Fellowship

The Miller Center Lewis Family Fellowship is a fully funded summer social enterprise field research-based experience for Santa Clara University junior-level students, along with two quarters of classwork and academic research — one class in spring quarter of your junior year and one in fall of your senior year. 

Our social enterprise research projects are based on the social entrepreneurs’ needs, often social science research. The social enterprises will work with the fellows to identify the project scope prior to summer travel. Fellows will create a research paper, which we refer to as a deliverable, for submission toward the end of the fellowship. 

Yes, we have academic faculty and librarians who will support the research deliverable.

Yes, all completed deliverables will be published on Scholar Commons, Santa Clara University’s service that enables SCU faculty, staff, and students to share their scholarly research globally.

Summer travel begins immediately after spring quarter.

You will receive 5 units per quarter in spring and fall, for a total of 10 units.

Yes, the classes fulfill Santa Clara’s Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) requirement.

All undergraduate juniors from all disciplines may apply.

We accept 14-16 students per year for teams of 2 or 3.

Students will travel to a social enterprise location. Social enterprises are located worldwide, in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. Each year, social enterprises are selected for participation in the fellowship. There will typically be opportunities in multiple countries, but the countries and regions vary from year to year. Miller Center will offer at least one domestic placement each year.

Four weeks

Yes, $5,000 

Miller Center covers all essential expenses, including airfare, housing, transportation, interpreter, visa, vaccinations, and food. Fellows are responsible for optional activities and expenses.

The application is available on this webpage from November 1, 2024 – January 24, 2025. Please read the next question for information on how to apply.

• Watch the informational video below
• Fill out the interest form (open year-round)
• We highly recommend you attend an optional information session for more information and to answer your questions. A sign-up link will be sent after your interest form is received.
• Applications are open, as of on November 1, 2024
• Applications close on January 24, 2025. No applications will be accepted after this deadline.
• Interviews will be scheduled for the week of February 3, 2025
• Acceptance emails will be sent on February 17, 2025