Thurgood Marshall Research Fellows Program
The Institute for Public Leadership at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy has created a prestigious new 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 focused on racial and/or social equity as it broadly applies to public leadership to be a part of the inaugural cohort. 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 2025-2026 academic year, please complete the application below. We plan to select undergraduate and graduate students for the 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.
History: Here at the School of Public Policy, we are honored to be housed in Thurgood Marshall Hall, a new 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 new building.
Expectations: Fellows will receive a $7,500 stipend (half received in fall and the other half received in spring), should have at least two semesters remaining at the university, and are expected to commit up to 10 hours per week 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) and events with special guests of the Institute for Public Leadership. Research experience is not required.
Application Deadline: Friday, April 25, 2025
Questions? Contact the IPL team at ipl@umd.edu and we will get back to you.