Graduate School of Leadership & Change
Scholarships & Financial Resources
Scholarships for Incoming and Continuing Students
The Graduate School of Leadership and Change program offers several scholarships for new and continuing students.
New for the 2025-26 Academic Year ~ AmeriCorps Matching Scholarship
Scholarships are available annually to incoming students at the master’s or doctoral degree level who have completed an AmeriCorps experience prior to enrolling and have an AmeriCorps/Segal Education Award to apply toward their expenses at Antioch University. The AmeriCorps/Segal Education Award requested will be matched by Antioch University during the first year of enrollment, for 50% of the requested funds, subject to the availability of funds.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
Access the AmeriCorps website.
Champions for Humanity Scholarship
The Champions for Humanity Scholarship offers a $2,000 award to students dedicated to public service and working for the greater good. This scholarship recognizes and supports individuals committed to serving their communities and advancing their education to enhance their impact. To qualify, applicants must be employed full-time by a US federal, state, local, or tribal government agency or a qualifying not-for-profit organization, including those serving in the US military. Eligible students must be accepted to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree program at Antioch University, and begin their program in Winter/Spring 2025.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
NOTE: You need your Student ID to access ScholarshipUniverse.
Bruce and Arlene Crandall Scholarship
This $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to one Antioch University student accepted for the Summer/Fall MFA term, GSLC Summer Trimester, Fall Semester, or Fall Quarter, who has demonstrated social courage by serving in the US Military or has contributed to one of the following national service programs: AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps, and VISTA by completing at least one year of full-time service.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
Founders’ Scholarship Fund
The Founders’ Scholarship Fund (formerly the Guskin Scholars’ Fund) is a merit- and need-based tuition award that supports pre-candidacy PhD in Leadership and Change students who show evidence of leading change as scholars and/or practitioners consistent with the program’s purpose and University’s mission. Annual tuition scholarships will typically be in the amount of $2,000-6,000 but may be smaller or larger at the scholarship committee’s discretion. No scholarship, however, would exceed the cost of tuition. For further information, please contact [email protected]
Joanne E. McLean Scholarship for Leadership
The Joanne E. McLean Scholarship for Leadership is a merit-based and need-based scholarship that supports pre-candidacy international doctoral students who are dedicated to leadership service to community, and have evidence as a scholar-practitioner of leading change that is consistent with the PhD in Leadership and Change (PhDLC) program’s purpose and Antioch University’s mission to further social, economic, and environmental justice. Canadian students will be given priority consideration in each year’s applicant pool. The fund was originally established by a generous gift from Ph DLC alumni Dr. David McLean in memory of his late wife, Joanne, who accompanied him to many residencies and who wholeheartedly supported his Antioch doctoral journey.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
New for the 2025-26 Academic Year ~ The Jonathan Daniels Scholarship
Building on Antioch’s history of commitment to social justice and diversity, AUNE established the Jonathan Daniels Scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to increase the diversity of the student body in its racial, ethnic, cultural, international, and socioeconomic makeup, and to encourage service to under-served groups. We are happy to offer this scholarship to all Antioch University students. Awards are $2000 for one year only. All students, new and continuing are eligible to apply. Students are encouraged to reapply. In your one page essay, please tell us how you would contribute to the diversity of AUNE through your background or experiences.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
Learn more about Jonathan Daniels.
Peace Corps/Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
Scholarships are available each year to incoming students at the master’s or doctoral degree level who have completed a Peace Corps experience. A scholarship equal to a 25% discount of total tuition and fees will be awarded at the time of admission and will be distributed equally over the anticipated total terms of a student’s program.
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
Learn more about the Peace Corps/Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.
The Ruth Weisman and Mayneal Wayland Scholarship
The Ruth Weisman and Mayneal Wayland Scholarship is merit-based and enables the PhD in Leadership and Change (PhDLC) program to offer annual tuition scholarships in support of scholarship and practice in leading change that directly impacts and improves the lives of women and/or girls in the United States or abroad. For further information, please contact [email protected]
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
The Student Engagement Fund (SEF)
Established initially by members of Cohort 17, the purpose of this fund and the desire of the donors is to support recipients’ fullest engagement with peer learners in the PhD in Leadership & Change Program. The SEF awards are to be used as financial assistance toward non-academic residency-related expenses, including but not limited to travel, lodging, meals, and other activities at required residencies during the pre-candidacy years of the doctoral journey. For further information, please contact [email protected]
Funds to Support Continuing Students’ Research and Engagement
The Ethical Leadership for Social Justice Dissertation Research Fund
The Ethical Leadership for Social Justice Dissertation Research Fund has been established by a member of the PhD in Leadership and Change learning community to support students conducting dissertation research that explores the practice of ethical leadership in support of social justice (defined as anti-racist, pro-inclusive, and/or equitable practices) in communities and/or organizations. Awards of $2,500 are available for the life of the fund. For further information, please contact [email protected]
The Eula Johnson & Fitzgerald Cumberbatch Tuition Scholarship
The Eula Johnson & Fitzgerald Cumberbatch Tuition Scholarship has been established by Dr. Iris Cumberbatch in honor of her parents and their belief in the power of education to change lives. This Scholarship Fund is designed to support parents from groups underrepresented in doctoral education who have advanced to candidacy in Antioch University’s Ph.D. in Leadership and Change program. Determination of annual awards each year will be based on both financial need and academic merit. For further information, please contact [email protected]
Please find the application through ScholarshipUniverse.
Home Stretch Fund
The Home Stretch Fund (HSF) has been established with a generous gift from Dr. Charlie Nelms to support eligible PhDLC students in the final trimester of candidacy in good academic standing and who are members of underrepresented populations. Based on national data, those most under-represented in doctoral programs are ethnic/racial minorities, first-generation students, and those from low-income communities. This criterion, in addition to well-documented financial need and limited access to other financial resources, requires candidates to have completed their data-gathering phase and be in the trimester in which they are completing their dissertation and preparing for their defense.
For further information, please contact [email protected].
The Valentine Action Research Fund
The Valentine Action Research Fund has been established to honor the legacy of James C. Valentine, the father of PhD in Leadership and Change (PhDLC) alumni Dr. Mike Valentine. With an initial founding family gift, $2,000 a year for the life of the fund will be available to support costs incurred by PhD LC students conducting approved action research dissertations with underserved populations. With the start of this fund, two research grants of up to $1,000 each are available each academic year. “Underserved populations” refers to communities within the United States or abroad that suffer from poverty and disparities in education, employment, health, and/or other indicators of community well-being; for additional information, email [email protected].
The Elizabeth Holloway Grounded Theory/Situational Analysis Research Fund
The Elizabeth Holloway Grounded Theory/Situational Analysis Research Fund has been established by Dr. Greta Creech (Cohort 17) to honor Dr. Elizabeth Holloway, one of the GSLC’s Founding Faculty, and to support students conducting dissertation research utilizing Grounded Theory and/or Situational Analysis.
Fellowships and Grants
A number of fellowships and grants are available to graduate students through outside sources. The program suggests students searching www.finaid.org, www.wiredscholar.com, or www.fastweb.com for information on scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans.
Scholarship Universe
Visit ScholarshipUniverse for Antioch University to find your matches for scholarship and grant opportunities. Here you will find external and university scholarships.
We also encourage students to contact state education foundations, civic groups, employers, or other organizations with which they or their families are affiliated. Local and university libraries may be a good resource for more information on resources.