Doctoral Research Associate Fellowship and Scholarship
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EdD Scholarship Opportunities
Educational Doctorate in Leading and Learning
School of Education
University of Portland
EdD Scholarship ($7,500) | EdD Fellowship ($15,000)
Meet Zulema "Zuly" Naegele, UP School of Education's Doctor of Education alumnus and former Doctoral Research Associate Fellow. Zuly has been in the education field for over 20+ years and is currently Vice Principal at an elementary school in the Portland Public School District.
As a university of, for, and with Portland, we localize our scholarships in ways that reflect our commitment to investing in talented, committed educators and leaders whose leadership, research, partnerships, and professional engagement strengthen schools, districts, and educational communities. Our EdD scholarships and program reflect our belief that strong educational communities are built through committed leaders, and that doctoral support should be both meaningful and sustainable. Together, these awards support students who want to connect doctoral study with applied inquiry, professional growth, and, for some, deeper engagement with the issues, contexts, and problems of practice facing partner districts in the Multnomah County Partnership for Educational Research (MCPER)—an innovative research consortium between UP and Portland metro area districts that shares data and explores educational and policy improvement.
EdD Scholarship ($7,500 total / $2,500 per year)
The EdD Scholarship offers meaningful, multi-year tuition support for educators and leaders who want to pursue doctoral study with greater affordability and stability. It is designed to support your growth in a program centered on applied leadership, professional learning, and lasting impact in education.
- Receive a total scholarship award of $7,500 across the three-year program, helping make our EdD one of the most affordable doctoral programs in the Portland metro area.
- As an EdD Scholarship recipient, you will receive $2,500 each year for three years, awarded in the first summer term of each year, giving you a multi-year tuition commitment that supports greater confidence and financial predictability as you plan your doctoral journey.
- Our EdD is also eligible for federal student loans, and we are glad to help arrange a meeting with our financial aid staff, so you can better understand your options and plan with confidence.
- This scholarship is designed to support your entry into a doctoral program centered on professional growth, applied leadership, and meaningful educational impact.
- As a student in our EdD program, you will benefit from:
- A strong and supportive doctoral cohort experience with accomplished educators and emerging system leaders.
- Faculty mentorship in the scholar-practitioner model invested in your growth, applied research, and dissertation success.
- Access to a vibrant professional network of fellow students, alumni, school leaders, district-connected educators, and the Multnomah County Partnership for Educational Research (MCPER), the only dedicated research consortium in the Portland metro area integrated into doctoral education.
- Connection to a program with access to school and district data, research opportunities, and practice-based inquiry partnerships through MCPER.
- A program culture centered on reflection, inquiry, improvement, and practice-based leadership.
- Opportunities to strengthen your professional influence in schools, districts, and educational organizations throughout the region.
- EdD Scholarship recipients are also eligible for up to $1,000 in Provost support for the professional presentation of their applied research at regional and national conferences, helping you share your work, expand your network, and grow your scholarly profile.
EdD Fellow Scholarship ($15,000 total / $5,000 per year, plus additional presentation support)
The EdD Fellow Scholarship offers enhanced, multi-year support for applicants who are ready to make a more focused commitment to applied research engaging Multnomah County school districts. As a Fellow, your doctoral experience will include partnership and alignment between your dissertation, professional engagement, and the issues and educational goals of the Multnomah County Partnership for Educational Research (MCPER), the metro region’s distinctive university-school district applied research, policy, and practice partnership.
- Receive a total fellowship scholarship award of $15,000 across the three-year program, helping make our EdD one of the most affordable doctoral programs in the Portland metro area while also offering one of its most distinctive professional opportunities.
- As an EdD Fellow, you will receive $5,000 each year for three years, split between the summer and fall terms each year, giving you a substantial multi-year tuition commitment and added financial support across the life of the program.
- Our EdD is also eligible for federal student loans, and we are glad to help arrange a meeting with our financial aid staff, so you can better understand your options and build a clear funding plan for the program.
- In addition to this fellowship support, EdD Fellows are also eligible for up to $1,000 in Provost support for the professional presentation of applied research at regional and national conferences, along with an additional one-time $1,000 fellowship conference award, giving Fellows even greater support to disseminate their work and build visibility in the field.
- This fellowship is designed for applicants who want their doctoral experience to include deeper district engagement, applied research partnership, professional visibility, and scholar-practitioner profile that aligns with our Multnomah County Partnership for Educational Research (MCPER) and its partner districts.
- Fellows are expected to engage fully in the opportunities and responsibilities that come with this designation, including:
- Focusing dissertation and applied research on issues relevant to partner schools, partner districts, and real educational settings.
- Building relationships and professional connections through access to MCPER, the only dedicated research consortium in the Portland metro area, and its network of Multnomah County school and district partners.
- Engaging with school and district data, research opportunities, and partnership-based inquiry in ways that support both doctoral study and educational improvement.
- Participating in MCPER consortium activities, meetings, and related professional engagements as part of the fellowship experience.
- Networking meaningfully with district leaders, educators, faculty mentors, and fellow practitioner-scholars.
- Presenting and helping disseminate research through School of Education, consortium, and conference venues.
- As an EdD Fellow, you will also benefit from:
- Structured mentorship and regular guidance from School of Education faculty connected to MCPER and district-engaged research.
- Stronger access to district-based contexts, relationships, and potential data partnerships that can support your dissertation and professional growth.
- Expanded opportunities to become known as a scholar-practitioner and system-level leader whose work is grounded in partnership and impact.
- A distinctive doctoral experience that combines tuition support, applied inquiry, district engagement, research dissemination, and professional visibility.
Application Requirements: Interested applicants should submit the following materials to pilotsteach@up.edu
- Resume
- Cover letter describing your qualifications and interests
- Upon request: An interview with the selection committee
- For best consideration apply by January 31
Fellowship Contact:
Nicole Ralston, PhD
Professor
ralston@up.edu
