The Urban Coast Institute (UCI) Advisory Committee, with support from additional donors, has established the Tony MacDonald Internship and Experiential Education Fellowship Fund to support research and educational opportunities for Monmouth University students. The fellowship fund was endowed in recognition of MacDonald’s 20 years of service as UCI director and his work building the institute into a national leader in areas including marine science and policy, ocean planning, and coastal resilience.
Proposals for the first fellowships will be solicited in the fall. Recipients will receive paid fellowships to engage in internship projects (internal or external), research, policy analysis, or applied projects related to coastal, marine and environmental science, law or policy.
The selection of fellows will be based on academic merit, project quality, and demonstrated commitment to the work and principles embodied by the UCI and Monmouth’s Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy (MEBP) program. Support may include, but is not limited to, stipends or research assistantships; fieldwork and data collection expenses; and conference, travel, or publication costs related to fellowship projects.
“This will be a unique opportunity for students to engage in projects and activities that help them develop the skills and experience they need to succeed in their chosen careers,” said MacDonald, who transitioned to a role as the UCI’s senior ocean policy fellow in November. “I am deeply grateful to the UCI Advisory Committee for creating this unique, ‘only at Monmouth’ opportunity in my name and excited that the UCI will be able to collaborate with this special cohort of students.”
The fellowships advance the University’s strategic plan by endowing academic excellence and student access while also aligning with Monmouth’s recent Carnegie Classification as a national research college and university (RCU).
MacDonald was hired as the UCI’s inaugural director upon its launch in 2005. He expanded what started as an organization with two employees into a team of a dozen dedicated professionals with expertise in marine science and policy areas, while growing external collaboration and partnerships. Under his guidance, the UCI attracted extensive donor support and research funding for projects that have made important impacts on coastal communities while providing opportunities for hundreds of students. See the UCI’s 20-year retrospective report for more on its accomplishments.
“Tony has made a lasting impact on the University, its students, and the many communities that benefited from the UCI’s work throughout his two decades of leadership,” UCI Advisory Committee Chairman Ken Pringle said. “The Committee felt it was appropriate to honor Tony in a way that would have an equally lasting impact at Monmouth and help students achieve their dreams for years to come.”
Support the Fellowship on Giving Days
You can make a one-time or recurring gift to the Tony MacDonald Internship and Experiential Education Fellowship Fund on Giving Days, to be held March 24 and 25. Giving Days is Monmouth’s annual fundraising event dedicated to supporting and celebrating all of the academic programs, clubs, activities and people we love on campus. Save the dates and stay tuned for more details.
For questions or more information about the fellowships, contact UCI Acting Director Tom Herrington at therring@monmouth.edu.