Kimberly Natalia Williams, doctoral student in the Cultural Foundations of Education (CFE) program is getting additional funding and support to complete her dissertation proposal. Williams, was recently awarded with the Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF), from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). The fellowship will provide her with an opportunity to continue to develop her dissertation work on teachers from the Caribbean, and their experiences in NYC schools. Williams was selected from a highly competitive field of candidates. “Kim is not only an outstanding researcher and educator but also is an incredible leader who builds community within our department,” says Barbara Applebaum, associate professor and department chair.
The primary purpose of the Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF) program is to help students explore, test, and design dissertation research proposals that can be approved by their departments, secure funding, and guide future investigations. Along with the funding, each recipient attends workshops, intended to support and guide the doctoral candidate. Williams says she is honored to receive the additional funding because it will give her the opportunity to continue her dissertation research and says “she looks forward to attending the required workshops because so often graduate students have little mentoring through the proposal writing process and these workshops will give her that mentoring in a structured way.” By the end of the fellowship program, participating students will complete a draft of their dissertation research proposal that can be reviewed with academic advisors.
Williams says she is “excited about this opportunity because it comes through the Social Science Research Council and situates her dissertation as an interdisciplinary project.” Williams has an impressive background professionally as well as academically. She is currently a teaching associate for the Women and Gender Studies program, and worked for Intergroup Dialogue teaching courses on institutional racism, power, privilege, and oppression to undergraduate students. Williams holds a master’s in Communications and Rhetorical studies along with a Certificate of Advance Studies in Women and Gender studies, both, from Syracuse University.
Since 1993, the SSRC has awarded more than fifteen thousand fellowships to researchers around the globe. Council fellowship programs target specific problems, promote individual and institutional change, and expand networks. The DPDF Program may awards funds for airfare, lodging, transportation, basic living expenses, and limited research equipment and supplies. The highly competitive fellowship is open to all students in the humanities and social sciences, who are beginning to formulate proposals for their dissertation research.