OPPORTUNITY
Trans Studies at the Commons: Oral History Fellowship Cohort
Organizer: Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Kansas
Eligibility: Open to all practitioners regardless of institutional affiliation. Projects contributing to trans historical records and applicants who would benefit significantly from the fellowship’s resources will be prioritized.
Application Deadline: June 15, 2025 at 11:59pm CST
Apply Now: https://forms.gle/SfP3LV1VtUSULyVu9
ABOUT
Trans Studies at the Commons is accepting applications for its second cohort of fellows in oral history and radical storytelling. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, this year-long program is designed to support interdisciplinary practitioners working to document underrepresented trans histories.
The program emphasizes:
- Oral history as an organizing and archival tool
- Experimental and speculative approaches to storytelling
- Community-oriented contributions to trans historical records
- Safety and accessibility in an anti-trans climate
Fellows will participate in a weekly virtual seminar, receive training in oral history methods, and build a capsule collection of nine interviews. The cohort will gather in person for a funded retreat in Lawrence, Kansas, with guest artist Tourmaline and engagement with local archives.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
The fellowship welcomes:
- Historians, artists, community organizers, memory workers, and storytellers
- Those with or without institutional affiliations
- Applicants across geographies, with attention to international and safety concerns
Prior experience in oral history is not required. Applicants should demonstrate a strong project vision for expanding the trans historical record and how the fellowship would impact their capacity to do so.
SUPPORT OFFERED
- Stipend: $8,000
- Travel Stipend: $2,000
- Retreat Support: Food and lodging provided for in-person retreat
- Additional: Oral history training, tech assistance, narrator compensation, co-copyright of interviews
- Schedule:
- Weekly virtual seminar (Tuesdays, 4–6:30pm CST) from August 19 to December 2, 2025
- In-person retreat: September 8–11, 2025, Lawrence, KS
- Monthly meetings (January–April 2026)
HOW TO APPLY
Submit your application by June 15, 2025 at 11:59pm CST:
https://forms.gle/SfP3LV1VtUSULyVu9
Email questions to: [email protected]
ORGANIZED BY
Trans Studies at the Commons is hosted by the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Kansas. Led by Jeanne Vaccaro, the program is part of a three-year Mellon Foundation initiative supporting trans scholar-advocates and community-engaged research.
https://wgss.ku.edu/
