The University Libraries offer a unique fellowship to MLIS students at the iSchool that combines a scholarship with a paid work experience in the University Libraries system. The successful fellow receives a scholarship and an assignment in a University Libraries unit(s) based on the recipient’s interests.
This scholarship and job experience is designed to encourage and support underrepresented students from Native American, Hispanic American, African American, Asian American and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander heritages who wish to pursue a career in academic librarianship.
The recipient of the scholarship may use the funds for tuition and fees related to their education.
The award recipient will also be hired to work in the UW Libraries and thus will receive employment compensation over and above the scholarship. In order for the scholarship support to continue each quarter, the recipient must continue to be employed by the University Libraries and be enrolled in the I-School.
The donors of this scholarship, Jill and Joe McKinstry, believe that a diverse learning environment enhances the education of all students and that a UW learning experience should be available to all members of our community. For these reasons, the donors have a strong interest in providing financial assistance to students from ethnic backgrounds that are underrepresented in the library professions. Given this interest, the donors recognize that this scholarship will help support the University of Washington’s commitment to a diverse student population.
- Make a gift to the Joseph and Jill McKinstry Libraries Endowed Fellowship
- Learn about the application process
- 20 Years of McKinstry Fellows
The 2023 McKinstry Fellow
Jet To is an aspiring archivist and first year graduate student in the University of Washington’s MLIS program. They came to study library and information science after working in museums and education non-profits, with the goal of combining their passion for the preservation and sharing of knowledge with their desire to build community within and across marginalized groups.
Jet received a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Chinese from Vassar College, where they also had the honor of co-captaining Vassar’s first ever national championship winning rugby team. If you can’t find Jet at the library, they are most likely at the pottery studio or visiting a museum.
McKinstry Award Recipients
