2023 Summer Fellowship Opportunity: Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI)

The Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) is a paid, 8-week summer fellowship opportunity for emerging leaders interested in advancing racial equity and improving education for students of color and low-income students in public schools throughout the South. Now entering its 19th year, SELI has placed over 260 students with more than 110 partner organizations, significantly expanding the capacity of these host sites while providing an unparalleled professional growth opportunity for students.

SELI fellows will be placed in equity-focused nonprofits, school districts, state agencies, and higher education institutions working on substantive projects to advance the mission of their host sites. Past fellows have completed a wide array of projects ranging from publishing reports to community engagement events. Eligible students are undergraduates who will have completed 60 credit hours by June 2023, as well as graduate and professional students. Should in-person placements not be feasible due to the persistence of the COVID-19 virus, the Southern Education Foundation will consider hybrid and remote placements

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be between the ages of 20-35 years old (those outside this range still encouraged to apply).
• Must be currently enrolled in a four-year college or graduate level program.
• 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.
• 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 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 be willing to relocate to another city or town (though not always necessary), abstain from taking any kind of coursework, test preparation, or taking other job.

As members of the Southern Education Leadership Initiative, fellows will receive:

• Experience: The opportunity to work for eight weeks in an organization focused on equity and excellence in education, such as a policy institute, school district, community-based organization, or philanthropic
• Stipend: A living expense stipend of $5,000 for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Travel Expenses: Airfare/car mileage expenses associated with traveling between home, Orientation, and Closing meetings in Atlanta, and the summer placement site (assistance also provided by SEF in making travel arrangements).
• Training: Fellows will participate in a three-day orientation, (May 17-19, 2023) during which they learn about research in the field, the importance of educational equity, strategies for making change, and interact with SELI alumni and SEF staff. *Attendance in full is required
• Fellowship Placement- (May 22-July 14, 2023): Fellows will be supervised by seasoned leaders as they work on challenging research, education policy, and nonprofit program-related projects. *Full-time 40 hours a week, in-person attendance required
• Opportunities to Share and Reflect on the Experience: During the SELI Closing meeting (July 19-21, 2023), fellows will come together to share lessons learned, reflect, and brainstorm on how to continue making change as part of a network of emerging leaders in the sector. *Attendance in full is required

Deadline for the submission of a complete application is February 1, 2023, 5pm ET. Please see the Overview and Application Instructions for more details on required materials and directions on how to submit them.

Should you have any questions or require more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at agulaid@southerneducation.org or the general SELI email address at seli@southerneducation.org. Also, please visit our website for more details on how to apply.