Applications for the 2023 SELI cohort are now closed. Information for the 2024 SELI cohort will be available in late 2023.
SELI provides highly motivated and diverse undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students opportunities to develop as leaders, engage in their communities, and learn about contemporary education issues through this leadership development effort. Students spend the summer in trainings and working at an assigned education supporting nonprofit organization, state agency or school district. During this experiential learning opportunity, they examine strategies for improving education, addressing community needs, and putting theory into practice.
Through career coaching, mentorship, networking, and practical skill-building opportunities, paired with experiences to sharpen one’s racial equity lens, SELI lifts up a new generation of leaders and strategic thinkers by providing them with real-world opportunities where they can grow academically, professionally and civically. Not only does the fellowship provide an unparalleled glimpse into diverse aspects of the education sector, but also insight into fellows’ own capacity for leadership in the field. SELI fellowships have been characterized as illuminating and even life-changing.
SELI fellowships also create value for placement sites, communities, and ultimately public school students. The work completed by SELI fellows has major implications for their host organizations and will continue to impact the populations served well after the fellowship concludes.
Eligibility Requirements
SELI Fellow Candidates:
- 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 be willing to relocate to another city or town if necessary, abstain from taking any kind of coursework, test preparation, or taking other job.