Ford Fellowship 

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are closed. We will hire again in March 2025. 

The Writing Center supports Wesleyan students in all aspects of their writing process. We offer three distinct peer tutoring and mentoring programs to support the diverse range of Wesleyan writers. In all our work, we foster environments of collaboration and encouragement. Undergraduate tutors and mentors are trained to work with students in all academic disciplines on all forms of writing.  They engage students in the writing process and help students build skills and confidence that they can bring to current assignments and apply to future writing.

The Writing Program’s Ford Fellowship, awarded to a graduating senior at Wesleyan, is a prestigious one-year, post-graduate position. The Ford Fellow works closely with the Assistant Director of Academic Writing, the Director of Academic Writing, and the Assistant Professor of the Practice in TESOL, playing a central role in Writing Center administration and development. 

The combination of teaching, administration, event planning, public speaking, communications, and management experiences provides Ford Fellows with a comprehensive post-graduate position that will prepare them for a range of professional and academic pursuits.  

Key responsibilities include:

  • Organizing the Writing Center student-facing programs;
  • Serving as the primary contact between the student body, employees and Writing Center staff/faculty, including answering emails, phone calls, providing information to visitors, etc.;
  • Advertising Writing Center resources through various channels, including flyers, directed emails, social media accounts, and other communications;
  • Coordinating the schedules of a staff of 30 undergraduate tutors and mentors;
  • Managing payroll;
  • Managing the application process for writing tutors and mentors;
  • Assisting the Assistant Director of Academic Writing in planning and running new tutor training at the beginning of each semester;
  • Creating professional development programs for tutors throughout the semester which may include the Ford Seminar (.5 credit tutor training course);
  • Developing new programs and collaborations to expand the resources offered by the Writing Center and to reach more of the Wesleyan student population;
  • Scheduling, planning and hosting events for students and tutors throughout the academic year including receptions, staff meetings, writing bootcamps, orientation events, writing workshops, and meet and greets;
  • Maintaining the Writing Center website, email, and social media outlets;
  • Collaborating with other Writing Center fellows and student workers.

Benefits/Pay

Recipients of the Ford Fellowship receive an hourly salary and health insurance. Fellows also have full access to the University’s libraries, facilities, and career services.

The position is for 37.5 hours per week beginning August 15th, 2024 and runs until May 31, 2025. June 30th of 2025. Any work needed before or after this timeframe will be paid per diem by Academic Writing through a separate payment process.

How to Apply

Applications will be available on the Wesleyan Career Website shortly. You can prepare for the new application by reviewing the information below.

Our application requests:

  1. A one-page cover letter explaining how your academic and professional experiences undergird your interest and preparation for this position. Feel free to address how this fellowship will aid in your future plans;
  2. A transcript or academic history showing the courses you’ve taken with grades;
  3. A resume;
  4. The names of two faculty, staff, or Wesleyan community members who can speak to your interpersonal, organizational, and/or academic skillsets. Your references may be contacted if you are a finalist, but no letter of recommendation will be requested.

The Fellow will be selected based on outstanding academic record, exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, and interests in teaching and writing. Preference is given to applicants who have held leadership, teaching, or mentoring positions such as, though not limited to, Writing Tutor or Mentor, Teaching Apprentice, or Peer Mentor. Seniors graduating with any major(s) are encouraged to apply.

Contact current Ford Fellow (writingworks@wesleyan.edu) or Assistant Director of Academic Writing Lauren Silber (lsilber@wesleyan.edu) with any questions. It is not necessary to email concerning the receipt of your application or an interview.

Applications are due by March 31, 2024 by midnight. We will hold interviews for candidates during the week of April 8th, 2024. We intend to make offers around April 19th and will require offers to be officially accepted within two weeks (by 5/3).