Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funds the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) Program.

Program Overview

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) supports undergraduates interested in pursuing academic careers in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Funded by the  Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and established in 2000 at Smith College, MMUF is dedicated to broadening scholarly perspectives in the U.S. academy. Eligible applicants typically demonstrate strong academic promise, a commitment to research, and an interest in doctoral studies and teaching careers of the highest distinction in Mellon-designated fields. 

Named in honor of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays—educator, minister, and former president of Morehouse College—the program offers mentorship, research support, and access to a national community of scholars. To date, MMUF has helped produce more than 1,200 Ph.Ds, with more than half currently serving as college professors. At any given time, approximately 800 MMUF fellows are enrolled in Ph.D. programs, while the fellowship supports about 500 undergraduate students each year. 

To be eligible for selection as an MMUF Fellow, students must be majoring or planning to major in a Mellon-designated humanities and humanistic social sciences field. STEM fields are not eligible for Mellon support. If you are unsure whether your field qualifies or have other questions, contact mmuf@smith.edu or the MMUF program director at lrichmon@smith.edu.

For Students

All Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows must work with a Smith College faculty mentor. Identifying your faculty mentor as part of your application process, especially someone who knows your academic work, can strengthen your application to the MMUF program. Visiting and adjunct faculty, while they can form part of your advising network, cannot serve as your designated MMUF faculty mentor. If you are selected for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, you must have a designated faculty mentor in place by the end of the spring semester of your sophomore year.

For Faculty

Faculty mentors are essential to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program and form the core of the MMUF experience. Faculty mentors support undergraduate fellows through two years of a close research relationship. They play a principal role in mentoring and advising fellows as they develop their research plans and prepare for graduate studies leading to a PhD. During the junior and senior years, fellows also participate in seminars and academic research conferences that support their projects. Additionally, they engage in workshops that address the nuts and bolts of pursuing a doctoral degree and explore aspects of a life in academia. Faculty mentors guide fellows to identify and select opportunities to best support their goals.

A completed application will include:

  • A completed MMUF application form;
  • Two essays:
    • Essay #1: A research statement on a research area of interest, guiding research questions, and methods (500–700 words)
    • Essay #2: An academic goals statement on intellectual and academic interests and how these align with the goals of MMUF (400–500 words). See application for more information.
  • An unofficial academic transcript;
  • A current resume;
  • One letter of recommendation from Smith faculty with whom the applicant has taken a class or done other academic work (independent study, research assistance, etc.) and who might serve as a faculty mentor;
  • A completed research proposal consultation form.
MMUF Fellows are selected in the early spring semester of their sophomore year. The Smith College MMUF program has established the following criteria to guide the selection process:

  • A 30-minute interview with the Advisory Board;

  • Demonstrated commitment to expanding access and opportunity through scholarship and service that broadens academic inquiry, fosters meaningful impact, and contributes to a more thoughtful  and engaged society.

  • Commitment to participating fully and enthusiastically in all aspects of the MMUF program, including attendance at conferences, meetings, workshops, and seminars. 

  • Status as a U.S. citizen and permanent resident 

  • View additional criteria established by the Mellon Foundation at www.mellon.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study abroad while I am a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow?
Yes!

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows study abroad in the spring semester of their junior year.

Working with their academic advisor, MMUF faculty mentor, and the MMUF faculty coordinator, students applying to the MMUF can identify study abroad programs that offer a spring semester option. The MMUF scholar development grant can cover research-related expenses incurred while studying abroad. For example, the research stipend can cover costs related to attending academic or scholarly conferences abroad, traveling to archives and libraries relevant to their MMUF research, and/or visiting cultural venues (museums, cultural events) related to their MMUF research.

Important Study Abroad Application Dates

  • Applications to the Smith Florence, Geneva, and Hamburg programs (full-year, fall only, or spring only) are typically due in early February. The Smith Paris program does not offer a spring-only option.
  • The Smith Study Abroad Credit Application for study abroad on the Smith consortium and Smith-approved study abroad programs during the following academic year (fall, spring, or full-year) is typically due in mid-February.

For additional information related to study abroad, contact the Lewis Global Studies Center.

What kinds of financial support do MMUF fellows receive?
MMUF fellows receive a range of financial support, including academic year and summer stipends, a scholar development grant to support research, funds to cover fees for graduate school preparation (GRE preparation and exams), and additional funding for those who enroll in a graduate program within three years of graduation.

What summer research opportunities are available to MMUF fellows?
The MMUF program includes two summers of dedicated research and writing opportunities.

Summer 1: In the summer after sophomore year, the new MMUF cohort of rising juniors participates in a 4-week, on-site summer research program (June), during which they will research, draft, and finalize a project prospectus and preliminary bibliography.

Summer 2: In the summer after the junior year, rising senior MMUF fellows have various options for engaging in project-related research. Some examples of summer research work: participating in Summer Writing and Research Training Programs (UCLA, University of Chicago, University of New Mexico), the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) in New York and Massachusetts, and/or independent research with faculty-scholars working in your area of research.

What is the time commitment to MMUF?
The time commitment varies as your research projects progress. Typically, MMUF fellows should anticipate dedicating 8–10 hours/week to MMUF in the following ways: attending the IDP 192 or 193 Seminar (fall semester), participating in scheduled weekly workshops, and working on their independent projects. All MMUF fellows are expected to have regular mentoring meetings with their MMUF faculty mentor. It is expected that fellows make progress on their research between these scheduled meetings. Fellows present their research twice in the fall semester: at Smith and the MMUF Northeast Regional Conference (NERC) (previous locations: Yale University, Williams College, Brown University). In the spring, fellows typically share research at the annual Celebrating Collaborations event at Smith, and senior fellows present their projects at a final MMUF panel at Smith. Summer months are dedicated to research or other professional development (attending conferences, workshops, etc.) related to each fellow’s academic goals.

Does the MMUF require that I complete an independent project in addition to my honors thesis?
Not necessarily. We recognize that each MMUF fellow at Smith will be pursuing independent work through their honors thesis or other advanced independent work. We expect that the fellowship will allow you to dedicate even more of your time and energy to developing these projects so that they can best reflect your scholarly goals. However, some MMUF fellows choose to pursue a separate independent project that allows them to work outside their chosen thesis topic or discipline.