The Stevenson Center would like to formally welcome our new Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) Fellows for the Fall 2021 semester. These graduate students come from a diverse set of backgrounds and bring a plethora of experiences to the program.
The ACED Program looks to assist graduate students who have served with either Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or other similar organizations. The program allows students to seek master’s degrees in applied economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, or kinesiology and recreation with a sequence in applied community and economic development. Each student receives a tuition waiver and a guaranteed paid graduate assistantship, among a wide variety of other benefits.
All who participate in the ACED Program have a deep commitment to serving others, domestically, abroad, or both. All ACED students are required to submit a resumé and statement of purpose when seeking admission to the program, which illuminates the difference in perspective between each of them.
One Fellow, Ryan Maranville, who has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, discussed the ways in which the ACED curriculum intersects with the world of criminal justice. “You cannot engage in justice work without engaging with the economy and poverty,” wrote Maranville in his statement. “As we approach topics such as racism, climate change, and criminal justice reform, we cannot ignore the role of the economy in creating these problems; however, we cannot ignore the role of the economy in solving these problems. The ACED sequence at the Stevenson Center will help me gain knowledge and understanding in economics as it applies to community development.”
Another Fellow, Grace Northern, discussed in her statement the tumultuous times in which we live, and how she plans to learn from the program and use the knowledge she gains to assist marginalized communities. “We are facing a very kairotic moment in our world’s history. Our most vulnerable populations are at risk, and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. My purpose through this program is to help heal these communities, and to uplift others to do the same.”
The Stevenson Center would like to extend our fullest congratulations to all our ACED students as they look to continue their academics in their respective fields and further themselves in the world of service.
The Stevenson Center is accepting applications for the ACED Program for fall 2022. The deadline to apply for anthropology and kinesiology and recreation is February 1, 2022, and the deadline for applied economics, political science, and sociology is March 1, 2022. We encourage anyone interested in participating in the program to follow these instructions for the application process.
