Kessler Scholars Program

The Kessler Scholars Program is an engaging scholar community that provides opportunities for meaningful connections between Kessler Scholars. As part of the Kessler Scholars National Collaborative, Kessler Scholars at JHU will have the opportunity to participate in a powerful scholar community of first-generation students across six institutions.

Throughout the academic year, Kessler scholars have opportunities to develop their academic, professional, and leadership skills through workshops that are specific to the social sciences and humanities fields. Topics will include national fellowships, graduate school, study abroad, writing in the academy, undergraduate research, summer internships, leadership in the liberal arts, and career planning and preparation.

Giving back is a core value of the Kessler Scholars program. Through partnership with the Center for Social Concern, Kessler Scholars will be invited to cultivate an ethos and practice of civic engagement that develops leaders committed to serving their communities.

Intentional scholar development is rooted in personalized advising. Each scholar benefits from a team of advisors. As first-generation students, scholars will receive an academic advisor/success coach who provides a steady resource throughout the undergraduate experience, supporting scholars in navigating their academic experience and providing year-round proactive holistic guidance.

The Kessler Scholars Program also provides personalized advising, through Kessler program staff, who will meet with each scholar to develop an ongoing discussion about their scholar experience, identity, and goals. The Kessler program staff will provide opportunities for self-reflection, helping scholars develop a strong understanding of their strengths, the multiple pathways and opportunities to realize their ambitious goals, the value of a liberal arts education, and what it means to lead through service.

Each Kessler Scholar will have a faculty mentor who they choose during the sophomore spring semester and will meet with regularly throughout their junior and senior years in the program. Through their faculty mentors, Kessler Scholars will have the opportunity to learn about the personal experiences and journey of their faculty in the academy and possess a greater understanding of life in the academy including topics like the process of looking for graduate schools, submitting articles for publication, and work-life balance as faculty. Beyond faculty, mentor relationships will also be encouraged through specific programming that invites university leadership, staff, and alumni to various scholar events, allowing for repeated interactions and connections with key members of the JHU community.

A summer opportunity stipend of up to $5,000 will be made available to each Kessler Scholar to support research or internships.