Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color

The NCTE Research Foundation’s Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color (CNV) program is first and foremost a mentoring program. It brings early career scholars of color (both doctoral candidates and early career postsecondary faculty) into a two-year experience grounded in close guidance, relationship building, and support. Through one-on-one and group mentoring, CNV helps doctoral candidates and early career faculty draw from their cultural and linguistic knowledge as they design, conduct, and share their research. Fellows join a community where they can learn with and from established scholars, build networks that sustain their growth, and strengthen their identities as researchers. Learn more about their activities.

Since 2000, CNV has supported more than 150 scholars/fellows of color across thirteen cohorts. 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.

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 application process. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be

• a member of NCTE (join here);
• an individual who has advanced to doctoral candidacy or has earned a doctoral degree within the past two years in the English language arts or a related field of literacy education;
• an individual with the intention to make a career in the field of ELA, literacy, and/or literacy education;
• a person of color; and
• a resident of the United States.

Fellows accepted to the program for 2026–2028 will receive the following during the two-year cohort:

• $1,200 research stipend to be used by the end of the two-year cohort
• Travel and expenses to attend the 2026 and 2027 NCTE Annual Conventions
• Travel and expenses to attend the 2027 and 2028 CNV Spring Institute

Application

Applications for the 2026–2028 CNV cohort are due by Sunday, March 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT.

Recipients of CNV fellowships will be notified in June 2026. Applications will only be accepted electronically. As you complete your application, please follow the instructions below:

All applications for the Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color (CNV) program must include the following components. We have included the criteria that the Research Foundation Trustees will use when they rate each application. Applicants who have not had prior similar mentoring experiences will be given priority consideration for a fellowship. Applicants who are concurrently applying (and who are subsequently accepted) to a program with a similar extended mentoring component (one or more years with a mentor) will be asked to participate either in CNV or the other mentoring program, but not both simultaneously.

Required Application Materials

Please submit the Application Form as a single PDF attachment to researchfoundation@ncte.org by Sunday, March 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT. Please be sure to complete all sections of the form, including the following items:

1. Abstract (double-spaced, 12-point font) of no more than 150 words that includes the following:
   a. Concise statement of the purpose and significance of the study, as well as the research questions
   b. Summary description of the research design
   c. Summary description of the methods of collecting and analyzing data
2. Research Narrative of no more than 1,500 words (double-spaced, 12-point font, and include a reference list, which may be in addition to the word limit) that includes the following:
   a. Statement of the research problem and significance to English language arts. Criteria: Is the research problem clearly stated? Is its relevance clearly explained?
   b. 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?
   c. 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?
3. Statement of Motivation and Engagement of no more than 500 words (double-spaced, 12-point font) 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.
4. Mentoring Statement of no more than 250 words (double-spaced, 12-point font) that answers these questions: How do you envision benefiting from and reciprocating CNV mentorship? What mentoring programs have you been part of and completed? Are you applying to any other mentoring programs, and if so, which ones?
5. Curriculum Vitae (a full CV).
6. Letter of Recommendation from someone directly familiar with your research. Please send to researchfoundation@ncte.org or submit as part of the PDF application form attachment. Either is acceptable.

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