Endowments

AAUW’s fellowships and grants are supported by endowed funds – only the interest from the principal in each fund is distributed annually to support scholars, research, and community grants. The endowments are named to honor AAUW members. Four of our branch members have been so honored.

Below is information about the latest recipients of these grants/fellowships.
If you’d like a description of each award, requirements, how to apply for any of these awards and their deadlines, click on the award type at the beginning of each entry. Applications open August 1 each year.

JOAN KAVANAUGH ZEHNDER Fund #1776 – INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP.

Name: Julieta Cabezon

Award Year: 2022-23
Award: International Fellowship
Institution: Harvard University
Citizenship: Argentina
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Discipline: Political science
Degree and Specialization: M.A., International Development

As a master in public administration in international development student at Harvard Kennedy School, she aims to strengthen her leadership and data-minded skills to scale up effective solutions to development problems primarily on the micro-determinants of productivity and gender equality. She has led federal policies to improve managerial capabilities and coauthor papers about Argentina’s gender gap in the national government of her country.

ANNE LES Fund #4168 – AMERICAN FELLOWSHIP

Name: Jessica Moss
Award Year: 2022-23
Award: American Fellowship
Institution: Claremont Graduate University
Location: Claremont, California
Discipline: Religion
Degree and Specialization: Ph.D., Religion
Project Name: Interfaith Communities: Relationships in Thirdspace

Jessica Spence Moss is pursuing her Ph.D. in cultural studies focusing on the motivations, experiences and contributions of women and nonbinary individuals in local interfaith communities. Utilizing oral history methods and building on her personal engagement with community-based interfaith work, she hopes to provide a nuanced understanding of institutional as well as organic interfaith relationships. By doing so, she hopes to become a leading researcher in the field of interfaith studies.

DAWN GORDNER Fund #1244 – CAREER DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Name: Shirley Ruiz

Award Year: 2022-23
Award: Career Development Grant
Institution: Pepperdine University
Location: Malibu, California
Discipline: Education
Degree and Specialization: M.Ed., Organizational Leadership & Learning

For 15 years, Shirley Ruiz has supported students with disabilities in several capacities in higher education. Most recently, she was the alternate media specialist, supporting students with disabilities in gaining access to textbooks and other course content in a format that is accessible to their assistive technology. She is dedicated to ensuring meaningful access for students with disabilities and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership & learning at Pepperdine University.

PATRICIA ANN MANN Fund #4036 – COMMUNITY ACTION GRANT  

Name: Logan Scharadin
Award Year: 2022-23
Award: Career Development Grant
Institution: Naropa Institute
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Discipline: Psychology
Degree and Specialization: M.A., Somatic Psychology

Logan Scharadin is a certified meditation guide and a lifelong movement artist who holds a bachelor of fine arts in dance performance from the State University of New York, Purchase’s Dance Conservatory. Her passion for mindfulness, the body and interest in psychology has led her to begin her master’s in clinical mental-health counseling in the somatic counseling program. Her professional goals include working as a somatic counselor, creating an online wellness community for women, hosting retreats and, someday, building a healing retreat center.