Application and Participation Timeline
Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of ASTC’s New Leaders Fellowship Program will open in Spring 2024.
The New Leaders Fellowship is a 9-month hybrid program that includes monthly virtual workshops and in-person participation in ASTC’s Annual Conference.
The 2024-2025 cohort will kick off virtually in September. In November, they will participate in the full conference experience, including a one-day workshop during the pre-conference day. Through May 2025, Fellows will take part in monthly virtual, skill-building workshops, as well as conversations with peers and other leaders in the field.
Who Can Apply
ASTC’s New Leaders Fellowship Program provides people from historically marginalized backgrounds with the opportunity to develop leadership skills. To qualify for this program, fellows must belong to one of the following communities that have historically been underrepresented in science center and museum leadership positions:
- American Indian, Alaska Native, or First Nations; Asian; Black or African descent; Hispanic or Latino/a/x; Middle Eastern or North African; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and/or Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities
- Experience a physical or intellectual disability and/or difference
Institutional Eligibility
Fellows must be currently working for an ASTC-member institution located in the United States or Canada. In the interest of ensuring institutional diversity within the cohort, we are especially seeking candidates who work in small or rural institutions. If you work for a museum with fewer than 15 staff, or your museum is outside a major metropolitan area, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Individuals from institutions that had a New Leader Fellow in the 2023-2024 cohort will not be eligible for the 2024-2025 cohort. However, we encourage you to apply in future years!
Job Position
We welcome applicants from a variety of institutional roles and backgrounds. Candidates must be mid-career and currently work in a role with supervisory or managerial responsibilities. They must also be in their current role for at least one year at the time of application.
Current responsibilities may include the regular coordination of work and performance management for direct reports (including paid staff or volunteers), project management, as well as budgetary accountability.
Candidates without supervisory or managerial experience or candidates in executive or senior leadership-level roles do not qualify for the New Leaders Fellowship.
Review and Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by ASTC staff. Applicants are primarily evaluated on their responses to the essay questions. These questions are designed to evaluate the following:
- Ability to identify an effective leader and describe the skills and knowledge used by that leader
- Ability of applicant to assess their own leadership skills and knowledge, including room for growth and development
- Ability to embrace a forward-thinking perspective, considering long-term possibilities and outcomes
After a blind review of applicant’s essay and resume, demographic information is considered by reviewers to ensure the cohort demographic composition reflects multiple dimensions of diversity.
Prospective fellows can expect to learn of their acceptance via email by the end of July.
Questions?
For questions about eligibility, the application process, or other aspects of the ASTC New Leaders Fellowship Program, please email the Impact & Inclusion team.