Call for Applications: 2022-2023 Mentorship Program and Cohort for Black Graduate Students, Postdocs and Emerging Scholars in the humanities whose work engages with South/Southeast Asia

Applications are now being accepted for a mentorship program for black graduate students, postdoctoral fellows/scholars and emerging scholars in the humanities whose work engages with the regions of South Asia and/or Southeast Asia. The mentorship program, funded by the Association for Asian Studies’ “Striving for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Asian Studies: Humanities Grants for Asian Studies Scholars,” aims to enhance the professional development of a cohort of scholars in the field. The program will create a close network of support and mentorship—both academic and non-academic—that will provide balance, community, and advocacy for emerging scholars.

The program will consist of a series of online workshops, meeting monthly over the course of 6 months (from September 2022 to February 2023), led by insightful mentors and facilitators. Mentors will include black humanities professors who engage with Asia in their research, mental health professionals, and those who can provide practical tools and advice to mentees for navigating both academic and non-academic careers. The workshops will provide opportunity to discuss topics as varied as how to position oneself well for advancement in, and/or outside of, the academy; how and where to apply for travel, language and research grants; and how to advocate for one’s own personal growth and health. Mentees will also have the option to engage in one-on-one discussions or email exchanges with the facilitator-mentor for the month following their respective workshop. The program will culminate in an in-person social event and discussion at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) annual meeting in Boston in March 2023.

The AAS grant will cover the costs of workshop resources for mentees, compensate mentors for their work and time, and provide financial support (accommodation, travel and conference fees) for the mentees to attend the 2023 AAS meeting in Boston.

To apply for this opportunity, please send a CV and cover letter indicating your interest in the program. In the cover letter, please provide a brief background of your topic of study and what you would hope to gain from the mentorship program. Please send your materials to Rebekah McCallum, PhD (Program Facilitator) at MentorshipSASEA@gmail.com by August 12, 2022.