KathwarI Graduate Fellowship

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE,
INTERNATIONAL, and CAREER STUDIES

The Fellowship

The Kathwari Graduate Fellowship, generously funded by the Irfan Kathwari Foundation, is designed to support WestConn graduate students’ academic and professional growth, providing them opportunities to reach their full potential. The Fellowship is open exclusively to alums who completed their undergraduate studies at WestConn and provides financial support and professional development opportunities to enhance their educational experience.

Eligibility

The Kathwari Graduate Fellowship is a merit-based award, not dependent on financial need, and is contingent upon the following criteria:

The Fellowship recipient completed their baccalaureate program at WestConn.
The recipient is enrolled in or accepted to a graduate degree program at WestConn.
The recipient does not hold other university-supported positions (e.g., graduate student worker, graduate assistant and teaching assistant assignments with more than 10 hours per week, resident advisor, graduate intern, or adjunct faculty) while holding the award.

Applying

Graduate students who wish to nominate themselves for the fellowship and mentors who wish to nominate a graduate student can use this form to do so. Mentors who wish to request a fellow without nominating a specific student can also use this form. The application deadline for Fall 2025 is April 21, 2025.

Stipend and Expectations

Fellows will receive a stipend in the amount of $4000 per year or $2000 per semester, for a maximum of four consecutive semesters.
The Fellowship provides graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through on-campus Fellowship appointments. Kathwari Graduate Fellowship recipients will commit 7 hours weekly to their Fellowship appointment, including research, teaching, or administrative duties.
The fellow’s commitment must be in person.
The Fellowship appointment will align with the Fellowship’s experiential learning goals, and the nature of the position and will be pre-approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate, International, and Career Studies.

Assignments

Fellowship assignments include 1) Teaching responsibilities, 2) Research and Scholarship responsibilities, or 3) administrative responsibilities.

A teaching fellowship is ideal for an enrolled graduate student with the academic ability and commitment to assist in classroom teaching under the supervision of a faculty member and who desires to work professionally in the classroom. Responsibilities may include planning and preparation, curriculum design and development, organization and direction of group activities, preparation of presentations, and/or tutoring and individualized instruction.
A research / scholarship fellowship is suited for a matriculated graduate student with some experience conducting research at the undergraduate level and who desires to conduct professional research. Responsibilities may include data collection and analysis, operation and maintenance of equipment, dissemination of research findings, conducting and supervising experiments, reviewing literature, preparing manuscripts or scholarly work, and/or problem-solving and supervising other personnel.
An administrative fellowship is designed for a student with strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to support various administrative functions within an academic department or unit. This Fellowship provides valuable experiential learning that helps the student develop administrative expertise and practical skills applicable to future professional roles. Specific responsibilities and projects will be determined by the needs of the office and must be approved by the SGICS Dean. Responsibilities may include assisting with the coordination and execution of events and meetings, managing records, including filing, data entry, and document preparation, providing support for faculty and administrative staff in day-to-day operations, assisting with budget tracking and basic financial reporting, preparing reports, presentations, and other documents as needed, handling scheduling tasks, including arranging appointments and maintaining shared calendars,supporting student services activities, such as onboarding and information dissemination, monitoring and responding to routine correspondence, including emails and phone calls, and/or ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures during administrative processes.

Mentor Responsibilities

Mentors play a critical role in the success of the Kathwari Graduate Fellowship (KGF) by guiding and supporting fellows in their academic, research, teaching, or administrative assignments. Faculty, staff, or administrators who serve as mentors are responsible for ensuring that fellows engage in meaningful and enriching experiential learning opportunities. The following outlines the key responsibilities of KGF mentors:

Provide support, feedback, and oversight to ensure fellows effectively fulfill their assigned duties.
Work with fellows to establish clear objectives aligned with the experiential learning goals of the Fellowship.
Offer mentorship that enhances the fellow’s academic and professional skills and other relevant competencies.
Assign tasks that align with the fellow’s role—whether in teaching, research, or administration—and ensure they are manageable within the 7-hour weekly commitment.
Regularly review the fellow’s progress and provide constructive feedback to help them improve and develop professionally.
Ensure fellows adhere to university policies, ethical guidelines, and professional standards.
Maintain communication with the School of Graduate, International, and Career Studies (SGICS) regarding fellow performance, challenges, and any necessary assignment adjustments.
Provide end of semester report on fellow’s contributions and achievements during the semester based on the identified goals and objectives of the assignment.

Kathwari Graduate Fellows

I am an alumna of WestConn and currently pursuing a master's in health administration at WestConn. I applied to the Kathwari Fellowship because it offers students, particularly those still building professional experience like me, the opportunity to develop essential skills and grow in their field. This fellowship provides me with valuable administrative experience as I work toward my goal of a career in healthcare leadership. Ultimately, I aspire to assume a leadership role where I can enhance patient experiences and drive meaningful, transformative changes in the healthcare system.

My name is Mary K Manning, and I am a Graduate student at Western Connecticut State University. I am pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling within the Counselor Education program. My goal is to become a counselor specializing in working with children. I have applied for the Kathwari Fellowship to further enhance my skills and knowledge in research and academia. I believe this fellowship will not only broaden my career possibilities but also strengthen my competence as a future professional counselor

I hold an associate degree in accounting from Housatonic Community College and later transferred to Western Connecticut State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in marketing. I am pursuing my MBA at Western Connecticut State University, with plans to graduate this fall. I applied for the fellowship to expand my skills and gain valuable experience that aligns with my marketing and community engagement passion. This opportunity is helping me refine my strategic thinking and leadership abilities, which are essential for advancing my career in marketing management. Outside of school, I work full-time as a Marketing Manager for Sodexo, overseeing dining services on campus, and serve as a board member for Are You Dense? Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to breast cancer awareness and education.

I graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Business Marketing and am currently pursuing my master’s in business administration. I applied for this fellowship to gain hands-on experience in event planning, brand promotion, and leadership development while also receiving financial support for my education. With a strong passion for management and marketing, this opportunity allows me to refine my skills, expand my professional network, and enhance my ability to engage diverse audiences. The fellowship is helping me build a strong foundation for a successful career in marketing and management.

My name is Mikayla Silkman, and I am a senior graduate student at Western Connecticut State University, pursuing my Master of Fine Arts in Creative and Professional Writing. I graduated magna cum laude in 2021 from WestConn with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative and Professional Writing. I currently live in Bethel, CT, with my husband and daughter. As part of my journey toward becoming a college-level educator, I pursued the Kathwari Honors Fellowship to further develop my skills. This fellowship has provided me with invaluable experience in a college department environment, which I hope to translate into a real-world teaching opportunity upon graduation.