Thurgood Marshall Research Fellows Program
The Institute for Public Leadership at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy has created a prestigious fellowship program to honor the memory and impact of Maryland native and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The Thurgood Marshall Research Fellows Program is seeking undergraduate and graduate students interested in conducting research on topics that engage issues of race or social equity, and systemic change—and how they connect to public leadership at the local, national or global levels. At the School of Public Policy, our motto is “Change the World. It’s our policy.” This aligns powerfully with the words of Thurgood Marshall: “The process of democracy is one of change. Our laws are not frozen into immutable form, they are constantly in the process of revision in response to the needs of a changing society.”
If you wish to apply for the Thurgood Marshall Research Fellows Program for the Fall 2026 semester, please complete the application below. We plan to select up to 12 undergraduate and graduate students for the program. Students will work with a faculty mentor to complete their research and participate in professional development activities during the course of the fellowship. Your decision to apply for the fellowship indicates that you have time to commit to meaningful research under faculty mentorship and participate in professional development and cohort-building activities of the fellowship program. This is a great opportunity to join a cadre of intellectually curious students in professional development while building and honing your research skills and abilities. If you are not quite ready to apply now, the application for the next cohort will be released next year.
History: Here at the School of Public Policy, we are honored to be housed in Thurgood Marshall Hall, a state-of-the-art facility. Justice Marshall started his career as a civil rights lawyer, who broke barriers for Black and African American students, including the desegregation of the University of Maryland. Connecting strands of history, Maryland’s first African American Governor Wes Moore took part in the naming ceremony of our building in 2023.
Expectations:
- Fellows will receive a $7,500 stipend (split into two semesters), should have at least two semesters remaining at the university, and are expected to commit up to 10 hours per week on their research during the semester while working along with a faculty supervisor.
- Additionally, fellows should plan on attending professional development meetings (no more than three per semester, including the summer of 2026) and events with special guests of the Institute for Public Leadership.
- Fellows are to maintain good academic standing throughout the duration of the fellowship.
- Research experience is not required. If you are selected to participate in the program, you acknowledge that you will attend these meetings.
- To be eligible, you must be able to remain in Maryland for the full academic year and attend required in-person sessions (with limited exceptions as determined by the program).
We strongly encourage all students who meet the eligibility requirements to apply.
Application Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Questions? Contact the IPL team at ipl@umd.edu