The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program is accepting nominations for its next class of Job Quality Fellows. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Fellowship. Please email additional questions to [email protected].

Why become a Job Quality Fellow?

• Fellows will connect with a diverse network of peers engaged in work that addresses job quality.
• In-person meetings will offer a safe harbor for the discussion of difficult issues as well as connections to resources and support.
• The research knowledge, network connections, and field leadership efforts of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program will be marshalled to support the Fellows’ work.
• Fellows and their organizations will be highlighted for their innovative leadership.
• Fellows will contribute to the development and communication of a narrative around job quality that supports their efforts and a healthy economy.

Who is eligible to apply for the Job Quality Fellowship?

This is an open call for people to nominate themselves or others. Note that this Fellowship cohort will differ from the prior groups in that there is a specific regional focus. Our new class of Fellows will be made up of job quality practitioners who are taking action to advance job quality in the South. For more information on job quality practices, please refer to this recent blog by Maureen Conway, “The Case for Creating a Job Quality Practice.” We aim to build a diverse class of leaders from labor unions, small business development organizations, worker centers, workforce and economic development entities, advocacy organizations, organizations focused on employee ownership, legal and human rights organizations, and other practitioners and experts who are tackling job quality issues that limit human flourishing in the South.

What is the South?

The Economic Opportunities Program recognizes that there is no single standard for what constitutes the South. The US Census defines the region generally as the following:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• West Virginia

The Council of State Governments follows the Mason-Dixon line as a guide, but it excludes Washington DC, Maryland, and Delaware from its definition while including Missouri. It is not our aim to limit Job Quality Fellowship applicants to one definition or the other. Rather, we welcome all those who see their work as contributing toward job quality improvements in the  South.

Why focus on the South?

Unfortunately, while the South has seen significant economic growth in recent decades, too few workers share in the benefits. Compared to the rest of the country, the South has high rates of poverty, poor health, shortened lives, and other negative outcomes among working people and families — outcomes that are often a direct result of poor job quality. The minimum wage in most Southern states is $7.25 an hour, and earnings in nine states are well below the national median, even when adjusted for cost of living differences. We at the Economic Opportunities Program know through our work there are a number of organizations and leaders in the South using innovative strategies to address these challenges and create an economy built on dignity and shared prosperity. For this iteration of the Job Quality Fellowship, we are looking for Fellows whose work improving job quality responds to the historical context and particular challenges of the South.

How do I receive the application materials?

To receive the application materials, you must be nominated for the Fellowship through this form. Starting on May 5, 2025 we will send application materials to nominees that meet our eligibility qualifications. Then, to be considered for the Job Quality Fellowship, eligible nominees must complete the provided application materials by Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. So that eligible nominees have sufficient time to receive and complete the application materials by June 22, 2025, we ask that you please submit all nominations by Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

Nominate a Leader

Applications will be sent to nominees on the Monday following their nomination, beginning on May 5, 2025. The final set of applications will be sent out May 19, following the nomination deadline on May 14. If you do not receive the application by the Monday following your nomination, please send an inquiry to [email protected].

How can applicants confirm that their application materials are received?

Applicants will receive a confirmation of submission at the end of their application and via email. If you believe your materials were not submitted successfully, you may direct technical inquiries to [email protected].

Will the Aspen Institute provide notice to those who apply and are not selected in this cohort of Fellows?

We will send a notice of the selection of the 2025-2026 Fellows and information summarizing the selection process to all individuals who submitted applications. We expect to send that information mid-September, prior to public release of the Fellows list.

Does the application require letters of recommendation or promise of release or support time from the nominee’s employing organization?

Applications will require a minimum of one recommendation and a maximum of two. If you are selected we will require your home organization to authorize your participation through a signed letter of support from an executive director, board of directors, or other executive.

What time commitment is expected of Fellows for in-person meetings and other work at home beyond those sessions?

Fellows must attend in-person meetings during their tenure. The meetings will be delivered live and in person unless significant changes in public health require the program to proceed virtually:

• October 26—29, 2025
• February 23—25, 2026
• June 8—10, 2026

Fellows remain actively engaged between seminars. Throughout the year, Fellows will be expected to stay in touch with the program staff and other Fellows, as well as:

• Participate in up to three virtual meetings with Aspen staff in between in-person meetings.
• Complete required readings and any additional homework before each seminar.
• Collaborate with each other and Aspen staff.

Is budget support from the nominee or their employer organization required? Will Fellows’ travel and related expenses be reimbursed?

The Economic Opportunities Program will cover travel expenses associated with attending Job Quality Fellowship meetings. Airfare, lodging, and food during each meeting will be covered directly by EOP. Any ground transportation or other associated meeting costs will be reimbursed. There is not a stipend for Fellows in this program.

Thank you to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, Prudential Financial, and the Gates Foundation for their generous support of this work.