The Humanities Fellowship

Moravian University’s Humanities Fellowship supports the talents and interests of students who have passion for both the humanities and social justice, and who wish to make this central to their college experience.

Submit application

Why Participate?

Fellows receive special advising, participate in specialized HF-designed courses, create educational “maps,” and serve as part of a cohort of up to 12 students who will collaborate in unique projects, courses, travel experiences, service learning, and activism.

Fellows are also supported in discerning, planning, and implementing the process of moving from their four-year education to employment/graduate school or other post-college opportunities.

Fellowship Requirements

Humanities Fellows must meet the following standards to remain in the program after acceptance:

Minimum of a 3.0 GPA
Successful participation in the fall humanities seminar
Good academic standing in a humanities program
Engaged participation in all Fellowships activities and requirements

Scholarship

Through the Humanities Fellowship, students can be awarded up to an additional $5,000 on top of their merit scholarship. Factors to be considered will be the applicant’s academic background, presentation, demonstrated interest, and financial need.

How to Apply

We’re excited to learn more about your interest in and passion for the humanities! Your submission will show your passion for one or more of the humanities (English, Global Religions, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy); and/or additional multidisciplinary programs with strong anchors in the humanities (Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Peace and Justice Studies, Africana Studies, Medieval Studies).

Here are the steps you should take to apply:

Choose a question or issue of concern to you, your community, and/or the world. (Think about topics linked to Moravian's InFocus Challenge Areas: sustainability and climate change, poverty, inequality and racial justice, health and healthcare, war and peacebuilding.)
Choose a creative medium:
- An essay, poem(s), other work of writing you have composed
- A short film (or selection from a longer film) you have created
- A Powerpoint or Prezzi that showcases your advocacy, exploration, or service
- A podcast, blog, or other form of communication that shows how you are mobilizing passion in the humanities with concern, advocacy, and action
- Make up your own format—we’re open!
Create a project that covers your question/concern and showcases your passion for one or more of the humanities! Please feel free to draw on academic work, creative work, and/or efforts you have expended in your community.
Fill out the application and attach your submission.

If selected, you’ll be asked to prepare a 15-minute presentation to make to a small group of Moravian humanities faculty and students. You’ll receive more information about this part later!

Nominations from Counselors, Teachers, and Community Leaders

Secondary school counselors, teachers, and community leaders are welcome and encouraged to nominate high school seniors who they believe will be a good fit for HF. Please complete the HF Nomination Form. The nominee will receive an email notification with instructions on how to submit their application. Questions should be directed to Christina DeJesus, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at dejesusc@moravian.edu or 610-625-7854.

Student Profiles

Liz Kameen

Major: English and Political Science

Original Fellow Project: My original application to the Humanities Fellowship was an editorial article explaining how the death penalty was founded upon inhumane and racist practices.

Emma Ferraro

Major: Historical Studies and Secondary Education

Original Fellow Project: My original project for the Humanities Fellowship was a website detailing my commitment and passion towards telling the true, diverse nature of history. It also highlighted the unfortunate book and curriculum bans we are seeing currently in U.S. public schools.

Brianna Whalen

Major: Spanish and Biology

Original Fellow Project: In order to join the fellowship, I wrote a personal essay about the relationship between wealth inequality and environmentalism in my hometown.

Brooke Gormley

Major: English and Political Science

Original Fellow Project: Why I Joined the Fellowship: As someone who took a gap year, I was worried about coming to school as a much older Freshman. I thought I would struggle to make friends and find a like-minded community. The Fellowship seemed like the perfect place to discover that. While I did not end up having nearly as many issues as I had worried I would, I have found some of my closest friends in the Fellowship.

Nathan Pynchon

Major: Historical Studies

Original Fellow Project: My application project “Misinformation or Missed Information” is an argumentative research paper analyzing the dynamic between the personalization of information and our democracy as a whole. In my paper, I point to the rise of personalized media—through both partisan cable networks and social media feeds—as a contributor to the strong political polarization that we face today. In discussing potential solutions, I advocate for returning the Fairness Doctrine, a FCC policy requiring broadcasters to show multiple viewpoints in their reports. I also explore the possibility of introducing an industry-lead ratings system to differentiate between news broadcasts and entertainment. Communication, and its interactions with our society throughout history, continue to be a topic of great interest to me. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to discover this interest through this paper!

Fatimah Bouri

Major: English Writing Arts and History

Original Fellow Project: Why I Joined the Fellowship: I joined the Fellowship at the recommendation of Dr. Black and was really looking forward to meeting those also interested in the sanctity of the Humanities. My project was a poem on generational trauma and I used some personal details to illustrate the way people of color must deal with the aftermath of generational trauma passed down from our suffering ancestors.

Contact

For more information, contact Kelly Denton-Borhaug, Professor, Global Religions or John Black, Professor and Chair of the English Department & Co-Director of Medieval Studies.