ePluribus Stanford Postgraduate Fellowship
ePluribus Stanford is a Presidential and Provostial Initiative designed to expand, amplify, and reconstitute a shared commitment to these goals across the university. A centerpiece of the initiative is teaching the constitutive skills for critical inquiry, constructive engagement, and effective bridge building and leadership in intellectual and civic life. Drawing on expertise from across the University’s multiple existing programs, and building innovative, new programming to supplement these efforts, the initiative functions as a center of gravity of academic life (curricular, co-curricular, and residential). Core activities of the initiative include:
- Designing and amplifying constructive dialogue skill-building programs and integrating them throughout the campus community through both existing and new channels.
- Creating and sustaining a vibrant community of practice at Stanford University, and across institutions of higher education, to elevate expert knowledge, research, collaboration, and programming that advances critical inquiry, free and inclusive discourse, and civic engagement.
- Developing strategic partnerships and strategic communication to connect this foundational work to what it means to be a responsible citizen in the world, sustain liberal democratic norms, and effectively address collective action and policy challenges.
- Supporting assessment of campus programming and the higher education landscape to maintain Stanford’s role as a leader in this space.
Fellowship Overview
ePluribus Stanford is excited to offer a postgraduate fellowship in support of an outstanding undergraduate student who is graduating in Spring 2026 and interested in pursuing professional and personal growth in the areas of constructive dialogue and civic engagement. This yearlong, on-campus fellowship offers the participant a unique opportunity to shape Stanford’s civic and dialogue programming, help build a curious and courageous campus culture, and strengthen their own knowledge and skills in constructive dialogue and engaged citizenship.
The fellow will work closely with the Executive Director Karina Kloos, receive regular mentorship from Faculty Co-Directors Professors Norman Spaulding and Dan Edelstein, and coordinate with campus partners leading relevant curricular and co-curricular programming. Fellowship responsibilities may include:
- Leading the Frosh Civic Leaders Fellowship, a yearlong student experience aimed at cultivating civic, dialogic, and leadership skills and practices among first-year students.
- Supporting ideation, outreach, and logistics for other ePluribus programming, including other fellowships, workshops, speaker forums, grants, and awards.
- Liaising with student leaders and campus partners on civic and dialogue programming.
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Learning from other campus efforts, including maintaining a research inventory of other universities’ civic and dialogue initiatives and impact metrics to guide new program developments, and participating in select conferences.
This is a one-year, in-person, post-graduation fellowship at Stanford University with a $62,000 stipend and additional funding to cover health insurance (approximately $3,000–$4,000)
- Mentorship: Mentorship is a core element of the ePluribus Stanford Fellowship. Director Karina Kloos will serve as the fellow’s primary mentor, directly supervising ongoing projects and supporting professional and personal growth. The fellow will receive substantive and engaging assignments, broad exposure to the inner workings of ePluribus Stanford, and meaningful connections across campus communities working on constructive dialogue.
- Learning Plan: By the end of the fellowship’s first month, the fellow and Director Kloos will jointly craft a learning plan, which outlines the skills, knowledge, and values that the fellow hopes to develop during the fellowship. The purpose of this document is to help the fellow articulate, prioritize, and gain support for what they want to learn during the fellowship and provide concrete ways to monitor progress. It also offers a framework for reflection and sets common expectations for mentor and fellow.
- Reflection & Assessment Meetings: Consisting of (a) reflecting on strengths and areas of growth for both the mentor and fellow, (b) identifying concrete ways to support the fellow transition into their next role, and (c) exploring potential changes to the fellowship to improve the experience for future fellows.
Fellowship Eligibility
Graduating seniors from Stanford University who are committed to being on the Stanford campus for the duration of the fellowship year.
Fellowship Requirements
Before Fellowship Term
- Meet with the ePluribus Stanford team, including the current fellow, to learn about overall vision, programs, and other team members.
- Meet with Executive Director Karina Kloos to discuss and draft a learning plan and outline potential projects for the coming year.
During Fellowship Term
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Undertake 10-12 consecutive months of full-time, in-person work on the Stanford campus starting in Summer or Fall 2026
- The fellow shall be given time off in accordance with the university’s personnel policies
- Finalize a personal learning plan in conjunction with Director Kloos
- Deliver on fellowship responsibilities in a diligent and timely manner
- Participate in reflection and assessment exercises and meetings
After Fellowship Term
- Assist the program in future years by supporting the nomination of applicants and participating in information and training sessions
- Offer an end-of-fellowship reflection and welcome letter to the incoming fellow
