The Endowment for The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School exists to support and enrich the Fox Graduate School, with a focus on improving academic excellence and advancing its aspiration of becoming the preeminent graduate school in the United States.
Penn State is home to countless talented graduate students who are making a tremendous impact in their academics and beyond. The Fox endowment, created through a generous $20 million donation from Jeff and Ann Marie Fox, will support and enrich the Fox Graduate School, with a focus on improving academic excellence and advancing Penn State’s aspiration of becoming the preeminent graduate school in the United States.
Spring 2026 Nomination Period Closed
We are no longer accepting nominations for Fox scholarships. All award recipients will be notified in early June, and funds will be disbursed at that time.
Scholarship Types
Fox Endowment scholarships vary by the type of scholarship (up to $10,000) and students’ demonstrated academic achievement.
Category 1: Fox Degree Completion Awards (up to $10,000)
These awards support graduate students at a critical juncture—the final push toward degree completion—where targeted financial support can make a significant difference in time-to-degree.
Primary Considerations
- Doctoral candidates in the dissertation or final research phase
- Master's students in thesis or capstone completion
Secondary Considerations
- Academic leadership
- Scholarly impact
- Financial vulnerability
Category 2: Fox Scholarly and Professional Impact Awards (up to $10,000)
These awards support high-impact scholarly, research, or professional activities that materially advance a student's academic or career trajectory, such as attending and presenting at conferences, conducting critical fieldwork, or other activities that deepen scholarly engagement.
Primary Considerations
- Master’s or doctoral students in good academic standing
- Clear articulation of impact and outcomes
Secondary Considerations
- Research productivity
- Professional readiness
- Leadership or engagement related to the proposed activity
Fox Scholarship Recipients
Featured Fox Scholar: Hanin Othman
Summer 2025 Recipients
- Nahida Akter, Doctoral Student, Nursing
- Kawthar Babatunde, Doctoral Student, Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Darby Boontarue, Doctoral Student, Animal Science
- Cory Brautigam, Doctoral Student, Curriculum and Instruction
- Edwin Dartey, Doctoral Student, Applied Linguistics and African Studies
- Ankan Dutta, Doctoral Student, Mechanical Engineering
- Altony Hall, Doctoral Student, Engineering
- Devon Hooper, Doctoral Student, Engineering
- Arian Jaberi, Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering
- Vinay Kammarchedu, Doctoral Candidate, Electrical Engineering
- Brandon Kelly, Master’s Student, Business Administration
- Rayid Mojumder, Doctoral Student, Electrical Engineering
- Adwar Oguttuh, Master of Fine Arts Candidate, Art
- Hanin Othman, Doctoral Student, Architecture
- Daisy Rodriguez, Doctoral Candidate, Education Policy Studies
- Nicolas Simon, Master’s Student, Public Policy
- Suryansh Upadhyay, Doctoral Candidate, Electrical Engineering
- Barry Wade Jr., Master’s Student, Strategic Communications
The Long-Term Vision of the Fox Endowment
The Fox endowment will create funds in perpetuity for the Fox Graduate School to award to graduate students, faculty, and programs to enhance graduate education offerings and opportunities. The first several years of funding will focus on providing student scholarships.
Future funding opportunities may include:
- Pilot investments in faculty and innovative programming to attract and retain top graduate students.
- Support for graduate student research projects aligned with military service, national security, veterans' health, or military history.
- Pilot grants for faculty-led recruitment and mentoring initiatives that support outstanding graduate students, particularly those from military backgrounds.
- Professional development for military-affiliated graduate students transitioning into academic or professional careers.
- Fox Fellowships and Faculty Excellence Awards
Contact
For questions about the Fox endowment, contact:
Stephanie Danette Preston
- Associate Dean, Graduate Educational Engagement
- Chief Diversity Officer for Graduate Education