The CEW+ Gutsy Broad Fund was established by a CEW+ supporter who, along with her mother, is an activist and fierce advocate for women’s rights. The highest compliment one could receive from the sponsor’s mother was to be called a “gutsy broad.” The Gutsy Broad fellowship provides the means for graduate students who need financial assistance to study and/or conduct research about removing barriers for women and their allies in the advocacy and social change sphere. In short, this fund is meant to support “gutsy broads” and their allies in making a difference in the world.

Menakka and Essel Bailey, Ann Arbor residents and business professionals, are also longtime friends and supporters of CEW+. In 2011, they created The Menakka and Essel Bailey Graduate Fellowship Fund. This gift enables American graduate students to study abroad — especially in South and Southeast Asia—and to do fieldwork and language study in fields of public health, health care, and the environment.

The Menakka and Essel Bailey Graduate Fellowship offers grants for graduate students on the Ann Arbor campus, who are not international students to assist them with study abroad. In particular, the fellowships are intended for field work, cultural experience, or other study relevant to their graduate degree, including the language of the country being visited. Preferred areas of study include public health, health care, or environmental work in South or Southeast Asia (excluding China or Japan). Preference is given to students seeking funds in addition to this source.

In 2007, Ranny Riecker (long-time friend and CEW+ Leadership Council Emerita) established the Riecker Graduate Student Research Fund. This fellowship funds students doing research of importance to women and has increased CEW+’s ability to support emerging scholars, enabling them to collaborate with, and learn from, experienced researchers.

CEW+ offers Riecker Graduate Student Research Grants for student-designed, student-conducted academic research on issues of importance to women. These awards are intended for University of Michigan graduate students who are doing degree-required dissertation or thesis research.

Virginia Nelson’s mother graduated from the University of Washington in 1925 and was a school teacher. While she never traveled internationally, she encouraged both Virginia and her brother to study and work overseas. She was a very independent woman who was active with women’s issues in the community. Virginia’s father grew up in Nome, Alaska, and also graduated from the University of Washington. He started his career as a high school teacher and later worked as a mechanical engineer.

The Simson Family Graduate Fellowship was inspired by Virginia Simson Nelson’s overseas experience doing health-related work that went on to inform her personal and professional life in meaningful ways. Dr. Nelson therefore provides the means for graduate students who need financial assistance to study or work abroad to enhance their educational, research, and/or career pursuits. Preferred areas of study are Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Environmental Health. These awards are intended to support U-M graduate students.

For questions, please call 734-764-4355 or email [email protected].