KHD Fellows

 

Interested in becoming a

KENTUCKY HUNGER DIALOGUE FELLOW?

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The Kentucky Hunger Dialogue Student Fellowship aims to empower students to actively engage in addressing food insecurity within their communities. By fostering collaboration, education, and advocacy, the fellowship seeks to cultivate leadership skills and innovative solutions that promote sustainable food access and equity across Kentucky. Through dialogue and action, participants will contribute to a statewide movement to alleviate hunger and build a healthier future for all.

Fellows will receive:

• Exposure for programs on their campus
• Training, mentoring, and leadership development
• Ability to network with statewide programs and other students
• A $500 (Junior Fellow) or $1000 (Senior Fellow) stipend.
• $500 mini-grant to complete a project (Senior Fellows only)

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What is a Kentucky Hunger Dialogue Fellow?

The Kentucky Hunger Dialogue fellowship will provide a space for college students interested in anti-hunger work in the state to team up with other college students to support anti-hunger initiatives in Kentucky.  The fellowship will provide an opportunity to build leadership skills, while also providing networking opportunities with statewide programs and other students interested in this work.  In addition, fellows will help encourage student participation and leadership in the annual conference as well as other initiatives throughout the year.  Fellows’ work may include research, evaluation, organizing, advocacy, outreach, and public education, depending on the fellows’ interests and strengths.

The Kentucky Hunger Dialogue fellowship is divided into two phases: 

1. Junior Fellows will focus on understanding hunger in Kentucky as well as building skills and strategies in the world of food insecurity.  The fellowship will end with a reflection as well as support for applying for the senior fellowship project.  

2. Senior Fellows will plan and implement a community and/or campus project with the support of mentors. While each project will differ based on the fellows’ interests, the senior fellows’ work may include research, evaluation, organizing, advocacy, outreach, and public education.  

Junior Fellows may choose to apply for the Senior Fellowship with the approval of the KHD Fellowship staff.  To be eligible for the Senior Fellowship, the applicant must be on track to successfully complete the Junior Fellowship.  

Successful candidates will possess the following:

• A commitment to ending hunger and poverty in the United States
• An ability to adjust and adapt to new situations 
• An ability to solve problems in creative and innovative ways
• Enthusiasm for learning from a wide variety of individuals with expertise in the area anti-hunger
• Excitement about peer learning in a tightknit community of fellows
• U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency (required)

📣This fellowship is open to students at EngageKY member schools:

• Ashland Community & Technical College
• Bellarmine University
• Berea College
• Centre College
• Kentucky State University
• Kentucky Wesleyan College
• Lindsey Wilson College
• Midway University
• Morehead State University
• Northern Kentucky University
• Somerset Community College
• Spalding University
• University of Kentucky
• University of Louisville
• West Kentucky Community & Technical College

All Junior Fellows will:

1. Attend an orientation
2. Contribute to the Kentucky Hunger Dialogue newsletter
3. Attend weekly virtual meetings

Senior Fellowship information will be available in the spring term.

Orientation and Training

Orientation

The fellowship begins with a comprehensive orientation exploring the history of hunger and poverty in the United States, including their root causes, and the importance of applying an inclusive and equitable lens to anti-hunger and anti-poverty work. In addition, fellows will explore leadership essentials and network with the Fellows cohort.

Dates

Junior Fellowship Dates: January 2026 – April 2026
Senior Fellowship Dates: May 2026 – September 2026

November 1, 2025: Application opens
December 31, 2025: Deadline to submit applications
January 15, 2026: KHD Fellows are selected and notified of acceptance
January 29, 2026, 4:00pm – 6:00pm (EST): Virtual Orientation

APPLY TODAY!

All applicants must submit an application, resume, and a personal statement, as well as contact information for a reference.

The application includes:

• Application form that will include questions about your skills, interests, and contact information for your reference;
• A one-page resume;
• A short personal statement, which addresses the following:
  • What values shape your interest in the Kentucky Hunger Dialogue Fellowship?
  • How do you expect this fellowship to contribute to achieving your professional goals?

Once your application has been received, we will send a reference form directly to the reference listed on your application.  This reference should be a faculty or staff member at your college or a professional reference from a job, internship, community engagement experience, or other professional experience.

Applications are due on Wednesday, December 31. 

For more information, contact Susan Byrd at susan.byrd@kycompact.org or (859) 240-8614.

 

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