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The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is the centerpiece of the Mellon Foundation's initiatives to increase diversity in the faculty ranks of institutions of higher learning. MMUF operates on many campuses throughout the United States and South Africa.

Mellon Mays at Dartmouth

Purpose of the Program

The fundamental objective of MMUF is to address, over time, the problem of underrepresentation in the academy at the level of college and university faculties. This goal can be achieved both by increasing the number of students from underrepresented minority groups (URM) who pursue PhDs and by supporting the pursuit of PhDs by students who may not come from traditional minority groups but have otherwise demonstrated a commitment to the goals of MMUF. The MMUF program is designed to encourage fellows to enter PhD programs that prepare students for professorial careers; it is not intended to support students who intend to go on to medical school, law school or other professional schools.

Legacy of Dr. Mays

MMUF seeks to extend the legacy of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays (1895-1984), a distinguished scholar, educator, and social activist who overcame poverty and racism to earn a BA from Bates College and a PhD in Religion from the University of Chicago. Dr. Mays published several sociological studies of African-American religion and an inspiring autobiography, Born to Rebel. As President of Morehouse College, he mentored many young people who devoted their lives to social justice, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Mays’s career exemplifies the Mellon Foundation’s goals for the MMUF program: innovative research, committed mentoring of underrepresented minorities, leadership on issues of racial diversity, and social engagement.

History of MMUF at Dartmouth

Dartmouth MMUF has been operating since 1989. Beginning in 2005, Dartmouth extended its commitment to the program by sponsoring additional students as Associate Fellows funded by the Dean of Faculty and Provost. Altogether, more than 200 students have completed MMUF at Dartmouth, with nearly 70% pursuing graduate degrees of some kind. Check the News for the latest stories from alumni.

About This Site

This Canvas site is a resource for all students interested in research and graduate study, especially for those who share the goals of MMUF.