaks for the term of the fellowship, and optional health insurance. Only current Amherst College seniors or alumni graduating between December 2023 and May 2025 will be eligible to apply.

APPLICATION

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants are required to submit the following via Handshake by December 9, 2024 at 11:59pm:

• Résumé
• Transcript (an unofficial transcript from Registrar’s Office is acceptable)
• An example of the applicant’s work (a written paper, article, portfolio, or project)
• A statement of purpose that describes the applicant’s background and interests and explains how a fellowship in the humanities will further their intellectual and professional goals. The applicant should outline what skills they hope to acquire over the course of the fellowship.
• Two letters of recommendation to be sent by recommenders directly to Carla Costa: ccosta@amherst.edu
  Letters can be addressed to the Selection Committee, should be on letterhead, and submitted as a doc or PDF. 

All interested applicants are highly encouraged to review these Frequently Asked Questions.

QUESTIONS

Learn more at the fellowship website. 
All interested applicants are highly encouraged to review these Frequently Asked Questions

Carla Costa, Program Director for Careers in Arts and Communication at the Loeb Center for Career Exploration & Planning can answer questions about the fellowship experience and provide support in developing application materials. Email ccosta@amherst.edu or book an appointment in Handshake to discuss your application.