Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color

The NCTE Research Foundation’s Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color (CNV) program is designed to provide two years of support, mentoring, and networking opportunities for early career scholars of color. The program aims to work with doctoral candidates and early career postsecondary faculty of color to cultivate the ability to draw from their own cultural and linguistic perspectives as they conceptualize, plan, conduct, write, and disseminate findings from their research. The program provides socialization into the research community and interaction with established scholars whose own work can be enriched by their engagement with new ideas and perspectives. Learn more about their activities.

Since 2000, CNV has supported 150 scholars/fellows of color across eleven different cohorts. Participating fellows, working closely with an assigned mentor and other members of the cohort, investigate current issues in language, literacy, teacher education, English, and cultural studies. From large group conversations on refining theoretical frameworks and modes of inquiry to small group discussions on research questions and data analysis techniques, CNV participants encourage each other to pursue critically conscious research. Over the years, fellows have successfully defended dissertations, have accepted tenure-track professorial positions and community organizing roles, have presented at numerous national and international conferences, have facilitated important professional development workshops, and, among other things, have received research, teaching, and service awards. Equally important, CNV fellows have assumed major leadership roles within NCTE, such as chairing research committees and serving on the Research Foundation and on the Executive Committee. Undoubtedly, CNV is an important program within NCTE, and we welcome applications from doctoral candidates and early career postsecondary faculty of color.

Learn about the CNV program, what to expect, and how to prepare an application, which were shared during this workshop on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Participants in the Program

Fellows are selected through a competitive proposal process. To be eligible to apply, proposal submitters must be:

• a member of NCTE (join here)
• an individual who has advanced to doctoral candidacy or who has earned a doctoral degree within the past two years
• a person of color
• a resident of the United States

Due to the last CNV cycle application materials being due during the hectic transition of the early pandemic, the NCTE Research Foundation Trustees understand that both the ability to apply for CNV and the professional growth for early career scholars of color may have been impacted. As a result, the criteria to apply for the CNV program has been amended exceptionally for this cycle to include doctoral graduates from Spring 2019 until present who need early career mentoring support as outlined in the program description. Applicants should note that the program is designed only to support early career scholars of color in the initial phase of their journeys.

Application

The call for applications for the 2024–2026 CNV cohort will open by December 2023.

All applications for the Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color (CNV) program must include the following six components. We have included the criteria that the Research Foundation Trustees will use when they rate each proposal. Applicants who have not had prior similar mentoring experiences will be given priority consideration for a fellowship.

Required Application Components (6)

1. With this Application Cover Sheet, please submit the following to researchfoundation@ncte.org as a SINGLE PDF attachment.
2. Abstract (double-spaced) of no more than 150 words, which includes:
   • Concise statement of the purpose and significance of the study, and the research questions
   • Summary description of the research design
   • Summary description of the methods of collecting and analyzing data
3. Research Narrative of no more than 1,500 words (double-spaced and excluding references) that includes items a-c below:
   • Statement of the research problem and significance to English language arts. Criteria: Is the research problem clearly stated? Is its relevance clearly explained?
   • Review of related research. Criteria: Is the review up to date and adequate in scope and depth? Is the problem clearly situated in previous research?
   • Detailed description of the study’s design. Criteria: Is the design appropriate to the exploration and analysis of the stated problem? Are the methods clearly explained?
4. Statement of Motivation and Engagement of no more than 500 words (double-spaced) that explains how your project would benefit from mentoring in this particular NCTE community, as well as how you and your project will contribute to the broader membership and the mission and vision of NCTE.
5. Curriculum Vitae (2 pages or less)
6. Letter of Recommendation from someone directly familiar with your research. Please send to researchfoundation@ncte.org or submit as part of the single PDF attachment. Either is acceptable.

If you have any questions, please contact: researchfoundation@ncte.org.