The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW), with support from the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), will begin accepting applications for its Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program on February 15, 2021. The application deadline is June 1, 2021.
NOTE: While we plan to offer the Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program in-person at the 2021 GSA meeting, we will offer the Program virtually if the GSA meeting is not held in person. Please note that some of the Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program training and financial benefits may change if the Program is offered virtually.
Program Eligibility
An applicant must at the time of application be:
- enrolled in a U.S. social work/social welfare doctoral program (full- or part-time)
- in the first or second year of their doctoral program (if attending part-time, first year requirements of a full-time student be completed)
- a graduate of a Master of Social Work Program
Program Training & Financial Benefits
Professional Development Training
- Full-day pre-conference training at 2021 Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting
- Daily one-hour trainings throughout the 2021 GSA Conference
- Nationally recognized faculty experts in Gerontological Social Work will provide training focused on navigating the dissertation process; working with quantitative and qualitative methods; writing for publication; teaching strategies; and effective networking
- Professional development webinar held in the spring of 2022
- Ongoing mentoring from a member of AGESW organization
Financial Benefits
- $1,200 stipend to attend AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellows Training at 2021 GSA meeting
- One-year memberships to AGESW and GSA organizations
- Registration for the 2021 GSA Conference
The Application
- Applicant Information and Curriculum Vita
- A two-page single-spaced personal statement indicating:
- Applicant’s educational journey and post-MSW experience
- Interest in gerontological social work research and education
- Career goals upon graduation and how the Pre-Dissertation Fellows Program will assist in reaching those goals
- A letter of support from an institutional faculty sponsor indicating 1) the applicant’s match to the Program’s goal of preparing doctoral students for academia and 2) the applicant’s capacity to develop into a competitive candidate for an academic career
- A letter from applicant’s program director confirming $600 institutional support for attending the 2021 GSA Conference
Questions: Contact a Program Co-Director: Dr. Marla Berg-Weger (marla.bergweger@slu.edu) or
Dr. Tracy Schroepfer (tschroepfer@wisc.edu)
