The Asian Pacific American Studies (APAS) Program is committed to creating opportunities at MSU for students to deepen connections between their scholarly interests and the fields of Asian Pacific American Studies specifically, and Ethnic Studies more broadly. With this goal and with the support of the Graduate School, the APAS Graduate Fellowship offers MSU graduate students a unique opportunity to develop skills in research, professional development, and community engagement in ways informed by Asian Pacific American Studies scholarship and praxis.
The 2026-2027 APAS Graduate Fellowship will be awarded to five (5) graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to a career that incorporates APA Studies. While preference will be given to graduate students whose work is situated within the field of APA Studies broadly conceived, applicants working in other Ethnic Studies fields who demonstrate an interest in the links between their area of study and APA Studies are also encouraged to apply.
Fellows will meet as a cohort twice a month throughout the 2026-2027 academic year in seminars facilitated by the Fellowship Coordinator. These seminars will provide fellows the opportunity to: share their research in progress; receive feedback and mentorship deepening their engagement with APA Studies scholarship; and develop skills to articulate their work in different disciplinary, professional and community contexts.
Fellows will also work on organizing APA Studies programming and community engagement throughout the academic year, including the annual APA Studies Symposium in the spring semester. The Symposium also provides fellows with the opportunity to present their research in a professional context, and to expand their network of students and scholars working in the field.
A fellowship of $3,500 per semester ($7,000 total) will be offered to successful applicants. Once accepted, fellows will be able to apply for an additional $2,000 to support their research and/or conference participation.
Summary of Responsibilities
In 2026-2027, fellows will be required to:
- Attend two meetings per month in which they will share their research in progress, discuss its relation to APA Studies, and cultivate skills to articulate their work in different disciplinary, professional and community contexts;
- Work with APAS leadership to organize and attend events sponsored and co-sponsored by the APAS Program, including the APAS Symposium in Spring 2026;
- Work with APAS leadership to engage communities on and beyond the MSU campus; and,
- Submit all final reporting materials by 15 May 2027.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an APAS Graduate Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be enrolled in a graduate program with good academic standing at MSU. Preference will be given to applicants at the doctoral level, but master's and professional students will also receive serious consideration. Preference will also be given to applicants who have not already held the fellowship.
- Engage with, or demonstrate the potential to engage with, APA Studies broadly defined as a key component of their graduate research.
- Be enrolled as a full-time student for the duration of the year for which they are applying.
Application Materials
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- A complete application form.
- A current CV.
- A short essay (600 words maximum) that explains the applicant’s scholarly interests and professional goals; their interest in and engagement with APA Studies; and how this fellowship will help them achieve their professional goals.
- The name and contact information of the applicant’s graduate advisor or department chair to be contacted for a recommendation should the applicant be shortlisted (recommendations/endorsements are not required at the time of application).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be submitted as a PDF to apastudy@msu.edu.
Please direct any questions to APAS Director, Dr. Anna Pegler-Gordon (gordonap@msu.edu).
Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on April 20, 2026.