CMSI is Proud to Announce its Seventh Cohort of John Smartt Summer Scholars!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jacinda Nembhard | jacinda.nembhard@gse.rutgers.edu | 848-932-0774
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., May 27, 2026 – The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) is proud to host its seventh annual John Smartt Summer Scholars Program, a virtual internship that provides interested doctoral students with the opportunity to gain professional experience, network with scholars in the field of higher education, and learn essential research and programming skills related to equity and leadership in higher education.
Today, we're pleased to announce this year's cohort of John Smartt Summer Scholars:
Kailyn Harris-Gilliam, North Carolina State University
Monica Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio
Harvey Long, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The John Smartt Summers Scholars program is named in honor of CMSI’s longtime supporter, John Smartt. The program seeks to provide ambitious individuals who demonstrate an interest in learning more about Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with the opportunity to grow academically and professionally. The internship, centered on the scholarship and programs of CMSI, includes financial compensation and will offer selected scholars practical research skills and programmatic skills that will help them as they move forward in their careers.
Scholars will receive generous benefits, including a $2,000 stipend, faculty mentoring, opportunities to gain research and professional experience, and an invitation to attend ELEVATE, a multi-day professional development workshop for early-career, tenure-track faculty at MSIs.
Read more about our 2026 cohort here.
