University of Rochester

Provost’s Fellowships

The Provost’s Fellowship is intended to bring to Rochester talented individuals who will broaden the diversity of those pursuing Ph.D. degrees at the University.  Now in its 20th year, it has provided stipend support to students in over 25 of Rochester’s doctoral programs. 

Each year there is a University-wide competition for Provost’s Fellowships.  All Ph.D. programs may nominate students from among those who have applied for admission. Nominees for the Fellowship must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.  Specific criteria for determining diversity can vary by discipline, but might include an applicant’s ethnicity, gender, cultural background or other life experiences. A committee of faculty members evaluates those nominated and the final decisions are made by the University Dean of Graduate Studies.

After earning their Ph.D. degrees, Provost’s Fellows have pursued a wide variety of careers.  Many now have positions in educational institutions (from universities and colleges to public and private K-12 schools). However, a substantial number are working in government and private research settings. The following list of former Provost’s Fellows gives some idea of the range of professional experience they have had after getting University of Rochester Ph.D. degrees.

Provost's Fellow Ph.D. Program Position Title Employer
Lorna Rodriguez Biochemistry Prof.of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Matthew Platt Political Science Asst. Prof. of Government Harvard University
Deon M. Harvey [pdf] Neuroscience Director, Human Exposure Assessment Laboratory Batelle Memorial Institute
Andrei Buckareff Philosophy Asst. Prof. of Philosophy Marist College
Derek Seward Education Asst. Professor of Counseling and Human Services Syracuse University
April Franco  Economics Asst. Prof. of Business Economics University of Toronto
Natalie Cort [pdf] Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow  University of Rochester
Cesar Perez-Gonzalez Biology Program Manager National Institutes of Health
Carlo K. Williams [pdf] Electrical Engineering Development Scientist Corning, Inc.
Ryan Camacho [pdf]
Physics Postdoctoral Fellow California Institute of Technology
Daniel Gillion Political Science Asst. Professor of Political Science University of Pennsylvania
Bridget Cooks Visual & Cultural Studies Asst. Prof. of Art History and of African American Studies University of California Irvine
Joseph E. Atkins Brain & Cognitive Sciences Visiting Asst. Prof. of Psychology/Coordinator of Multicultural Programs Colby College
Jessica Bayliss Computer Science Asst. Prof. of Information Technology Rochester Institute of Technology
LaRon Nelson Health Practice Research Assistant Professor of Nursing University of Toronto
Pablo Londero [pdf] Physics Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard University
Carol Silva Political Science Assoc. Prof. of Political Science University of Oklahoma
Leslie Hazel-Fernandez [pdf] Clinical Psychology Project Manager Univ. of Miami - Humana Health Services Research Center
Christopher Stewart Computer Science Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Ohio State University


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