Supporting access with the Inaugural Dean’s Opportunity Scholars
The need-based award sustained 16 students pursuing an MA in 2023-2024
By Sarah Steimer
The Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship and at least one of its recipients boasted some important firsts: The need-based scholarship itself was awarded for the first time ever, and Kennedy Patterson, one of 16 inaugural recipients and a student in the Master of Arts Program in Social Sciences, holds the distinction of being a first-generation college student.
“There’s a magnitude of being a Dean's opportunity scholar,” Patterson says. “It opened up doors that I didn't even think were possible for me, to pursue higher education.”
Kelly Therese Pollock, Dean of Students and Associate Dean in SSD, says the goal of the full tuition scholarship is to support a “a truly transformative experience” particularly for those who are unable to attend a master’s program without substantial scholarship assistance.
“Being a Dean's Scholar took off that burden of financial stress so that I was able to really focus on my studies,” Patterson says, adding that it also freed her to spend time applying to PhD programs. “It opened up space for me to grow as a scholar and allowed me to engage with other research that's happening on campus. Right now, I’m working under the direction of Dr. Robert Vargas in UChicago's Justice Project Lab.”
Lindsey Weglarz, Assistant Dean of Students for Admissions, says the scholarship team conducts a post-admission competitive application process for the Dean’s Opportunity award. In its first year, 504 students applied — making it a very competitive process. As part of the application process, incoming students write an essay explaining how completing the MA program and having a full tuition scholarship would be a transformative experience for them academically, personally, and professionally. They also provide information regarding any previous need-based funding that shows this is an ongoing need.
Patterson’s application was highly ranked for her intended plans for using her degree, Weglarz says. “She had an excellent discussion of how MAPSS training would prepare her for a PhD and support her specific historical analysis of the suffering and resistance in communities.”
The award allowed Patterson, whose concentration is in sociology, to explore the complexities of social welfare policy. Her master's thesis focused on the racialization and gendering of welfare utilization within the Chicago Tribune from the 1960s to present day.
“UChicago is extremely rigorous,” Patterson notes. “But I would say that that rigor really sparked new dimensions of curiosity and critical thinking that I know will further enhance my research in the future.”
She says she appreciates the university’s emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship, which she says is crucial for her own work that pulls from a range of disciplines. And while the scholarship unburdened the financial aspect of her experience, Patterson is sure to acknowledge other assistance with the challenge of getting a master’s degree.
“I’ve been reflecting on the resilience and faith of my ancestors and the sacrifices of my mom, and even the nurturing of my mentors who elevated me to recognize my potential,” Patterson says.
“Being a Black woman on a historically white campus, it was hard to find my space. I want to highlight and recognize the network of support that I had that really helped to elevate and sustain me as I went through this program.”
Patterson will continue her scholarly career next in Northwestern University's sociology PhD program, where she plans to study the health implications inherent in impoverished experiences that result in death. She hopes her research will inform social welfare policy and center the voices of individuals experiencing poverty, while also disrupting the systems that perpetuate impoverished experiences.
The Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship will also continue with the application review process currently underway. They expect to award the scholarship to about 20 students in 2024-2025.
Pollock adds that, while Patterson will continue on to a PhD program, the award is for a student with any career plans, whether in government, academia, or the private sector. At this time, the award is fully funded by SSD, but Pollock says they’re also seeking donor support so the scholarship can be maintained further into the future.
“We’re thrilled we are able to support students,” Pollock says. “As Kennedy’s experience shows, this has been truly transformative and that's precisely what we want to do. It enriches the experience of all of the students in our MA programs when we have this diversity of voices in the programs.”