NAS Mellon Impact Fellowship

The Department of Native American Studies and the OU Native Nations Center received a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support an undergraduate fellowship in Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Oklahoma. 

The goal of the NAS Mellon Impact Fellowship is to help students achieve excellence and positively impact Indian Country in their future careers in three key areas: leadership, scholarship, and community engagement. We believe, that with the help of the Mellon Foundation, OU can provide students in Native American Studies with a transformative, multi-pronged fellowship program - emphasizing experiential learning, faculty mentorship, and transferable skills - that is grounded in and reflects Native American and Indigenous perspectives. Graduates of this program will be in a strong position to transition into careers or undertake further graduate or professional education.

• Up to twelve fellows will be selected annually. 
  
  
• Application is open to all current OU undergraduate students, incoming freshmen and transfer students. Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply. Priority will be given to NAS majors and minors.
  
  
• Fellows will have two years to complete the program but it can be completed in one year.
  
  
• Fellows will take two required courses in Indigenous leadership and professional development​.


• Fellows will each receive a ​$5,000 stipend* to help with the costs of a required internship, which can be completed during any semester within their 2-year term.
  

Apply Now for 2024-2025!

Priority application deadline is March 4, 2024.
Application will remain open until cohort is filled.

*The $5,000 internship stipend will be disbursed to the fellow's Bursar account during the semester in which they are completing their internship. The stipend is considered a source of aid and may reduce students' eligibility for other aid. Students must be enrolled in NAS 3013-002 Native American Studies Internship and be advised by the NAS Mellon Impact coordinator. The internship satisfies the NAS 3013 Native American Studies Internship requirement for NAS majors. It does not satisfy any requirements toward the NAS minor.

Email us at nas@ou.edu with any questions.