Professor Alyssa Newman Named as 2026 Citizens & Scholars Career Enhancement Fellow

The Sociology Department congratulates Professor Alyssa Newman on being named a 2026 Citizens & Scholars Career Enhancement Fellow! The fellowship, funded by the Mellon Foundation and administered by the Institute for Citizens and Scholars (C&S), provides career support for junior faculty who are conducting “thought-provoking research in the humanities and humanistic social sciences” and are committed to campus engagement. Professor Newman is one of a select group of 29 fellows this year! She will spend the fall semester working on a book manuscript tentatively titled: Born a Symbol: Mixed Race Myths, Identity Struggle, and the Quest for Civil Rights.

A fellowship like this can have a significant impact on an emerging scholar’s trajectory. As Professor Newman says: “The Career Enhancement Fellowship grants me the critical time needed to complete my book manuscript and advance towards tenure. As an interdisciplinary scholar bridging sociology and bioethics, this dedicated support is invaluable for building a scholarly trajectory that strengthens bonds between these two fields.”