Blackburn Institute

About

Becoming a Fellow

The selection process consists of three stages: nomination, application, and interview.

A dean, director, faculty member, or student affairs staff member of The University of Alabama nominates students who:

• demonstrate interest and leadership relating to public policy,
• indicate strong interest in exploring issues facing the state of Alabama,
• have made significant campus contributions; thereby, showing their ability to contribute progressive leadership on issues,
• demonstrate a clear concept of local, state or national issues, and
• have at least one full year remaining as a student of some type at the University of Alabama.

Nominees receive notification of their nomination for potential selection into The University of Alabama’s Blackburn Institute via e-mail.

Nominees are invited to a new member interest session where they learn more about the Institute and the selection process as well as have a chance to ask any questions they might have at this time.

Those nominated students who are interested will then complete an application including written responses to three formal essay questions.

Students selected for an interview will be notified by email and then hold a personal interview with a review panel of advisory board members, staff, and fellows.

Each year, approximately 25 students are selected as new Blackburn Student Fellows.

PLEASE NOTE: New student fellows are expected to serve as full participants in the curricula, including the spring welcome reception, fall orientation dinner, monthly discourses, winter travel experience, weekend symposium, and the Frank A. Nix Lecture.