The Transformational Leaders Fellowship (TLF) welcomed its first cohort in Fall of 2023. Composed of a small number of first-year graduate students, the program was created to nurture “transformational leaders in communications and the arts; to enrich and transform the graduate student experience at Emerson; and to effect positive change in the broader communication and arts industries.”
While the program is still in its early years, the four pillars of the Transformational Leaders Fellowship remain fundamental: courage, character, perseverance, and adaptability. Courage to lead others along a path that requires compassion and understanding, with the ability to resist fear and stagnation. Character to maintain a strong moral compass and the ability to self-reflect. Perseverance to enact transformational change that requires both the passion and strength to keep going. And adaptability, the potential to motivate others to find collective solutions that require creativity, critical thinking, and flexibility.
Eager to practice these values in my own life, these pillars motivated me to apply to the program in early 2024. I felt that as a TLF, I could embrace the best version of myself.
Now, as I finish my first year in the Fellowship, I am forever grateful I took the leap to apply. From bringing together graduate students across disciplines, bonding with my cohort beyond our TLF responsibilities, and even representing Emerson’s graduate community at a Board of Trustees meeting, I am struck by the ways in which TLF has allowed me to grow and incite positive change.
In addition to upholding the Fellowship’s four main pillars, there are also many benefits each Fellow receives while enrolled in the program.
Mentorship
As Transformational Leadership Fellows, the cohort meets monthly with the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies, who serves as a mentor and advisor. Within these meetings, the Dean helps the Fellows cultivate leadership skills and utilize their resources to best serve and engage the Emerson graduate community. These meetings also present opportunities to discuss pressing social justice issues, allowing dialogue to explore how they may impact individual graduate programs, the College, and higher education.
In addition, the program pairs each Fellow with an external mentor aligned with their field of study. Past mentors have been members of Emerson’s Board of Advisors, while others have been alumni, including Emily Hutton, the Director of Children’s Sales at Simon & Schuster. These partnerships are great resources for students to learn more about their industry, expand their network, and explore professional development opportunities.
Scholarships
As mentioned, one of the most notable aspects of the Transformational Leaders Fellowship is the hands-on mentorship Fellows receive while working to make the graduate community a more inclusive space. But the financial scholarship that accompanies the TLF program is also a major asset. Read more about the funding opportunities available for Fellows on our website.
Individual Cohort Projects
Each year, the Transformational Leadership Fellows discuss how their budget and timeframe impacts their goals and project for the allotted year. For instance, the 2023-2024 Fellows hosted a leadership symposium offered to the Emerson community at large. The symposium included a keynote speaker and two interactive workshops.
EmXchange
The 2024-2025 Fellows, including myself and three other students, were tasked with using our budget to enhance an existing Graduate Student Organization (GSO) or create a new one. We chose to launch EmXchange, a new GSO created to be a structured, student-led space where graduate students from different disciplines could meet, network, and share the kinds of insights that too often get lost in silos. A place where graduate students could cross-pollinate ideas, share their dream career ambitions, swap internship leads or job experiences, and exchange social media handles.
A conversation I had with a graduating student originally spurred the idea. She mentioned that several opportunities she found at Emerson were through peers, not necessarily formal channels or professors. This revelation surprised me. More so, Emerson didn’t have many established spaces where students from different programs could connect about their career ambitions, and work to assemble a dream team of individuals pursuing the same goals. Emerson’s Career Development Center is invaluable for resume tips, mock interviews, and internship advice. But our cohort wanted to create something entirely student-led. Graduate students were craving deeper connections, and as Transformational Leadership Fellows, my cohort felt called to action.
After months of Zoom discussions, back-and-forth emails, and logistical and content planning, we held our first EmXchange meeting. Attracting over 30 attendees, our meeting overflowed with positive energy. Our cohort created a presentation that prompted each participant to introduce themselves in a genuine way, providing insight into their “why.” Why Emerson; why this program; why EmXchange? Why do you think you’ll make a difference in the world?
Throughout the hour-long conversation, it was incredibly rewarding to see that students were engaged, open, and eager to be part of something bigger than their individual program. People were fostering deeper connections in real time because the space felt safe, as evidenced by the rapid chat, smiling faces, and laughter at shared jokes.(Offering a free pair of Emerson boxer shorts to each attendee also helped!)
By the time the hour was up, we knew we struck gold with EmXchange. My cohort left feeling invigorated and excited to see where the future of this organization will take us.
But most importantly, we designed this TLF project with longevity in mind. The next cohort of Transformational Leadership Fellows will take over EmXchange as one of their initiatives, with the 2024-2025 cohort serving as an advisory board to support its growth in the next academic year.
While I am sad to be at the end of my first year as a Fellow, I’m equally excited that my cohort can connect to the incoming TLFs, giving them feedback and guidance along the way. Imagining ways to create real, long-lasting change can be difficult, especially when beginning a new chapter of your life in grad school. But leaning on your team and incorporating the Fellowship’s four pillars in your daily actions makes it a lot easier. So if you’re debating applying to become a Transformational Leaders Fellow, here’s my two cents: DO IT!
Application Information
Students must be entering their first semester of graduate school during the fall or summer term at Emerson to apply to become a Transformational Leaders Fellow. Students enrolled in all graduate programs are eligible, whether attending in person or online, with the exception of the Communication Disorders MS Online program.
In addition to the required materials for your chosen graduate degree program, all prospective Fellows must complete the separate TLF application, which includes essay prompts that can be found on the TLF website. Within these essays, readers will look for “a commitment to the program’s mission, a strong connection to our pillars, a capacity for self-development and the potential to lead change for the common good.”
If selected as a Fellow, each member of the cohort must maintain good academic standing during their time at Emerson. This includes maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher, full-time enrollment during your first fall and spring semesters, attending all scheduled monthly cohort meetings, and fulfillment of all other duties of the Fellowship.
All applications are due by the priority deadline for your chosen graduate program. Applicants will be notified of selection prior to the deposit deadline.
If you have any questions about the amazing Transformational Leaders Fellowship, please reach out to Emerson’s Graduate Program Admissions who can provide additional information or connect you with previous Fellows.
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