KU announces new 2023-2027 Self Graduate Fellows

LAWRENCE — Fifteen doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. This incoming group of fellows is the largest cohort in over 20 years. Over 200 students have benefited from the Self Graduate Fellowship since it was established in 1989.

The Self Graduate Fellowship is a four-year package awarded to incoming or first-year doctoral students who demonstrate leadership, initiative and passion for achievement. The fellowship covers full tuition and fees, provides graduate research assistant support of $34,000 per year, a $5,500 professional development award, a $5,000 start-up award, $1,000 textbook and technology awards (years 2-4) and a unique professional development program. The Fellow Development Program provides general education and training in communication, management, innovation, policy and leadership to assist Self Graduate Fellows in preparation for future leadership roles. The role of the development program is to complement the specialized education and training provided in doctoral programs. The total value of the four-year doctoral fellowship exceeds $200,000.

The fellowship’s mission is to identify and recruit exceptional doctoral students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their fields and society as a whole.

The late Madison “Al” and Lila Self launched and permanently endowed the Self Graduate Fellowship in 1989, motivated by their strong belief in the vital importance of developing leadership for tomorrow. Madison Self was a 1943 KU graduate in chemical engineering. Lila Self attended KU with the Class of 1943.

The new Self Graduate Fellows for the 2023-2027 cohort: 

• Elizabeth Bartlett, of Eagan, Minnesota: bachelor’s degree in chemistry and minor in computer science from the College of Saint Benedict; first-year doctoral student in chemistry
• Megan Carlson, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri: expected bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from KU; incoming doctoral student in aerospace engineering
• Emily Daniel, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and applied critical thought and inquiry from William Jewell College; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center
• Gentry Totta-Griese, of Fulton, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in chemistry and bachelor’s degree in biology from MidAmerica Nazarene University; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center
• William Hauser, of Shawnee: bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from KU; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center
• Lana Heslop, of Greer, South Carolina: bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences from the University of Kentucky; first-year doctoral student in the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences, KU Medical Center
• Carrie Lewis-Merritt, of Kansas City, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in environmental science and minor in mathematics from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, master’s degree in atmospheric science from KU; first-year doctoral student in atmospheric science
• Ashley Lieber, of Wichita: bachelor’s degree in physics and minor in math and STEM education from the University of Arkansas; first-year doctoral student in physics and astronomy
• Natalie Lind, of Longmont, Colorado: expected bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Fort Lewis College; incoming doctoral student in chemistry
• Curtis McLennan, of Palatine, Illinois: expected bachelor’s degree in physics and expected bachelor’s in applied mathematics from Wheaton College; incoming doctoral student in physics & astronomy
• Daniel Mongovin, of Olympia, Washington: bachelor’s degree in geology from Central Washington University and master’s degree in geology from KU; first-year doctoral student in geology
• Jessica Pfannenstiel, of Lone Jack, Missouri: bachelor’s degree in microbiology from KU; first-year doctoral student in microbiology
• Yezan Salamoun, of Overland Park: expected bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical studies from KU; incoming doctoral student in pharmaceutical chemistry
• Sophia Terian, of Lenexa: expected bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from KU; incoming doctoral student in environmental and water resources engineering
• Bailey Thompson, of Olathe: bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in accounting from KU; incoming doctoral student in accounting.