Fordham University’s Duffy Fellows Program recently opened their applications for the 2024-25 school year. The program states that their mission is “to provide support to a select group of Fordham students and recent graduates to advance the study of issues arising at the intersection of religion and public life.”
Duffy Fellows is named after the late Jim Duffy who made the program possible through his endowment to the Center on Religion and Culture (CRC). The program is open to undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates, and they receive stipends to conduct creative projects or original research. It is not required that the applicants belong to any specific faith tradition, nor must they belong to one at all. However, the work they set out to do must advance the Jesuit mission and engage with issues involving religion and culture.
CRC Director David Gibson and Assistant Director David Goodwin spoke on the program and the benefits they hope students get out of it. Gibson explained, “This is not a purely academic grant and program, it is not to augment your research into your master’s or your doctorate, it’s a combination of scholarship but also very much culture.” He noted that the work that the students do doesn’t need to have anything to do with their majors or career goals.
The Duffy Fellows may pursue whatever topic matter they may desire. This requirement differs from many other options at the university. Gibson explained. “This is a really exciting program that offers students an opportunity that they wouldn’t get in most other programs in the university.”
Goodwin, who also works closely with the fellows, elaborated on the purpose of the fellowship. He stated, “This is a chance for a student to explore a research topic or creative idea or some sort of medium they want to develop further, to grow into, to discover, and we help them do that through the course of the year.” He also explained that beyond their own project, the fellows also get the opportunity to help with other events that the CRC holds throughout the year. This appeals to the students because they are able to meet people who may be working in a field they’re interested in and make connections.
The first year of the Duffy Fellows program was entirely remote because of COVID-19. Gibson explained how the pandemic affected the program and how important the in-person meetings have been since then.
“The first year we never met in person, it really hinderedit in terms of the connection and what you’re able to do so these last couple years it really fulfilled the mission more.”
This is not to say that the first year’s fellows were not able to complete interesting projects. In the program’s first group of fellows, there was a pair of students who took a trip to the border and spoke to immigrants and border workers. These students were then able to present their interviews and findings. They also had a fellow who was an aspiring actor and playwright who put on a play via Zoom during the pandemic.
Now that in-person meetings are able to be standard for the fellows, Gibson and Goodwin can pursue the cultural outreach aspects of the program more.
“We are there to connect Fordham with the public and introduce the public to Fordham,” Goodwin commented. They wish to provide their fellows with opportunities for growth and exposure. Gibson commented that he doesn’t believe the program is ready to expand beyond four to five fellows a year, as they are just now able to really get their footing. However, they are pursuing improving the notability and recognition of the fellows outside of the Fordham community.
One project from last year’s group of Duffy Fellows was a podcast dealing with the intersection of Catholicism and labor activism called “All Who Labor” hosted by recent Fordham graduate Anna Nowalk, FCRH ’23. She spoke very fondly of her time as a Duffy Fellow, sharing, “The Duffy Fellowship was a really great experience, and my project opened some cool doors: I got interviewed on another podcast and I was a presenter on labor and Jesuit values at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in October.”
Two current Duffy Fellows, Jay Doherty, FCRH ’24, and Patrick Cullinan, FCRH ’26, are collaborating on their documentary project, focused on showing the process of priestly discernment in the United States. Cullinan explained how he had thought of the idea prior to knowing about the Duffy Scholars program but had no luck finding an avenue to pursue it through.
“I had pitched this project with the Jesuits and with America Magazine, with no luck. I had given up on it, actually, but a few months later, Jay forwarded me the email which the Center on Religion and Culture had sent out to all students, encouraging students to apply to the Duffy Fellows Program.”
The former and current members all spoke positively of the experience of being a Duffy Fellow. “I imagine any Fellow’s experience will depend on their project, but speaking for myself, it was an immensely valuable experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to other students,” stated Nowalk.
Any students interested in applying to be a fellow can submit their resume, proposal and letter of reference to Goodwin, [email protected], by April 19, 2024.
