The Andrea Naomi Leiderman Fellowship, a Cardinal Quarter opportunity, supports undergraduate students conducting research related to low-income youth in California. The fellowship provides a base stipend of $6,500 for nine consecutive weeks of full-time service/research. Additional financial aid is available to students who qualify, as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
Leiderman Fellows contribute to ongoing research projects led by Stanford faculty as part of the research-practice partnership between the Graduate School of Education, the San Francisco Unified School District and Sequoia Union High School District. The Stanford-SFUSD and Stanford-Sequoia K-12 Research Practice Partnership unites research and practice to shape educational practices and policies that maximize educational experiences for all students. The Partnership matches researchers from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education with district leaders to solve key problems of practice. Together, they create research projects that directly inform the school district’s work to transform teaching and learning for San Francisco and/or Sequoia students.
There are over 30 ongoing research projects, including:
- Analyzing data on homeless students in San Francisco
- Revising tools used to assess English learner instruction
- Researching information on key policies related to college and career readiness
We will work with each Fellow to match their interests in research, education, and skill-building with the right research project. You’ll be working with some of the best research teams and school district leaders from across the nation on pressing topics in education.
Eligibility
Eligibility:
Undergraduates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities. Graduating seniors will have lower priority. Students who have begun their coterm programs are not eligible to apply.
Requirements:
Selected Andrea Naomi Leiderman are expected to begin service no later than July 1, 2024. All fellows are required to work with their community partners at least 35 hours/week for nine consecutive weeks at their placements. Fellows are encouraged to work on-site with their host organization, and have a designated full-time professional staff member on-site as their supervisor/mentor. Please review the complete program policies for additional requirements. Other commitments include the following:
Spring Quarter
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Identify and meet with an academic mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with the site supervisor and academic mentor.
Summer Quarter
- Submit a brief preliminary report
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Fall Quarter
- Meet with academic mentor at least once.
- Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating fellowship experiences.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is offered to help students develop their applications and/or to identify potential partner organizations.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and the organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to enlarge a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
Applicants whose application demonstrates a structural understanding of social and racial inequalities as they are reproduced through schooling, will be privileged.
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by a committee with the intention to award fellowships early Spring quarter. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
