PEN America’s Campus Free Expression Advocates Fellowship puts undergraduate students at the front line of one of the most consequential debates in American higher education. Rather than talking about free speech from the outside, the fellowship embeds trained student advocates inside their own campuses, equipping them to design and lead original projects that open up real conversations where institutional rhetoric often shuts them down.
About the Campus Free Expression Advocates Fellowship
Administered by PEN America, the organization that stands at the intersection of literature and human rights, the two-semester fellowship runs from September through April with a break in December and January. Fellows participate in weekly virtual seminars and one-on-one mentorship sessions with PEN America staff, developing practical advocacy skills rooted in a working understanding of academic freedom, campus policy, and free expression law.
Read Also: Fuller Fellowship in Peacebuilding 2026 – Apply Now
Funding Size
- Project budget of up to $2,000 per fellow for Spring semester campus project implementation
- No tuition or participation fees
- Fellowship is unpaid but provides structured mentorship, professional development, and publication opportunities
Who Can Apply
- Undergraduate students enrolled at a U.S. college or university during the 2026/2027 academic year
- Students with a demonstrated interest in free expression, academic freedom, higher education policy, or student advocacy
- Prior organizing or campus research experience is a plus but not required
- All students regardless of background or prior experience are encouraged to apply
Geographic Eligibility
- United States only
- Applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduates at accredited U.S. institutions
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Campus free speech and academic freedom advocacy
- Student rights and higher education policy
- Civil discourse, open inquiry, and campus climate
- Institutional transparency and shared governance
- Accessibility and inclusion in free expression spaces
Application Process
Applications are submitted by email to fellows@pen.org. Each submission must include a cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the fellowship and why academic freedom matters to them personally, a current resume, and an unedited writing sample. The subject line must follow the format: Full Name, Campus Free Expression Advocates Fellowship. Only complete applications are reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Required Materials
- Cover letter addressing interest in the fellowship and personal connection to free expression advocacy
- Current resume
- Unedited writing sample
- All materials submitted by email to fellows@pen.org with the correct subject line format
Key Dates
- Application deadline: monitor pen.org/fellowships for the current open call
- Fellowship runs: September 2026 through April 2027
Read Also: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program 2027 – Apply Now
Selection Notes
- PEN America is an equal opportunity organization committed to building a cohort that reflects the diversity of U.S. higher education
- Fellows are expected to commit to weekly virtual programming and to design and implement a campus-based project in Spring 2027
- Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection; the program is competitive