American Art Fellowships
The Center for American Art offers three graduate fellowships in the Department of American Art. Full information on available fellowships and application guidelines can be found here from November to February, when new opportunities are posted.
Summer Fellowships
Stipend: $4,000 The Center for American Art sponsors two graduate fellowships each summer that enable students to develop curatorial experience while contributing to Department of American Art’s collection research and exhibition preparation. Fellows work full-time (35 hours per week) for ten weeks between June 1 and August 30.
Barra American Art Fellowship
Stipend: $40,000 and additional research and travel funds In honor of Robert L. McNeil, Jr., the Barra Foundation and the Center for American Art sponsor a two-year graduate fellowship in the Department of American Art. This is a one-year position with the possibility of renewal for the following academic year. The Barra American Art Fellow works full-time (35 hours per week): four days a week assisting with department research and exhibition projects and one day a week on personal research, writing, or travel. Priority is given to applicants with projects relating to the Museum’s collection and to students from the Philadelphia region. At the conclusion of the term, the Fellow is expected to submit a paper reflecting work done during the residency. The next cycle of applications will begin in 2020.List of Current & Past Fellows >>
2018–20 Barra Fellow
Kelsey Gustin, Boston University
2018 Summer Fellows
Lauren Cooper, University of Pennsylvania
Elyse Gerstenecker, University of Virginia
2017–18 Barra Fellow
Elizabeth Hawley, The Graduate Center, City University of New York
2017 Summer Fellows
Michael Pratt, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art
Julia Silverman, Harvard University
2016–17 Barra Fellow Amy Torbert, University of Delaware
2016 Summer Fellows
James Denison, University of Michigan
Ramey Mize, University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Padgett, Washington University in St. Louis 2015–16 Barra Fellow
Laura Fravel, University of North Carolina
2015 Summer Fellows
Abby R. Eron, University of Maryland
Ann Glasscock, University of Wisconsin
Melanie Saeck, University of Wisconsin 2014–15 Barra Fellow
Naomi Slipp, Boston University
2014 Summer Fellows
Laura Fravel, University of North Carolina
Lauren Palmor, University of Washington 2013–14 Barra Fellow
Jennifer Stettler Parsons, University of Virginia
2013 Summer Fellows
William Coleman, University of California, Berkeley
Corey Piper, University of Virginia 2012–13 Barra Fellow Katie Pfohl, Harvard University
2012 Summer Fellows Brittany Strupp, University of Virginia
Caitlin Beach, Columbia University 2011–12 Barra Fellow Margaret Adler, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art 2011 Summer Fellows Amy Torbert, University of Delaware
Susannah Maurer, University of Pennsylvania 2010–11 Barra Fellow Nenette Luarca-Shoaf, University of Delaware 2010 Summer Fellows Emily Arensman, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art
Jordan Robbins, University of Pennsylvania 2009–10 Barra Fellow Layla Bermeo, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art “Railways of Hope and Fear: Selections from the Fernberger Gift of Currier & Ives Prints” 2009 Summer Fellows Katie Wood, University of Delaware
Julie McGinnis, University of Delaware 2008–9 Barra Fellow Edward Puchner, Indiana University
“At Home and Abroad: Horace Pippin, Mr. Prejudice and the Double V” 2008 Summer Fellow James Pearson, State University of New York, Stony Brook
Laura Turner, Temple University 2007–8 Barra Fellow Katie Rieder, Harvard University
“Revolutionary Objects: Philadelphia Loyalists, Patriots, and the Story of the War” 2007 Summer Fellows Lillian Fish, University of Virginia
Rachel Wadsworth, University of Maryland, College Park 2006–7 Barra Fellow Nikki Green, University of Delaware
“Cooling Black Skin: Selected Portraits in the African-American Collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art” 2006 Summer Fellows Ellery Foutch, University of Pennsylvania
Catherine Holochwost, University of Delaware 2005–6 Barra Fellow Amanda Burdan, Brown University
“Rediscovering the Alex Simpson Jr. Collection” 2005 Summer Fellow Edward Puchner, Indiana University 2004 Summer Fellows Edwin Harvey, University of California, Berkeley
Marissa Vigneault, Bryn Mawr College
Julia Silverman, Harvard University
2016–17 Barra Fellow Amy Torbert, University of Delaware
2016 Summer Fellows
James Denison, University of Michigan
Ramey Mize, University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Padgett, Washington University in St. Louis 2015–16 Barra Fellow
Laura Fravel, University of North Carolina
2015 Summer Fellows
Abby R. Eron, University of Maryland
Ann Glasscock, University of Wisconsin
Melanie Saeck, University of Wisconsin 2014–15 Barra Fellow
Naomi Slipp, Boston University
2014 Summer Fellows
Laura Fravel, University of North Carolina
Lauren Palmor, University of Washington 2013–14 Barra Fellow
Jennifer Stettler Parsons, University of Virginia
2013 Summer Fellows
William Coleman, University of California, Berkeley
Corey Piper, University of Virginia 2012–13 Barra Fellow Katie Pfohl, Harvard University
2012 Summer Fellows Brittany Strupp, University of Virginia
Caitlin Beach, Columbia University 2011–12 Barra Fellow Margaret Adler, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art 2011 Summer Fellows Amy Torbert, University of Delaware
Susannah Maurer, University of Pennsylvania 2010–11 Barra Fellow Nenette Luarca-Shoaf, University of Delaware 2010 Summer Fellows Emily Arensman, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art
Jordan Robbins, University of Pennsylvania 2009–10 Barra Fellow Layla Bermeo, Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art “Railways of Hope and Fear: Selections from the Fernberger Gift of Currier & Ives Prints” 2009 Summer Fellows Katie Wood, University of Delaware
Julie McGinnis, University of Delaware 2008–9 Barra Fellow Edward Puchner, Indiana University
“At Home and Abroad: Horace Pippin, Mr. Prejudice and the Double V” 2008 Summer Fellow James Pearson, State University of New York, Stony Brook
Laura Turner, Temple University 2007–8 Barra Fellow Katie Rieder, Harvard University
“Revolutionary Objects: Philadelphia Loyalists, Patriots, and the Story of the War” 2007 Summer Fellows Lillian Fish, University of Virginia
Rachel Wadsworth, University of Maryland, College Park 2006–7 Barra Fellow Nikki Green, University of Delaware
“Cooling Black Skin: Selected Portraits in the African-American Collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art” 2006 Summer Fellows Ellery Foutch, University of Pennsylvania
Catherine Holochwost, University of Delaware 2005–6 Barra Fellow Amanda Burdan, Brown University
“Rediscovering the Alex Simpson Jr. Collection” 2005 Summer Fellow Edward Puchner, Indiana University 2004 Summer Fellows Edwin Harvey, University of California, Berkeley
Marissa Vigneault, Bryn Mawr College