Graduate Student Funding

Joseph and JoanMcSweeny Diversity Endowed Fellowship in the Natural Sciences

The Joseph and Joan McSweeny Diversity Endowed Fellowship in the Natural Sciences provides financial support to graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences from historically underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines. Mr. Joe McSweeny is an alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences. He graduated from UofL with a B.A. in Mathematics in 1971 before serving aboard submarines in the United States Navy and later having a successful career in international insurance brokerage. Mr. McSweeny won the A&S Alumni Award in 2015. More information about Mr. McSweeny can be found here.

Recipients of the McSweeny Diversity Endowed Fellowship must be U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents and come from an historically underrepresented ethnic/racial group in the College of Arts and Sciences Division of Natural Sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, Geographic and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychological and Brain Sciences. All nominations are welcome, and nominations of African American students in these disciplines are especially encouraged.

McSweeny Fellowship recipients will receive financial support in the first year of their graduate work. The maximum annual award includes a stipend, full tuition, and health insurance. Fellows must be engaged in full-time academic program studies and maintain good academic standing. Recipients are encouraged to participate in UofL diversity activities and develop a positive relationship with the donors of the fellowship. A second year of support may be awarded if the Fellow is making satisfactory progress toward their graduate degree and receives a positive evaluation by the department or graduate program after the first year.

To nominate a student, the department chair or director of graduate studies (DGS) should submit a nomination packet that includes the following:

  1. Letter of nomination written by the department chair or DGS that addresses the following review criteria:  evidence of academic success (e.g., GPA, awards or honors achieved), scholarly ability, and potential to succeed in their graduate program (e.g., prior research experience, exceptional community engagement or service, leadership experience, evidence of creativity or resilience, or other unique experiences or background that show the student’s promise).
  2. Undergraduate and, if appropriate, graduate transcripts
  3. Student’s curriculum vitae or resume
  4. Letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the candidate’s academic ability (two maximum)

The nomination deadline is typically mid-February. Department chairs or DGSs should email their nomination packet to asgrad@louisville.edu

If no eligible applicants meet the criteria mentioned above, consideration may go to currently enrolled graduate students in the natural sciences, with a preference for female students. Additional support may be possible with the A&S Dean’s approval.

Questions should be directed to Dr. Cara Cashon, Associate Dean for Graduate Education.