Edward B. Segel Fellowship for International Study
The Edward B. Segel Fellowship for International Study provides support for up to two Reedies per year to attend one year of graduate school in the general area of the disciplines represented in the Division of History and Social Sciences at Reed College.
This fellowship was established by the estate of Professor Ed Segel, who died in 2021 and who taught history at Reed for 38 years. Learn more about his life in this obituary from Reed Magazine.
This fellowship is administered by the Center for Life Beyond Reed. Reed's faculty Fellowships & Awards committee is the selection committee.
Application Deadline
Wednesday February 5th, 2025 at 12 PM noon
Eligibility
Applicants must be
- a graduating Reed senior (spring/fall graduates are eligible), or an alum whose graduation date is within two years of the application deadline;
- a citizen of the United States or Canada;
- entering a graduate program within the year after the application deadline for this fellowship.
Fellows who do not enter a graduate program within the year after the application deadline for this fellowship will not be given funding and will no longer be considered an Edward B. Segel Fellow.
Eligible Opportunities
The fellowship is intended to support one year of full-time international study at a recognized academic institution or program anywhere in the world, although recipients are encouraged to spend the year of study outside the United States and Canada.
Eligible Courses and Degree Programs
Courses are eligible for funding if they follow these guidelines:
- The year of study supported by the Fellowship must be related to internationally-oriented subject matter within the general area of the disciplines represented in the Division of History and Social Sciences at Reed College.
- Areas of study need to fall within one of two areas:
- The history, politics, economics, or law of international relations and foreign policy.
- Or the history, politics, economics, sociology, anthropology, or law of areas outside the United States and Canada.
- The year of study supported by the fellowship need not necessarily be a prelude to further graduate study leading to a higher academic or professional degree.
Applicants are not required to have already been accepted to their degree program to apply for this fellowship. However, applicants who have not yet received an offer of admission will need to demonstrate in their fellowship application materials that they are both eligible for their selected courses or programs, and that they are strong candidates who are likely to be accepted to at least one of their course or program choices.
Eligible Degrees
Any graduate degree is eligible, as long as the course fits within the eligibility guidelines.
Benefits
This fellowship will provide $50,000 in funding for up to two applicants each year to assist with attending one year of a graduate school program anywhere in the world. Any funds beyond the amount spent on course or program fees is considered a stipend and belongs to the fellow. No further funds are available, and fellows may not reapply for further funding from this fellowship.
The fellow is responsible for anticipating and paying any required taxes. Fellows may opt to receive the funds in two payments, or as a lump sum. Reed College does not provide tax advice, and fellows are encouraged to seek advice from a tax professional.
Criteria
The selection committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applications:
- Academic and intellectual excellence
- Evidence of concern for and involvement in issues of public life, especially international relations and foreign policy
- Promise of future leadership in professional or public life
Graduate courses or degree programs that are longer than one year in length are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged in the selection process.
This fellowship has a preference for study at institutions outside of the United States and Canada.
To Apply
The application consists of uploading your application documents in Handshake, filling out an online waiver, and having two internal letters of recommendation submitted to CLBR by email at clbrfellowships@reed.edu.
Application Documents
Please package the following five application documents into one PDF, and upload that in Handshake. Package them in the order listed below. Adobe offers a webtool for merging PDFs, and this can also be done in Adobe Acrobat and Apple Preview.
1. Resume
A current resume or a CV. This should not exceed two letter size pages in length with a minimum 10 pt font.
2. Reed Transcript
Include an unofficial copy of your Reed transcript. You can obtain your unofficial transcript for free in IRIS "Student Information" via the instructions on the Registrar's website. If you have relevant transcripts for courses not represented on your Reed transcript, you're welcome to include those as well.
3. Academic Statement
A statement of no more than 350 words which describes your research interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies. How will this course of study stretch you academically and bring you closer to your academic and/or career goals?
4. Personal Statement
A statement of no more than 750 words. It should include a discussion of how your academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal experiences have influenced or shaped your concern for and involvement in issues of public life, international relations, and foreign policy. You should also address how you will use your energy and talents to address humanity's pressing challenges.
5. Program List
List the course(s) or graduate program(s) for which you would use these funds. Include the degree level, the name of the program or course, the institution, and a url that links to the description of that course or program. You may list up to three programs if you wish.
Letters of Recommendation
Two internal letters of recommendation are required from faculty members who can assess your fit to the criteria for this fellowship, and your potential for graduate study. These should be sent via email to clbrfellowships@reed.edu and are due by the application deadline. Letters will only be viewed by the administrators of the fellowship, and the selection committee.
Make sure to give your recommenders several weeks notice and read our guidance on requesting letters of recommendation.
Waiver
You will need to complete this online waiver form as the final step in submitting your internal application.
Next Steps
Applications will be reviewed by Reed's faculty Fellowships & Awards committee, and applicants should receive a decision by email within 1–2 weeks of the application deadline.
Applicants selected as fellows will need to provide proof of enrollment in their graduate course or program to CLBR staff before receiving funds. Fellows will also need to agree to terms and conditions related to this fellowship and may be asked to provide written materials to aid the college with publicity and stewardship. Funds will be dispersed via direct deposit or check, and may be split into two disbursements if desired.
Applicants who are not selected may apply in future years, for as long as they remain eligible.
Questions? Please contact clbrfellowships@reed.edu