The Modern Language Association, with generous support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, has launched a new initiative called Connected Academics: Preparing Doctoral Students of Language and Literature for a Variety of Careers. As part of this initiative, during the 2015-16 academic year the MLA will offer language and literature doctoral candidates and recent PhD recipients in the New York City area an opportunity to participate in a proseminar dedicated to exploring multiple career options. Participants will be selected to receive a $2,000 stipend, which will support travel and other costs related to the project.
 
Proseminar participants will do the following:

• Learn about career horizons for PhDs and the versatility of advanced study in the humanities
• Translate teaching and research experience into a wide range of employment contexts
• Develop skills and gain experiences that will be valuable in any career they pursue
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at local cultural institutions, not-for-profits, foundations, associations, and academic initiatives that employ humanities PhDs, including the New York Public Library, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Frick Collection, the Teagle Foundation, the CUNY Futures Initiative, and the French Institute Alliance Française
• Conduct informational interviews with humanities PhDs working in a variety of careers
• Contribute to the national conversation about career options for humanities PhDs by blogging about their experiences

I hope that you will inform faculty members and doctoral students in language and literature of this opportunity. I attach a flier for posting. Please forward this e-mail to others who might be interested.
More information about the project is available at the Connected Academics Web site: https://connect.commons.mla.org/.
Applicants are asked to apply online  by 15 June 2015 at https://connect.commons.mla.org/proseminar/.
Stephen Olsen
Associate Director of Research
and Manager of Digital Services
Modern Language Association
solsen@mla.org
646 576-5136