Royster Society of Fellows
What's New?
2009-2010 Royster Society of Fellows Student Profiles
2009 First year fellows excursion photo gallery
The Society
The Royster Society of Fellows was launched in 1996 as the Carolina Society of Fellows, a program envisioned as the graduate level equivalent of the university’s Morehead Scholars program for undergraduates. In 1997, the program was renamed to honor Dr. Thomas S. Royster Jr. and Mrs. Caroline H. Royster for their generosity in making the fellowship program a reality.
The Royster Society of Fellows is an interdisciplinary, university-wide fellowship program that allows Carolina to recruit the most promising doctoral students from across the nation and then support them in reaching their highest potential. The Society of Fellows includes fellowships named for Mrs. Victor Humphreys, William R. Kenan Jr., John Motley Morehead, Joseph E. Pogue, William N. Reynolds, and Dr. Thomas S. Royster Jr. and Mrs. Caroline H. Royster. The program is designed to broaden students’ intellectual horizons and develop their leadership skills through discussions with fellows from other departments, presentations, and service to the University and community.
The success of the Royster Society of Fellows hinges on the support of generous contributors whose gifts have established numerous named fellowships within the Society of Fellows. Since the program began, the number of fellowships has grown each year thanks to these donors.
The Fellowships
Fellowships in the Society provide a very competitive stipend, as well as full tuition, fees, and health insurance. This allows the fellows to focus full-time on their studies and research. Fellows also receive a generous travel allowance that enables them to present their research at national or international conferences.
During the first and final years of their program, students can focus exclusively on their studies and research. During the second through fourth years, they teach or perform research within their department in order to develop their skills in teaching and academic research. During these years, fellows in the Society are supported and nurtured through mentoring by senior faculty of the University. This relationship with faculty outside their own disciplines allows fellows to grow and prepare for future leadership roles in higher education, industry, and the community.
Multi-year Fellowships
Entering students, who are selected from the most talented new students admitted to graduate programs at Carolina, receive five-year fellowships. These programs nominate a limited number of students with the highest academic potential and the most impressive record of achievement in undergraduate education and work and life experiences. The selected students exhibit an exciting diversity of geographical, academic, and professional experience and are drawn from across the nation and around the world.
List of all multi-year fellows.
Dissertation Fellowships
Dissertation-year fellows are selected by an interdisciplinary faculty board of the Society. Superior achievement in graduate study, the interest and significance of the dissertation topic, and the potential as future leaders in academic and private sector research are the primary criteria in the selection of dissertation fellows. Dissertation fellowships provide support for current graduate students as they finalize and write their dissertations.
List of all dissertation fellows.
Students
2008 First year fellows excursion photo gallery
2007 First year fellows excursion photo gallery
Projects
Royster Fellows have completed a number of projects drawing on their many talents and interests in interdisciplinary subject matters.
2006-2007 project: Explore North Carolina
Student Impact
Graduate students who have received funding through the Royster Society of Fellows have been positively impacted by the opportunities available as a fellow:
Being in the Royster Society of Fellows was one of the most invigorating experiences I had during my graduate work.
As a fellow, I’ve had the chance to share my research and ideas with students and faculty in many different departments — and to learn from them at the same time.
The freedom of my fellowship year has meant complete immersion in this project and a cherished, unique opportunity to develop continuity and focus in my research. I have grown more as a thinker and literary critic in one year than I did in all my previous years of graduate school combined.
Getting a fellowship like this allows you to follow your nose more than you would otherwise be allowed to. In my opinion the freedom this allows your imagination is the most important part of it — being able to apply some creativity to your research.