ACLS Names 2025 ACLS Leading Edge Fellows
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to name 16 new ACLS Leading Edge Fellows. The ACLS Leading Edge Fellowship Program supports outstanding recent PhDs in the humanities and social sciences as they work with organizations advancing justice and equity in communities across the United States. The program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
In 2025, fellows will take up two-year positions designed to take advantage of the diverse skills of PhD humanists while contributing to the impactful work of host organizations, including The Afiya Center (Dallas, TX), Open Communities (Evanston, IL), and Sojourner House (Providence, RI). The 2025 Leading Edge Fellows earned PhDs from 14 universities and represent a wide array of humanistic disciplines, including American studies, art history, Black studies, communications, English, geography, philosophy, psychology, religion, and women’s studies.
“ACLS is excited to announce the 16 Leading Edge Fellows who will join our 2025 host organization partners to build capacity through work in narrative strategy, policy research, advocacy, and community outreach,” said Desiree Barron-Callaci, ACLS Senior Program Officer for US Programs. “Our fellows will also have the opportunity to learn from colleagues with diverse forms of professional training, and work with communities in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and more. We are grateful to our partner organizations who collaborated with ACLS to design positions that creatively harness the power of humanistic training and participated in the program’s multi-stage review process.”
Leading Edge Fellows receive a $72,000 stipend in the first year and $74,000 in the second for in-person positions, with fully remote fellows receiving a $70,000 stipend in the first year and $72,000 in the second. The award also comes with access to health insurance and an annual budget of up to $3,000 for professional development activities, as well as networking, mentorship, and career development resources provided by ACLS.
The Mellon Foundation recently awarded ACLS a $3 million grant to continue the Leading Edge Fellowship Program. The grant will allow ACLS to place an eighth cohort of recent humanities and social sciences PhDs in two-year positions with nonprofit organizations across the country in 2026. Information about the upcoming competition, including eligibility guidelines, partner organizations, and applications will be available in January 2026.