The Miranda Family Fellowship at Skidmore College 

The Miranda Family Fellowship at Skidmore College is intended to create access for current students to education and long-term support that helps to advance careers in theater, dance, music, and arts administration and to increase diversity within leadership in the entertainment industry. 

At Skidmore, the Fellowship is managed by the Theater Department and will be implemented as a two-year program, beginning in Fall 2023, for Skidmore students during their junior and senior years.  

Up to five students each year will be selected to receive financial aid packages that meet their full financial need, as well as a paid summer experience to conduct research, intern, or pursue a personal project in theater, dance, arts administration, or music. Additional benefits may be viewed below.

Learn more about the The Miranda Family Fellowship Program, a collaborative fellowship opportunity for emerging artists and arts administrators from underrepresented communities. 

Who Can Apply?
The Skidmore fellowship is tailored for majors or minors in theater, music, dance, or arts administration, but applications from non-majors and non-minors who are actively engaged in those departments or programs and exhibit an ongoing commitment to production activities will be considered as well. 

Competitive candidates will: 

  • Self-identify as an underrepresented individual, and/or a first-generation college student in the arts, with an interest in pursuing a career in theater, music, dance, and/or arts administration 
  • Be rising juniors (entering junior year of their undergraduate program) 
  • Demonstrate a financial need to attend the program  
  • Demonstrate active engagement in local arts community 
  • Major or minor in theater, music, dance, or arts administration  
  • Demonstrate engagement in social justice 
  • Priority will be given to US citizens and green card holders

How to Apply: 

Applications should be downloaded, completed, and returned to mirandafellows@skidmore.edu no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 24, 2025. 

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Application Timeline: 

  • Application Due Date: March 24, 2025 at 11:59pm 
  • Application review: March-April 2025 
  • Finalist Interviews:  mid April 2025 
  • Fellows Announced: May 15, 2025 

Applications will be reviewed by Miranda Family Fellowship faculty mentors in Theater at Skidmore College, the Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Academic Affairs and faculty representatives from dance, music, and arts administration. The financial need and academic integrity status of applicants will be confirmed by the Office of Financial Aid and the Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Academic Affairs. 

Miranda Family Fellows will receive the following benefits: 

  • Financial aid packages (generally comprising a combination of grants, loans, and family contribution) that cover the student’s full financial need. 
  • A paid summer experience to conduct research, intern, or pursue a personal project in theater, dance, music, or arts administration. 
  • Relief from work-study requirements to allow extra time for pursuits in theater, music, and/or dance 
  • Personalized mentoring and instruction by experienced Theater faculty  
  • Professional development coursework in the Theater Department 
  • Unique experiences with guest Theater Artists-in-Residence  
  • Cohort activities and opportunities, including an annual Theater trip to NYC  
  • Specialized career guidance from the Career Development Center and peer mentors in collaboration with Theater
  • Ongoing professional development programming and peer networking opportunities over the course of their junior and senior years, which are part of the larger network of Miranda Family Fellows 
  • Access to wrap-around programming that supports artistic development, increases understanding of the business aspects of the entertainment industry and connects artistry with advocacy. 

Fellowship Expectations: 

  • Fellows should plan to remain actively involved in department, programs, and/or production activities throughout the term of their Fellowship. 
  • Fellows will attend a minimum number of digital programming events scheduled by the Miranda Family Fellowship Program in their Senior year and first post-grad year
  • Fellows will  attend the annual Miranda Family Fellowship Summit for one weekend in late May/ early June of their senior year
  • Fellows will attend regular meetings with assigned mentors in Theater and to participate actively in experiences, activities, and events programmed as part of the Fellowship.   
  • Fellows will report on their activities, growth, and development throughout the fellowship period.  
  • Senior Fellows should be willing to serve as mentors to incoming junior fellows. 

Questions? 
Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to Miranda Family Fellowship mentors in Theater to discuss their interest, application and/or for feedback on their statements: