About Us

The Graduate Center Office of Fellowships (formerly the Office of Fellowships and Community Engagement) provides information and assistance to graduate students to help them become more successful in their search for funding outside of the UA.

Shelley Hawthorne Smith, Associate Director – Shelley Hawthorne Smith, Assistant Professor of Graduate Writing in the UA Graduate College, finished her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona prior to spending a few years teaching at community colleges and serving in Peace Corps South Africa. She returned to the University of Arizona for a PhD in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English. Hawthorne Smith is committed to supporting graduate students in their development as writers.

Each year, the Office of Fellowships works directly with 200 – 250 graduate students applying for fellowships. Approximately 80% of the NSF GRFPs awarded to students at the UA have been supported through this office. Additionally, the office provides educational opportunities for all graduate students at the UA through workshops and newsletters. The office is dedicated to the success of graduate students from all disciplines in developing their grant writing skills.