Gardner Fellowship on Higher Education

The Gardner Fellows represent a diverse community of early career researchers in higher education within the University of California system. 

CSHE sponsors this one-year fellowship, named after UC President Emeritus David P. Gardner, for doctoral students who represent multiple academic disciplines and write dissertations on one or more issues in higher education. This broad range of seminar participants creates a unique community of early career higher education researchers within the University of California system.

Award

This is a $3,000 fellowship for doctoral students. 

Once selected, Gardner Fellows will be affiliated with CSHE for an academic year, during which they are expected to attend Gardner Seminars remotely every other week for two hours. There will be at least 14 Seminars during the academic year. For each session, Fellows engage with prominent educational scholars and administrative leaders from the University of California system, the nation and the world. Gardner Fellows are also expected to present their own dissertation research and to provide constructive feedback to their colleagues. Upon completion of the seminar, they will receive a $3,000 stipend.

This fellowship also provides an in-person professional development workshop at Berkeley campus during the academic year.

The Gardner Fellows have the opportunity to:
● Learn from scholars about their current research;
● Gain exposure to a range of disciplines that are related to higher education;
● Broaden their understanding of different research tools and methodologies;
● Present and develop their own dissertation work;
● Explore potential career paths; and
● Create a community of early career higher education researchers

2024-25 Application is Now Open!

Deadline: June 15, 2024

To Apply

Applications for 2024-2025 will be accepted between May 1 - June 15, 2024.

UC registered doctoral students from all disciplines are eligible to apply. Applicants should emphasize how their research focuses on one or more issues in higher education. Successful applications usually have a clear description of research questions, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies.

Priority will be given to PhD candidates who are at the advanced stage in their graduate programs. 

Doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds and campuses are especially encouraged to apply. International students are also encouraged to apply. 

Application materials should include:

  • Cover letter
  • Application Form
  • CV 
  • Dissertation Summary (1,200 words max)
  • Letter of endorsement from dissertation advisor 

Please note that the enrollment is kept to 11 graduate students.

Questions? Please email cshe@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) for more information.

Testimonials

  • "Being a Gardner Fellow was a wonderful experience for so many reasons. I learned so much from the other fellows, and I enjoyed hearing about the plethora of research being done within higher education. I'm so grateful for the Gardner Seminar and have nothing but positive things to say!" --Elizabeth Anne Martin (UCLA, 2022-23 Gardner Fellow)
  • "The Gardner Seminar was an instrumental part of my Ph.D. development because it allowed me to present my work to a wide-range audience and receive feedback from numerous UC students and faculty. It was wonderful to connect with people outside of my field and see my research through their perspectives. The feedback I received helped strengthen my skills as a scholar." --Valeria Dominguez (UC Riverside, 2022-23 Gardner Fellow)
  • "As an early career scholar, I had the opportunity to engage with prominent higher education leaders and learn from some of the brightest early career scholars in the UC system. Presenting my on-going work to these folks allowed me to grow as a researcher and scholar." --Ivan Valdovinos (UCSD, 2023-24 Gardner Fellow)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Who can apply for Gardner Fellowship?

All UC doctoral students from all disciplines can apply.

When and where does the in-person career workshop take place?

The in-person career workshop is a 2-day session at the UC Berkeley campus. The dates of the workshop vary from year to year.

What other benefits, besides the $3,000 stipend, that Gardner Fellowship will offer?

Gardner Fellows will have the opportunity to create a supportive community of higher education scholar, receive constructive feedback on their dissertations, connect with experienced faculty and administrators in higher education, receive guidance on different career paths, gain access to UC Berkeley resources, including but are not limited to CSHE archives, Berkeley events, and publishing opporotunities, and gain exposure to various research tools and methodologies

What is the schedule of Gardner Seminar?

Specific schedule of Gardner Seminars vary from year to year. The scheudle will be arranged based on the availabilty of Fellows.

What is the format of the Gardner Seminar?

Once selected, Gardner Fellows will be affiliated with CSHE for an academic year, during which they are expected to attend Gardner Seminars remotely every other week for two hours. There will be at least 14 Seminars during the academic year. For each session, Fellows engage with prominent educational scholars and administrative leaders from the University of California system, the nation and the world. Gardner Fellows are also expected to present their own dissertation research and to provide constructive feedback to their colleagues.

If I have been a Fellow before, can I apply again?

Yes! You will need to go through the application process again. Please note that we do not usually grant this fellowship more than twice to a Fellow.

If I get rejected, can I apply again?

Yes! As long as you are still a registered student at UC, you are elitible to apply.

I don’t have a background in education research, will I still benefit from the Gardner Seminars?

Yes. As long as your research has a higher education componnet, you will benefit from the Gardner Seminars.

I am new to my PhD program, can I apply for Gardner Fellowship?

Yes, but we do prioritize PhD candidates who already finished their coursework and qualifying exams.

Do I need to be in higher education programs to apply for Gardner Fellowship?

No. We welcome applicants from ALL disciplines.

Can recommendation letters be sent after the deadline?

We really appreciate it if recommendations arrive before the deadline, but also understand that applicants may not be able to control when the letters are sent. Due to the review timeline, we ask that recommendation letters be submitted no later than one week after the deadline.

Can I still be part of the CSHE community after the Fellowship?

Definitely! All our Fellows will remain in our listserve and are invited to attending CSHE events, publishing at CSHE journals and presenting their own work at CSHE.