Transformational Leaders Graduate Fellowship

Context 

Emerson College’s core values are Creativity, Innovation, Inclusion, Curiosity, Equity, Expression, and Collaboration. As an institution, we are committed to these values and build a vibrant community culture and experience that is bolstered by these values.

Fellowship Mission Statement

The vision for the Transformational Leaders Graduate Fellowship (TLF) is to develop transformational leaders who champion the power and potential of the arts and communication to enrich lives, build connections, strengthen relationships, influence culture, and advance society.

Summary

Emerson’s Transformational Leaders Graduate Fellowship is a cohort-based one-year fellowship focused on developing future leaders. The purpose of the program is to nurture a diverse cohort of transformational leaders in communications and the arts; to learn from one another;  to build inclusive and accessible graduate programs; to enrich and transform the graduate student experience at Emerson; and to effect positive change in the broader communication and arts industries.

Cohort Details

A small cohort of first-year graduate students will be selected to participate in the year-long fellowship program. The program will commence in the Fall semester and conclude with an event planned by the Fellows in the Spring semester. As a group, the cohort works together to cultivate leadership skills that engage the Emerson Graduate Community. All Emerson graduate students are eligible to apply, except those in the Communication Disorders MS Online program

The Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies will serve as the cohort’s mentor, hosting monthly meetings with the entire cohort and also holding one-on-one sessions with each Fellow. The Dean will make connections with other internal and external partners depending upon the Fellow’s field of interest and career trajectory. Each Fellow will also have the opportunity to be paired with an additional mentor.

In addition to the leadership development, participation, and mentoring opportunities, students will receive a financial scholarship* that includes:

• $5,000 stipend in the amount of $2,500 increments each semester they are enrolled as a Fellow
• A 20% scholarship applied toward your graduate program's tuition

*Note: The Fellowship is a separate arrangement from any existing employment relationships. No teaching, research, or other current or future services are required to receive the stipend. As a non-qualified scholarship, this is taxable. Non-resident alien Fellows will require withholding and reporting on Form 1042-S, subject to any applicable treaty exemptions.

Leadership Development and Participation

Fellows participate in a short-term, self-paced leadership development course offered by an external party and meet monthly as a cohort with the Dean to discuss course materials and discuss related topics. During the monthly cohort meetings with the Dean, Fellows will discuss: 

• The leadership development curriculum, and talk about key elements of leadership.
• Any pressing issue affecting equity or inclusion in the field of communications or the arts
• Fellows will be expected to arrive prepared to discuss how the issue of their choice (agreed upon beforehand) impacts their graduate program, the College, the city, or their chosen field/industry
• Planning for the end-of-year symposium
• Opportunities to hear from guest speakers, attend events, or other special learning opportunities

Mentorship

Fellows work closely with an assigned mentor at the beginning of their program and will meet with them at least twice throughout the program. The mentorship gives students access to:

• Expanded career and personal network.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Introduction to/expanded knowledge of industry or field of interest.

TLF Event

The Fellowship culminates with an event for the broader graduate student community or Emerson community at large that is developed and hosted by the Fellows. Fellows will be given a budget to work with and will be charged with developing and leading the event, which could be a symposium, workshop, screening, speaker, etc.

Pillars

• Courage: Forging a path through stagnation, resistance and fear requires persistence and a willingness to bear pressure. Leading others along the path requires compassion and understanding.  
• Character: Leading others in the right direction requires a strong moral compass, along with the willingness to pause  and self-reflect.
• Perseverance: Transformational change requires not only passion but tenacity, the willingness to keep going when the going gets tough.
• Adaptability: The challenges of the day are complex and evolving. Motivating others to find collective solutions to these challenges requires discernment, critical thinking, flexibility, continuous learning and the willingness to pivot  and lead others through change.