Information for Faculty
Dr. Terryl Givens, Coordinator of National Fellowships at Richmond, is working with a National Fellowships Advisory Committee to expand the opportunities for our students as they consider and apply for national awards. Faculty members participate in this effort in many ways, including providing the excellent education that draws these students forward toward an interest in pursuing further study. In addition, two other important contributions are highlighted here:
First, faculty members are crucial for identifying potential fellowship candidates and encouraging them to apply. The advisory committee is interested in identifying potential candidates as early as possible—even during their first year of study. If you have a student who is truly exceptional, contact Dr. Terryl Givens with the student’s name and some brief comments about the student. In addition, a conversation with a faculty member is often “the thing” that inspires a student to consider graduate study and/or to pursue a national fellowship. Engaging an excellent student in even a casual conversation about the possibilities can be just what is needed to inspire Richmond’s next national scholar.
Second, faculty members are the most common sources of reference letters for national fellowships. Letters for these fellowships differ from those written in support of job applications or even graduate schools. Each fellowship is looking for something specific—a particular kind of accomplishment, thought, or experience—and the kinds of letters faculty members write can literally separate the award winners from the rest. If a student contacts you and asks for a letter in support of an application for a national fellowship, contact Dr. Terryl Givens for guidance. He and the committee are most familiar with the letters and criteria that can make all the difference to our students’ applications.