The Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award supports undergraduate students in developing independent, faculty-mentored research projects that address a pressing global health and human rights issue.
Application Period
The application period for the 2026-2027 program will open on Friday, August 14, 2026, and close on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Rooted in Catholic and Jesuit values, the award cultivates future global health professionals committed to community-engaged research and social impact. The recipients design their project during their junior year and conduct international fieldwork the summer before their senior year. The award is jointly administered by the Global Health Institute and the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service at Georgetown University.
About Maeve Kennedy McKean
Maeve Kennedy McKean (G/L’09) was the executive director of the Georgetown University Global Health Initiative (now the Georgetown University Global Health Institute) and associate director of the HIV Policy Lab at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law from July 2019 until her death in April 2020.
A public health and human rights lawyer, Kennedy McKean’s work focused on the intersection of global health and human rights. She earned a joint J.D. degree from Georgetown Law and a Master of Science degree in international negotiations and conflict resolution from the Walsh School of Foreign Service. Earlier in her career, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique.
Her legacy lives on through each successive award recipient, whose work reflects her commitment to justice, service, and health equity.
Students must complete the online application and upload the following materials as a single PDF:
CV or résumé
Statement of interest (350-word maximum) describing your motivation for applying, what you hope to contribute to and gain from the fellowship, and your top three project choices
Unofficial transcript(s)
Academic writing sample (no more than three pages; excerpts are acceptable)
Students wishing to be considered for the Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award must complete a supplemental section of the application and may be invited to interview with their prospective faculty mentor.
As a fellow, you will be part of an interdisciplinary community united by a shared interest in global health. Fellows work five to ten hours per week on a faculty-mentored research project, participate in monthly discussions with faculty and peers, present their work at the end of the year, and engage in networking opportunities and global health-related events throughout the program.
As an award recipient, you will also receive funding to conduct field research during the summer before your senior year and present your work at the annualGlobal Social Justice Research Symposium.
In addition to an hourly compensation, you will also receive two stipends. The first distribution will be $5,000 to support travel and field research over the summer. The second distribution will be $1,500 to support publication and other costs after the conclusion of the project and final report.
The application period for the 2026-2027 program will open on Friday, August 14, 2026, and close on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Applicants will be notified of decisions in late September.
Selected fellows are expected to participate in the program from October 2026 through May 2027.
Yes. Students submit a single application for the Global Health Student Fellows program, and eligible undergraduate juniors may opt to be considered for the Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award by completing a supplemental section of the application.
Approximately 15 students are selected as Global Health Student Fellows. In addition, one undergraduate fellow is selected to receive the Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award.
For questions about the application process, please contact globalhealth@georgetown.edu.
Donations
We are raising funds to expand the number of award recipients, giving more Georgetown students the opportunity to pursue global health research and international fieldwork opportunities.
If you are interested in supporting the award, please contact globalhealth@georgetown.edu or donate using one of the following methods:
Online: Use the online donation form and add a note in the “Other” field indicating “to support Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award.”
By mail: Make checks payable to Georgetown University with the note: “to support Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award”. Mail it to Georgetown University, Gift Processing, Department Number 0734, Washington, DC 20073-0734.
