Dr. Tsehloane C. Keto Student Leadership Development and Mentorship Program

Purpose:
The purpose of the program is to provide leadership training to the next generation of young scholars and professionals who will assume positions of responsibility in the field of Africana Studies and in the African Diaspora community.  Participants in the program will be exposed to a variety of settings where they will have the opportunity to observe, participate, examine and exercise leadership skills in a national organization.

Eligibility:
Students currently enrolled at institutions of higher education are eligible to apply.  Students will be required to:

• submit a brief essay stating their interest; maximum length two pages, double spaced, 12pt font.
• obtain recommendation from a current NCBS board member
• provide verification of student status and standing.

All applicants must meet the following Criteria:

• Must be a student member of NCBS
• Prior attendance at a national conference
• Junior (64 or more credits) in good academic standing
• Major/minor in Black/Africana Studies
• Willing to serve in student leadership role on NCBS Board of Directors
• Willing to make a two year commitment to the program
• Required attendance at Fall NCBS Board of Directors Meeting and the Annual Spring Conference

Mentors:
Volunteer faculty mentors will be paired with student leaders for a two year period.  Mentors will work closely with students to guide their development and serve as role models.   Mentors and students will meet, as a group, at the fall board meeting as well as the national conferences.  Faculty members will work closely with individual mentors throughout the year.

Support:
Funding, provided by NCBS, will support up to four students annually – $500 per student. Students will be required to attend the fall board meeting and the annual conferences and will be encouraged to solicit support from their home institutions.

Application Deadline: Friday, December 20, 2024

Email a PDF of your essay application to ketofellows@ncbsonline.org

Marcus Smith is from Houston, Texas. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston, his M.A. in African-American Studies from Georgia State University, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His work and research centers on the history and analysis of social movements and political organizations in the African Diaspora and the preservation, documentation, and interpretation of African-American communities, cultural landscapes, and historic sites. Specifically, Marcus is interested in the grassroots preservation efforts of Black individuals, groups, and communities, the social and political context in which this preservation occurs, how these preservation efforts address political and social issues and aid in community revitalization, and the associated individual and community narratives that drive preservation and the envisioned futures this preservation hopes to bring forth.