dCEC Mission Fellowships
The de Nicola Center is proud to offer two top-up fellowships for graduate and professional students at the University of Notre Dame who share the de Nicola Center's interest in the moral and intellectual tradition of the Church, and whose research aligns with the mission of the Center.
Polking Family Fellowship
The Polking Family Fellowship aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders who understand that law and public policy are essential elements in building a sustainable culture of life. Recipients of this fellowship receive a top-up scholarship for three years of study in Notre Dame Law School and opportunities to participate more closely in the work of the de Nicola Center by attending special Center events, working with its affiliated faculty and fellows, interacting with speakers and guests of the Center, conducting scholarly research, and receiving special career mentoring and summer internship opportunities.
Eligibility:
- Students must apply for admission to Notre Dame Law School as a first-year J.D. student.
- Selected fellows must remain a full-time student in good standing with NDLS to remain eligible for the fellowship.
Submission Process:
- In addition to their regular application materials, students should also submit an additional personal statement outlining their specific interest in the Polking Family Fellowship as an addendum in their LSAC application. This statement should be no longer than two pages, double-spaced. The statement should have the student’s name and LSAC number in the header.
- If you have already submitted your application without including this statement but still wish to apply for the Polking Family Fellowship, you may send this statement as a PDF attachment in an email, addressed to the Office of Admissions at bulletin@nd.edu. Please include “Polking Fellowship Personal Statement” in the subject line of the email.
Submission deadline: December 1
Questions:
Justin Petrisek
Research and Publications Program Manager
jpetrise@nd.edu
Solomon Fellowship
The Solomon Fellowship is awarded annually on a competitive basis to an outstanding incoming doctoral student in the College of Arts and Letters whose research interests align with the de Nicola Center's work and mission. Recipients of this fellowship receive a $6,000 award annually for five years of study to supplement their departmental stipend. Solomon Fellows participate actively in the life and work of the de Nicola Center by participating in its events, working with its network of affiliated scholars, interacting with speakers and guests of the Center, and receiving special career mentoring and funding for research.
Eligibility:
- Students must receive an offer of departmental fellowship in a doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame (first-year applicants only).
- If a student is awarded the Solomon Fellowship and then is designated as a Notebaert Fellow, the Notebaert takes precedence and the dCEC fellowship will not be awarded (or may be used for another student, as determined by the dCEC).
- Fellows must be a full-time student in good standing in the College of Arts and Letters to remain eligible for the fellowship.
Submission Process:
Directors of Graduate Studies are invited to nominate up to three candidates in their respective programs. Nominations should include:
- A letter of nomination based on the student's notable accomplishments and areas of overlap with the mission of the de Nicola Center
- Candidate CV
- A personal statement from the student (no more than two pages, double-spaced) explaining his or her interest in the Center as it relates to his or her proposed studies at the University
Nominations may be sent to Justin Petrisek (jpetrise@nd.edu).
Submission Deadline: March 1
Questions:
Justin Petrisek
Research and Publications Program Manager
jpetrise@nd.edu