The Claude and Nancy PhilLips International and Area Studies Scholarship
Dr. Claude and Nancy Phillips have generously set up the Claude and Nancy Phillips International and Area Studies Scholarship to support students who wish to travel to conduct research in international or area studies through the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
Up to $2000 will be awarded to WMU students each year. Per the selection committees decision, two $1000 scholarships for international or area studies research being conducted within the United States or one $2000 award for research being conducted abroad will be awarded each year. Applications to countries with U.S. State Department Travel Warnings will be handled on a case by case basis.
Our Benefactors
Growing up in Appalachia, Dr. Claude Phillips knew the struggles he would face if he didn’t get an education. Dr. Phillips earned his BA and MA degrees from the University of Tennessee and his Ph.D. from Duke University, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. After a short stint teaching at the University of Michigan, he joined the WMU faculty of Political Science in 1957. His early research efforts focused on developing areas of the world and involved a Fulbright grant to India and university grants to pursue fieldwork in Nigeria. He was founding director of WMU’s Institute of International and Area Studies (now the Haenicke Institute for Global Education). He received the WMU Distinguished Service Award in 1984. He has written two books and six original chapters in books on Africa, as well as a number of articles. In the 1970s, he transferred his interests to politics and the life sciences and has authored a number of articles on cultural evolution.
Dr. Phillips retired from WMU in 1988 after 31 years of service. He and his wife Nancy moved to South Haven, Michigan where she opened a bookstore, The Hidden Room. After traveling the world, they decided to sell the store and move back to Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has spent most of his retirement as an active participant in many emeriti activities at WMU. In addition, he wrote the novel “A Shot from the Mountain” which covers the tribulations of an Appalachian miner struggling to improve his life and the life of his family. He has two daughters and a son, Nancy has one daughter and son, and together they have a total of seven grandchildren.
Upon giving this gift, Dr. Phillips states he is happy to contribute to the Department of Political Science and Haenicke Institute for Global Education due to his very close relationship with these areas during his career. He and Nancy were also happy to help in any way with the School of Medicine and know that this is a great opportunity for WMU and the community.
Eligibility
- Admitted to a graduate degree program
- In good academic standing
- Enrolled full time in the semester that the application is made (one credit hour only if at dissertation/thesis hours)
- Proposal must be toward a thesis, project paper, or capstone project.
Deadlines – April 15 and October 1
Application Process
1. Complete fillable .pdf.
2. Narrative proposal: attach as appendix and include supporting documents (e.g. HSIRB protocol, letter of invitation or collaboration, etc.)
3. Budget: The maximum award is $1000 for international or area studies research within the United States and $2000 for research conducted abroad. Separate room and board in the calculations.
4. Letter from Academic Advisor: Brief one paragraph letter of support from your academic advisor stating how this proposal fits into your thesis/project paper/capstone
5. Convert all files to .pdf files and combine the files into one .pdf document in the following order. (Application, budget, narrative, and supporting documents)
Final Report
Upon completion of the travel, please complete the final report and send to Annette Cummins at annette.cummins@wmich.edu no more than 30 days after travel.
Final Report
For questions about the Claude and Nancy Phillips International and Area Studies Scholarship application contact Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland, Director of Faculty and Global Program Development at michelle.metro-roland@wmich.edu