Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program
History of the Program
The Frances Degan Horowitz Millennium Scholars Program (MSP) was developed in 1999 as a vehicle to encourage and support scholars from under-represented ethnic/racial groups from North America in pursuing graduate work in developmental science. In 2020, the Wallace Foundation provided funding to SRCD to strengthen the program, extending it from mentorship specifically at the SRCD Biennial to a year-long program. The new name for the extended program is now the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program.
Purpose of the Program
The program provides educational and professional development for scholars, giving them a launching point for a career in the field of child development. The program offers selected graduate students mentorship from more-advanced scholars in the field who provide them guidance and support in their pursuit of educational and professional goals. Individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and disciplinary groups are recruited to serve as mentors.
Through participation in the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program, scholars from under-represented groups have the opportunity to be reimbursed for the registration costs of the SRCD Biennial meeting and one pre-conference, as well as participate in a year-long program consisting of monthly seminars and one-on-one meetings with their mentors. These experiences enable scholars to gain valuable exposure to the field and allow them to interact not only with their mentors, but also with other scholars and professionals. Mentors and scholars are paired up by the Advisory Committee prior to the start of the program.
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee for Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program is led by Dr. Michael Cunningham (Tulane University) and also includes Drs. Mayra Bámaca (University of California, Merced) and Charissa Cheah (University of Maryland, Baltimore County).
2023 Scholar Application Information
Deadline to submit a scholar application for the 2023 Towards 2044: Horowitz Program has passed.
Scholar Benefits:
- Assignment of a mentor to work with the scholar throughout the year.
- Introductory one-on-one virtual meeting with the mentor, followed by virtual welcome meeting with a group of ten scholars and their mentors.
- Reimbursement for 2023 SRCD Biennial Meeting Registration fees.
- Reimbursement for one SRCD 2023 pre-conference registration fee.
- Development of an Individual Professional Development Plan with the mentor to identify goals for professional growth during the year.
- An allocation of $2,000 USD to use towards activities identified in the plan, such as registration to participate in training or research meetings.
- Monthly virtual meetings to touch base with the assigned mentor.
- Monthly virtual seminar with other scholars, each including an informal presentation and discussion.
- Opportunity to provide input to SRCD for continuous quality improvement of program through end of year report.
Selection Criteria:
- Open to graduate students who are pre-doctoral candidates (i.e., pre-dissertation)
- Preference will be given to applicants demonstrating a need for the resources and opportunities offered by the Towards 2044: Early Career Scholar Program as well as interest in context, culture, race, and ethnicity.
Scholar Commitments:
If selected for the program, Scholars commit to:
- Schedule virtual introductory meeting with assigned mentor to discuss initial thoughts for the scholar’s Individual Professional Development Plan.
- Participate in joint welcome meeting with all program scholars and their mentors to make mutual introductions.
- Submit an Individual Professional Development Plan to mentor, to be used at monthly touch-base meetings to track progress and update plan when new opportunities or challenges arise.
- Follow SRCD procedures to request reimbursement for up to $2,000 USD for professional development activities identified in plan.
- Participate in monthly one-on-one virtual meetings with mentor.
- Participate in monthly group seminars with other scholars to be arranged by the program Advisory Committee.
- Complete end-of-year report to help SRCD with continuous quality improvement of program.
Scholar Application Materials:
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Academic transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
- A brief bio (200-word limit)
- Description of a research project (current or planned; may involve dissertation research but this is not required) and other professional development goals that would be the focus of the scholar’s Individual Professional Development Plan (750-word limit)
- Responses to the following questions (maximum 300 words each):
- Please summarize your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any experiences relevant to the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program
- Why would participating in the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program be important for your career development?
- In your view, what are key obstacles faced by scholars from under-represented groups who are pursuing careers in developmental science? What are the unique perspectives and strengths available to such scholars? How can programs like this one help to address the obstacles and build on the strengths?
2023 Mentor Application Information
Deadline to submit a mentor application for the 2023 Towards 2044: Horowitz Program has passed.
Mentor Benefits:
- Reimbursement for SRCD 2023 Biennial Meeting registration fees as well as one 2023 pre-conference registration.
- $2,000 USD honorarium to work one-on-one with a pre-doctoral, early career scholar participating in the program.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Mentors must have obtained a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in the developmental sciences (or a related field).
Mentor Commitments:
- Participate in virtual one-on-one introductory meeting with appointed mentee, focusing on initial thoughts about the scholar’s Individual Professional Development Plan.
- Participate in group welcome meeting with other mentors and scholars from the program.
- Review and approve mentee’s Individual Professional Development Plan.
- Meet one-on-one with mentee virtually each month to review progress on plan and update it as needed.
- Participate in monthly group seminars with the cohort. Facilitate one group seminar discussion on a topic of expertise (grant writing, publications, how to make the most out of graduate school, etc.)
- Complete end-of-year report to help SRCD with continuous quality improvement of program.
Mentor Application Materials:
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- A brief bio (200-word limit), noting also five keywords related to the mentor’s substantive expertise to help SRCD match mentors with an early career scholar based on their areas of interest.
- Responses to the following (maximum 300 words each):
- Please summarize your career goals, current academic and research interests, and any experiences relevant to the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program and your commitment to mentoring scholars from under-represented groups.
- In your view, how can a program like the Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar Program best support scholars from under-represented groups pursuing careers in developmental science?
For inquiries, please contact scholar@srcd.org.