Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial and Social Justice Program

Toni Johnson Scholars are BSW students in the School of Social Welfare who have experienced historical and contemporary marginalization and oppression. Scholars receive an annual scholarship, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. 

Eligibility:

• BSW student in the KU School of Social Welfare during the 2022-2023 academic year

• Full-time and part-time students are eligible from any campus/site

• Identifies with at least one of the following groups (students of color and students within two or more groups will be prioritized):

  • Black, Indigenous, LatinX, Asian/Asian-American, and/or multiracial
  • First generation college student (first in family to attend college)
  • High financial need (federal Pell grant-eligible or other areas of financial need)
  • LGBTQIA+, two-spirit, or not heterosexual or not cisgender
  • Disabled, student with a disability, or with chronic health concerns

Program Details:

• A minimum of two BSW students per program level (first year, sophomore, etc.) will be admitted to the program and can remain in the program until BSW graduation without needing to re-apply, as contingent upon meeting program requirements and funding.

Program requirements:

• Engage in monthly 1:1 faculty mentoring with Director
• Engage in monthly peer group/MSW student mentoring
• Maintain good academic standing to the extent that student can remain enrolled in the BSW program 
• Engage with academic support as needed 
• Participate in at least one personalized professional development opportunity annually 
• Note: program requirements include flexibility in terms of virtual/phone/in-person meetings and in other ways 

Benefits for Scholars:

• Faculty, peer, and MSW student mentoring
• Annual $3,000 scholarship ($1,500 per semester) 
• Personalized professional development opportunities 
• Affiliation with the Toni Johnson Center for Racial & Social Justice 

How to Apply:

• Application includes an online form with demographic and program questions, as well as an essay addressing the following in 500 words or less

  • What does it mean to you to be a Toni Johnson Scholar for Racial & Social Justice? 
  • What do you hope to gain, personally or professionally, by being a Toni Johnson Scholar? 
  • What strengths do you bring to the program?
• Application deadline June 17, 2022
• Notice of awards July 2, 2022
• Required online application  

Toni Johnson Scholars are MSW students in the School of Social Welfare who have experienced historical and contemporary marginalization and oppression. Scholars receive an annual scholarship, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. 

Eligibility:

• MSW in the KU School of Social Welfare during the 2022-2023 academic year

• Full-time and part-time students are eligible from any campus/site

• Identifies with at least one of the following groups (student of color and students within two or more groups will be prioritized):

  • Black, Indigenous, LatinX, Asian/Asian-American, and/or multiracial
  • First generation college student (first in family to attend college)
  • High financial need (federal Pell grant-eligible or other areas of financial need) 
  • LGBTQIA+, two-spirit, or not heterosexual or not cisgender 
  • Disabled, student with a disability, or with chronic health concerns 

Program Details:

• Two MSW students will be admitted to the program for one academic year; one within each focus area described below.

• Students should select which focus area they are applying for at the time of application and ensure their application materials address that area (see below).

• Each Scholar will engage in research on their focus area and present it to the SSW community in Spring 2023. Research is broadly defined and can include a formal research study with faculty or research staff, a critical literature review, engagement with a community or organization working on that focus area, creative scholarship, etc.

• Each Scholar will be designated a research mentor in addition to their mentorship with the TJS Director. 

Focus Areas:

1. Racial Justice Scholar

   • The Scholar will identify an area of racial justice relevant to the field of social work that they plan to focus on for the academic year. This focus area is intentionally open-ended to allow students to identify the area in which they want to learn, grow, and share with the SSW community

2. Racial/Social Justice & Substance Use Scholar
   • The Scholar will identify a topic or issue related to substance use that also intersects with relevant areas of racial and social justice. While this focus area is focused on substance use, students are encouraged to consider intersections with racial and social justice in a way that facilitates their own growth and critically engages with the field. 

Program requirements:

• Monthly 1:1: mentoring with Director
• Monthly group mentoring with BSW Scholars 
• Present on focus area for the SSW community in Spring 2023; presentation should coincide within the focus area for the Scholar
• Participate in at least one personalized professional development opportunity 
• Maintain good academic standing to the extent that student can remain enrolled in the MSW program 
• Note: program requirements include flexibility in terms of virtual/phone/in-person meetings and in other ways 

Benefits for Scholars:

• 1:1 faculty mentoring 
• $6,000 scholarship ($3,000 per semester) 
• Leadership/Mentoring Skill Development 
• Professional development opportunities 
• Affiliation with the Toni Johnson Center for Racial & Social Justice 

How to Apply:

• Application includes an online form with demographic and program questions, as well as an essay addressing the following in 750 words or less: 
  • What does it mean to you to be a Toni Johnson Scholar for Racial & Social Justice? 
  • What strengths do you bring to mentoring BSW students within a racial and social justice lens? 
  • What do you hope to gain, personally or professionally, by being a Toni Johnson Scholar? 
  • Discuss the research you are interested in doing related to your chosen focus area. You do not need to have it all figured out - but share what interests you within that specific focus area.
• Application deadline June 17, 2022
• Notice of awards July 15, 2022
• Required online application  

The Toni Johnson Racial Justice Dissertation Award provides financial support for one or more PhD students engaged in dissertation research pertaining to racial justice. 

Eligibility:

• Enrolled as a PhD student in the KUSSW during the 2022-2023 academic year
• Will be conducting pre-dissertation or dissertation research between August 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023
• Dissertation has or will have a racial and social justice focus 
• Commitment to attending one meeting of the Toni Johnson Scholars to share your research interests and providing mentoring around graduate school (1 hour commitment)

Program Details:

• One or more PhD students will be awarded up to $3,000 for one academic year 

• Funds should be used to pay for research activities, defined broadly (software, participant incentives, access to secondary data, transcription, travel funds, etc.) 

• Funds can be used for pilot data prior to dissertation proposal; however, priority will be given to students who propose to use awarded funds for dissertation research

Awardee Benefits:

• Financial support for dissertation research 
• Award for CV/resume 
• Affiliation with the Toni Johnson Center for Racial & Social Justice 

How to Apply:

• Email Dr. Paceley: mpaceley@ku.edu

• Include the following information in the body of your email:
  • Name
  • Tentative dissertation title
  • Date of proposal defense or anticipated defense (for pre-dissertation, provide an estimated semester of proposal defense)
• Attach a 500-word essay on:
  • Dissertation topic and connection to racial justice
  • How the award will help you carry out the research
  • A brief description of how you intend to use the funding

Application deadline: June 17, 2022

Notice of award: July 15, 2022