The Amherst Folger Humanities Fellowship

2024 Application

The Amherst Folger Humanities Fellowship application is now open to graduating seniors and recent graduates (December 2023–May 2025). Deadline to apply is Monday, December 9 at 11:59pm APPLY


The Amherst Folger Humanities Fellowship offers Amherst graduates with a passion for the humanities the opportunity to launch their career with nine months of full-time work at two outstanding cultural institutions—the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Collection.

The fellowship features:

  • full-time project-based work and independent research that makes meaningful contributions to institutional initiatives. 
  • mentorship from supervisors and program staff that ensures fellows are building core skills in the field, in addition to skills that are highly-valued in any industry.
  • professional development opportunities that are baked into every aspect of the fellowship experience and are shaped by your evolving interests and goals.
  • network-building connections to professionals working across D.C.’s pre-eminent scholarly and cultural institutions.

  • Dominique Manuel 2020-2021 Major: History; 
INTERESTS: Education, history, and the arts. 
Passionate about increasing access to cultural institutions. 
FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS: 
At Dumbarton Oaks, contributed to the digitization of photographs documenting Syrian monuments. At the Folger, worked on an Audience Discovery Project as part of the organization's DE&I initiatives. 
POST-FELLOWSHIP: Went on to pursue a Masters in Library and Information Science, interned at the National Gallery of Art, and served as a Library Assistant at Dumbarton Oaks. Currently a Digital Asset Manager at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
  • Cambell Hannan 2021-2022 MAJORS: 
Political Science I History; 
INTERESTS: 
Digital collections and engagement. 
Passionate about archives as a public service. 
FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS: 
At Dumbarton Oaks, supported K-12 synchronous 
and asynchronous programs and helped digitize a 
rare books collection. At the Folger, assessed 
archival silences and supported expanded access 
for researchers. POST-FELLOWSHIP: 
Went on to a Masters in Archives and Records Management at University College Dublin and recently completed work as an archivist at The Little Museum of Dublin.
  • Abner Aldarondo 2022-2023 MAJORS: 
Spanish I Latinx & Latin American Studies; 
INTERESTS: 
Curation, education, and research. 
Passionate about democratizing cultural 
institutions. 
FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS: 
At Dumbarton Oaks, conducted interdisciplinary 
research to compose a history of the campus' oldest trees. At the Folger, participated in the design and development of long-term exhibitions. 
POST-FELLOWSHIP: 
Went on to serve as a Research Project Coordinator at the Holyoke Public Library History Room and is currently a Teaching Fellow at the District of Columbia International School.
  • Francisco Chong 2023-2024 MAJORS: 
Architectural Studies I Mathematics; 
INTERESTS: 
Social impacts of design and architecture. Passionate about inclusive physical spaces. 
CURRENT PROJECTS: 
At Dumbarton Oaks will conduct an architectural history research project. At the Folger will assist with visitor experience design and exhibition development in recently redesigned galleries.