SJPI Call for Applications

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - FALL 2025

The Social Justice Policy Initiative, housed in the Sociology Department, is calling for applications for Research and Community Fellows for Fall of 2025. Click on each Project to learn more and see below for how to apply.

FALL 2025 RESEARCH FELLOWS

Get hands-on experience with policy-oriented and community-engaged research as a Research Fellow with these projects. Research fellows are paid $17/h for 2-4 hours per week, depending on project needs:

Research Fellow: Eviction Crisis Project

Primary Investigator: Caroline Hanley [[chanley, Caroline Hanley]] (Sociology)

Learn more about this project here.

Preferred qualifications: Experience with community-based research/advocacy and familiarity with basic web design and/or excel.

Research Fellow: Walking Sites of Memory: Remembering and Reflecting

Primary Investigator: Kay Jenkins [[kejenk, Kay Jenkins]] (Sociology)

Learn more about this project here.

Position: 2 hours a week. Tasks for the Fall of 2025 include updating StoryMap sites based on community feedback and discussion. Some knowledge or experience of working with ArcGIS StoryMaps is desired.

FALL 2025 COMMUNITY FELLOWS

Academic Advisor: Amy Quark [[aquark, Amy Quark]] (Sociology)

Get hands-on experience with community-based research, outreach, and advocacy and develop important skills in communication, policy analysis, and more! Earn academic credit while learning from local leaders in these community organizations:

The Village Initiative

Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency

NAACP, York-James City-Williamsburg Chapter

How to Apply

Applications are due by April 4 at 5pm. To apply for Research or Community Fellow positions, combine your resume and a brief cover letter explaining your interest and experience related to the project for which you are applying into ONE PDF file. Name this file using the following format: ProjectName_YourLastName (e.g. WorkplaceDemocracy_Smith). Upload your file to this website: https://wm1693.app.box.com/f/f60f9bd11b1e41ecb58f09cdb21d8aa3

**You may apply to more than one Research Fellow position, but a student can only hold one of these positions per semester. You may apply to both Research Fellow positions and Community Fellow positions. A candidate can hold both a Research Fellow and Community Fellow position simultaneously.

You must have a separate application for each position. If you apply to more than one position, please submit an additional document that rank orders your preferences for the positions (e.g. 1) Eviction Crisis; 2) Walking Sites) and label that file in this format: YourLastName_Rank (e.g. Smith_Rank). Upload this document using the same website. If you are applying for a Community Fellow position, please submit an additional document that rank orders your preferences for organizations (e.g. 1) NAACP, 2) Community Action Agency, etc.).

If you have questions regarding the submission of your application, please contact Prof. Quark (aaquark@wm.edu). Questions regarding the positions themselves should be directed to the project PI.