The 2025-27 Lender Center for Social Justice Fellowship Project will be led by Professor Nicole Fonger, associate professor of mathematics and mathematics education, and will focus on the Data Warriors project.
Data Warriors is intended to expand the community impact of Syracuse University faculty and students with a focus on youth-centered social justice data literacy education and action. It is a community-centered program that empowers Syracuse youth to explore justice through data, math and storytelling. The Data Warriors mission is to build meaningful learning experiences that connect students with real-world issues in their own neighborhoods. The Data Warriors investigate local social justice issues, inform others and inspire action toward a more just future.
Selected Student Fellows will work with Syracuse City School District high school teachers, and SCSD high school students in this interdisciplinary project. SU students will be involved in designing programming, co-researching local social justice issues with youth using math and mapping, analyzing Data Warrior program outcomes, and disseminating scholarship to multiple audiences.
The Data Warriors follow a youth participatory action research approach to center youth as co-researchers of problems they care about in their communities. We use mapping and geospatial reasoning techniques, and a process of statistical investigation and mathematical modeling. SU Lender Center Student Fellows will support the Data Warriors program to grow by: (1) empowering youth to engage in civic action by connecting with local government leaders and organizations, (2) strengthening our programming for data literacy education across multiple informal urban education learning environments, (3) improving our impact on public, policy, and practice audiences.
The Lender Student Fellowship is open to any undergraduate or graduate student who can commit to the two-year project. Students from any discipline and background are encouraged to apply to serve as a Lender Student Fellow. We encourage students with an interest in collaborative research, social determinants of health, data analysis, and community engagement to consider applying.
Selected applicants will participate with the project for two years. Lender Student Fellows will be provided a stipend between 2025-27 ($2,000 for undergraduates, and $5,000 for graduate students). Students will also have opportunities for additional funding and research support. The Lender Fellowship is designed as a collaborative research opportunity to provide an enriching research and engagement experience. Selected Student Fellows will not “work for” the Faculty Fellow, but will collaborate with the whole team to develop and expand research into the topic area.
Application requirements
- Student Fellowship Application, due Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 at 5 p.m.
- Statement of Interest, either submitted with your application or sent separately to lendercenter@syr.edu
- Letter of nomination/support from a faculty member, sent to lendercenter@syr.edu
Questions? Email lendercenter@syr.edu.