Civic Leaders Fellowship Program

The Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program was launched seven years ago by the Public Service Center in collaboration with the Community and Rural Development Institute.  The Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship Program seeks to accomplish the following:

  • support community leaders who possess the knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and experience to provide leadership for critical institutional and community problem-solving efforts;
  • foster university and community practices that encourage greater commitment to community building and social responsibility. 
  • strengthen and build regional university-community collaborative relationships; and
  • support community leaders as they reflect on past practices, plan for the future, and enhance capacities of their communities, as well as contribute to instructional and research activities. 


An Advisory Board consisting of community leaders, faculty and university administrators reviews applications that must demonstrate how each project proposal is responding to community capacity-building needs and enhancing the academic experience of on- and off-campus participants, as well as identifying university resources, staff, and departments with which the Fellow intends to work.  Proposals must show evidence of community support, include an evaluation plan, and explain how results will be disseminated, both on campus and back into the community.  Fellows are expected to serve as guest lecturers in courses and colloquiums over the period of one year. Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend for their initiatives.

The Civic Leaders Fellowship Program has been generously supported by John ('74) and Elaine ('77) Alexander.