Applications Open for Program Placing Recent PhDs in the Humanities and Interpretive Social Sciences with 16 Social Justice Organizations
Sojourner House has been selected as a host organization for the seventh competition of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Leading Edge Fellowship Program, made possible by the generous support of the Mellon Foundation. The program demonstrates the dynamic capacity of the humanities to advance justice and equity in society and illuminates career pathways for recent PhDs beyond the academy.
In 2025, the ACLS Leading Edge Fellowship Program will offer 16 two-year fellowship opportunities with mission-driven social justice nonprofits for recent humanities and interpretive social sciences PhDs. Fellows will join organizations advancing justice and equity in communities across the United States in staff positions designed to draw on the humanistic skills, capacities, and frameworks developed in the course of earning the PhD.
The Leading Edge Fellow placed at Sojourner House will serve as the agency’s Research and Policy Director. This role will help to form a critical bridge between the direct affordable housing services that Sojourner House provides and research and policy issues in the field.
“We are honored to partner with the American Council of Learned Societies to bring a Leading Edge Fellow to Sojourner House,” said Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House. “This opportunity allows us to expand our mission beyond direct services and affordable housing development by advancing systems change through the creation of a Director of Policy and Research position. This role will focus on shaping policies, conducting in-depth research, and driving systemic advocacy efforts to improve outcomes for survivors of abuse. We are thrilled to be one of only 16 organizations nationwide selected for this prestigious program, and we look forward to the lasting impact this fellowship will have on our work and our community.”
ACLS is now accepting fellowship applications, with submissions due by 9:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. For more information, please visit www.acls.org/LeadingEdge and direct any questions to ACLS at leadingedge@acls.org.
Each Leading Edge Fellow will earn a minimum yearly stipend of $70,000 that increases in the second year and receive employer-sponsored health insurance and professional mentorship. In addition, ACLS provides fellows with professional development funding, access to peer mentorship and professional networks, and a relocation stipend (if needed). Fellows will take on roles in advocacy, policy research, communications, public engagement, and more. ACLS provides a variety of professional development and networking activities for fellows, including alumni mentorship, career coaching, and virtual and in-person events designed to help translate the experiences of their two-year placements into post-fellowship career opportunities.
Fellows join an engaged alumni community of PhDs working across a variety of sectors. Applicants for the Leading Edge Fellowship competition must have a PhD in the humanities or interpretive social sciences officially conferred by their university on or after September 1, 2020, and no later than August 31, 2025. All scholars must be authorized to work legally in the United States.