Empowering TFA Alumni to Reimagine Mississippi
The Graduate Fellows Program was designed for Teach For America alumni who had completed their two-year teaching commitment and were ready to take their leadership to the next level. This transformative opportunity combined full-tuition graduate study at Delta State University with the launch of a community-centered, impact-driven Social Entrepreneurship Project.
Each cohort consisted of 8–12 Fellows—emerging social innovators—who worked independently on projects addressing systemic barriers while growing together in a collaborative, think tank-style environment. Through this unique blend of academic growth, community engagement, and social innovation, Fellows reimagined what is possible for themselves, their communities, and the future of Mississippi.
Immersion Retreat
Each Fall, the Fellowship began with an energizing Immersion Retreat—a long weekend designed to inspire, equip, and unite the new cohort.
Fellows engaged in interactive workshops, leadership development sessions, and community-building activities that lay the foundation for their project work. The retreat introduced entrepreneurial approaches to social change and provides practical frameworks for designing and launching each Fellow’s Social Entrepreneurship Project.
It was more than a kickoff—it was catalytic experience.
Graduate School Scholarship
Each Fellow receives a full-tuition scholarship to pursue graduate study at Delta State University. The scholarship covers up to four semesters (Fall and Spring) of full-time enrollment (9–13 credit hours per semester).
Fellows are invited to pursue a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctoral degree. Those choosing a doctoral path may be responsible for additional tuition costs due to the extended program length.
This academic experience enhances Fellows’ leadership capacity, subject-matter expertise, and long-term career trajectory.
Social Entrepreneurship Project
At the heart of the Fellowship is the Social Entrepreneurship Project—a personalized, impact-driven initiative designed to confront Mississippi’s most pressing challenges through bold, innovative thinking.
Each Fellow commits 20 hours per week during the academic year to developing and implementing their project. With support from mentors, the cohort community, and targeted workshops, Fellows move from idea to action—creating real solutions rooted in the needs of their communities.
Projects have spanned a wide range of issues, from educational equity and health access to community development and economic opportunity.
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