The Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color
More Details: An Introduction to the Program
What is the relationship between the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation?
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) established the Fellowship for Aspiring Teachers of Color program in 1992 and managed it until 2009 when the administration was transferred to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The RBF has made a commitment of $5 million to support the program through 2012 which will fund the Fellow classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation is committed to supporting the program beyond 2012.
Why did the RBF select the Woodrow Wilson Foundation as the new home for the Fellowship for Aspiring Teachers of Color program?
According to a statement from the RBF: “We believe that the impact of the Fellowships can be significantly enhanced if responsibility for administering the Fellowships is transferred to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation since the Foundation’s primary focus is identifying and developing talented individuals to address the educational needs. We believe that the RBF and the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships complement each other and will make significant contributions to addressing educational needs and enhancing the impact of teacher quality, diversity, and effectiveness.”
How many Fellows are there?
With the selection of the 2012 Fellows, the Fellowship program has supported 425 Fellows. The 2010 Fellows class was the first selected under the administration of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation.
What has been the financial support to Fellows?
The RBF awarded nearly $8 million in grants and financial assistance to the 350 Fellows between 1992 and 2008 (the last class selected under its administration). Beginning with the class of 2010, the Fellowship awards were increased from $22,000 to $30,000 to support Fellows enrollment in graduate education programs that lead to a master’s degree and certification in their subject areas.
What has been the Fellowship program’s impact?
Over 60 percent of all Fellows that became teachers through this program have remained in the teaching field for more than five years as compared to the national average of 33 percent. And more than 80 percent of the students selected for the Fellowships have pursued careers in public education or education related fields.