Fellowship Overview

A continuation of SEF’s legacy of educating leaders in the South, which spans more than a century, the Southern Education Leadership Initiative (SELI) launched in 2004 to mark the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. Recognizing that much work remains to ensure that all children, regardless of race or class, receive an excellent education, SELI provides highly motivated and diverse undergraduate juniors, seniors and graduate students the opportunity to: 

  • Develop as leaders in education and civil rights 
  • Engage with important community stakeholders 
  • Acquire practical job skills 
  • Learn about contemporary education issues in the South  

SELI fellows receive invaluable professional experience in an assigned school district, education agency, higher education institution, or nonprofit organization in the southern region of the United States. During this experiential learning opportunity, they explore strategies for improving education, addressing community needs, and putting theory into practice. Students are assigned summer placements that pair well with their experience, educational interests, career paths, and developmental needs. To date, more than 300 SELI fellows have worked in more than 120 nonprofit organizations, school districts, state agencies, and higher education institutions that provide advocacy, grant-making, policy analysis, research, community organizing, and direct service in education. 

*Applicants must be willing to relocate for the summer to their placement sites in the southern United States*

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 institution. 
  • Stipend: A living expense stipend of $5,000 for undergraduate and graduate students. Financial assistance is available if your summer workplan requires relocation.   
  • 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 20-22, 2026) 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 25 to July 17, 2026): 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 22-24, 2026), 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 
  • Alumni Community: Upon successful completion of the summer fellowship, SELI fellows are welcomed into a robust community of over 300 SELI alumni.