November 30, 2021

Mellon Foundation Food Insecurity and Population Health Fellowship

Through the Mellon Foundation Food Insecurity & Population Health Fellowship, eight Bennington students focus on various dimensions of population health, with a special emphasis on food insecurity. 

Population health is an interdisciplinary approach that leverages non-traditional partnerships across various sectors of a community to achieve positive health outcomes. As access to nutritious food is one of the key social determinants of health, many of the eight Fellowship roles are specifically focused on food insecurity. Population health emphasizes an ecosystem of health-support organizations across a community. As such, Fellowship roles are situated with organizations across the Bennington community working on various dimensions of population health and food insecurity.

Fellows include:

• Bryce Sullivan ’23, Food Insecurity Intern at Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union
• Faith Strahan ’23, Food Systems Fellow at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
• Kaylyn Riddell ’22, Food Insecurity Intern at Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union
• Krystle Niemela ’24, Food Insecurity Intern at Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc
• Mari Schiff ’23, Food Insecurity Intern at Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc
• Sergiu Ciavoi ’24, Orlando Alvarez '92 Fellow at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
  • Sergiu will work with Director of Hospitality Services and Director of Operations for Vaccination Clinics Tiffany Tobin to design and execute projects aligned with COVID-19 Resource Center goals. This position is made possible by the generous gift of Bennington alum Orlando L. Alvarez, Jr. '92.
• Dena Omar ’24, Population Health Communications Fellow at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
• Gianna Rodriguez ’23, Population Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center

The Henry Luce Foundation Fellowship

The Henry Luce Foundation Fellowship in Public Action supports a six- to seven-week research internship for at least one Bennington College student per year in or more of CAPA’s focus areas: Activating Democracy, Art and Public Action, Environment and Public Action, Human Rights and Peacebuilding, and Progressive Education. 

Promoting innovative scholarship and cultivating a new generation of changemakers, this fellowship offers Bennington students a unique opportunity to combine theory with real-world practice. The fellowship is supervised by Susan Sgorbati, Director of CAPA.

Fellows include:

• Joaquin Paredes-Araneda ’24, Motum
• Marley-Rose Liburd ’22, The WE Project/First Year Forum

Newman and Cox Public Action Student Fellowship

Through the Newman and Cox Public Action Student Fellowship, students complete an FWT position or Independent Study focused on public action, either domestically or internationally, each supported by a grant. Work may take place anywhere across the globe. 

The Newman and Cox Public Action Student Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the Jerome A. and Estelle R. Newman Assistance Fund and the Spencer Cox '90 Field Work Term Fellowship for Student Activists.

Fellows include:

• Ahmed Khadim Amar ’24, International Rescue Committee
• Muhammad Ammar ’24, The Nobis Project
• Jiji Kricorian Salomon ’23, Independent Study
• Iva Sopta ’24, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
• Niki Karanikola ’23, Independent Study
• Rojay Bryan ’22, Independent Study
• Alausi Martinez ’24, The Atrium School
• Alma Ocampos Irala ’23, Fundación Paraguaya
• Dylan Walawender ’24, Brooklyn New School
• Stefanos Zogopoulos ’23, UWC Costa Rica Fellow/Theatres Without Borders

Endeavor Foundation Environmental Action Fellowship

Through the Endeavor Foundation Environmental Action Fellowship Program, students are placed into internship positions at nonprofits with a focus on environmental protection and environmental justice. 

In addition to their internships, Fellows develop together as a peer-supported cohort through pre-and post-Fellowship coursework and mentorship, led by Judith Enck, Senior CAPA Fellow, and founder of the Beyond Plastics project. By combining hands-on work experience with education and mentorship, this Fellowship aims to equip participants with the experiences, skills, and capacities to advance environmental justice causes, address complex societal challenges, and become effective changemakers in the world.

Past Endeavor Fellowship internship sites have included Food & Water Watch, Clean Air Coalition of Western NY, Story of Stuff, Cafeteria Culture, Clean Ocean Action, Bronx River Alliance, Grassroots Alliance Against Incineration, Center for Biological Diversity, New York Communities for Change, Rural and Migrant Ministries, Sane Energy, Grassroots Environmental Education, Conservation Law Foundation, Community Action Works, National Young Farmers Coalition, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Resonant Energy, and Make The Road New York.

Fellows include:

• Elizabeth Gavrilov ’24
• Isabel Harper ’24
• Sawyer London ’24
• Daniela Naranjo-Zarate ’22
• Sakshi Rakshale ’22
• Clara Schiller ’22
• Ahwar Sultan ’22
• Alexis Johnston ’23
• Srichchha Pradhan ’22

Iftekhar Entrepreneurial Fellowship 

Through the Iftekhar Entrepreneurial Fellowship, students receive funding and mentorship to spend their FWT pursuing an entrepreneurial venture, such as starting and running their own business or nonprofit or launching themselves as an independent artist. Work may take place anywhere across the globe. 

This opportunity is available to 1-2 returning students (3rd-term through 7th-term) who meet a minimum need threshold and demonstrate strong merit in their application. This fellowship is made possible by Adnan Iftekhar '97, who is committed to helping students design their own jobs and advance their business ideas.

Fellows include:

• Inigo Auza de la Mora ’22
• Elene Charkviani ’22
• Sydnie Hyams ’22