At the faculty meeting last Thursday, Provost Steve Goldstein '78 announced two new sources of funding for undergraduates. One, a scholarship provided in coordination with the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women, is awarded to 10 first-year students this year. The other, a $25,000 research fund, is due to begin in the spring or summer of next year.

The scholarship offered through JFEW is awarded to incoming female students with an interest in Jewish life. Ten first-year students have been awarded scholarships of $10,000 this year, and 10 more will be selected for next year, according to a statement made by Goldstein at the meeting.

In addition to the $10,000, each student will receive $3,500 for summer internship work, according to Goldstein. JFEW's gift to Brandeis totals $900,000 over five years.

Richard Silberman, associate director of corporate and foundation relations in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and Myles Weisenberg '78, vice president of development in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, worked with JFEW to bring the program to Brandeis, Silberman wrote in an email to the Justice. The pair contacted JFEW at the suggestion of University President Frederick Lawrence after the organization transitioned from working primarily with individual students to "establishing partnerships with colleges and universities," wrote Silberman, who continues to serve as liaison to the Foundation.

According to Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Elaine Wong, the scholarship recipients were selected through their application to Brandeis. They were notified of the decision over the summer. According to Silberman, they will receive $10,000 each of their four years at Brandeis.

The students will pursue a range of studies and majors.
According to the organization's website, JFEW is a "nonsectarian organization helping women with financial need meet their education and career goals." The New York-based organization partners with schools and nonprofits to provide scholarships, programs and other support services, the website states.

The scholarship is based upon financial need, academic achievements and extracurricular involvement in high school, she said. The 10 students have all demonstrated an "interest in Jewish life," Wong said in an interview with the Justice.
In accordance with JFEW's stipulations, all students are from the greater New York City area.

The summer allotment will be available to use for internships that are related to the goals of JFEW, which include "advancing Jewish life and the role of women," said Wong.

The scholarship also includes programming by Wong and Prof. Ellen Smith (NEJS), director of the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program. This programming will include meetings with Brandeis faculty, staff, student groups and guest lecturers, as well as events that the students themselves will plan.

The goal of this programming, said Wong, is "developing [the students'] leadership skills" and "helping them understand what their strengths are as a leader [and] the things that they would like to further develop so that they can play an active role both on the Brandeis campus and after they graduate."

Lauren Fredman M.A. '14, a graduate student with the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program, will serve as a mentor and program coordinator for the students. Fredman said in an interview with the Justice that she will meet with each student twice a semester, in addition to the group's monthly meetings.

The undergraduate research fund that was announced by Goldstein comes from a portion of the Office of the Provost's budget. The $25,000 allotment will be administered by Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Birren, said Goldsetin. According to Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe, Meredith Monaghan, the director of academic fellowships in the Department of Academic Services, will oversee the program.

The program will begin in the spring or summer of next year, and more information will be available by the end of October, said Godsoe.

"Well, it's the best of Brandeis, right?" said Godsoe. "It's the close faculty-student relations. It's the small liberal arts but also within the context of a research university where knowledge is being created. It is the transformative experiences that we pride ourselves on."

Godsoe emphasized the importance of undergraduate research opportunities. "We know that for students that do undergraduate research that not only is it a good experience for them but it also helps those students whether they go on to pursue careers or they're going to graduate school, medical school [or] law school or they're applying to national fellowships."