Nordblom Fellowship

Two students talking in the woods.
The 2022 Peter C. and Kristin Van Curan Nordblom Summer Fellowship for UNH Graduate Students – Apply by April 15

About the Fellowship

The Carsey School of Public Policy Nordblom Summer Fellowship was established through the generosity of Peter C. Nordblom '80 and Kristin Van Curan Nordblom '83. Both are graduates of the University of New Hampshire, earning their bachelor of arts degrees in history and art, respectively. Strong advocates for higher education and rural issues, Peter and Kris established this fund in the hopes of providing UNH students and faculty resources to make a positive difference in the lives of youth in northern New Hampshire.

The gift provides a summer fellowship to an outstanding graduate student working with the Carsey School at UNH on research relevant to New Hampshire’s North Country. Applicants will propose their own topic, although preference will be given to proposals that have a youth, rural, or policy-specific focus. The selected recipient will work under the guidance of Carsey faculty or staff to conduct the research over the course of one summer; proposed project should be scaled accordingly. The fellowship pays a generous stipend for a summer internship, and recipients are recognized for their award.

The stipend for 2022 will be $6,500.


Who Can Apply?

To be considered for a Nordblom Fellowship, the applicant must be a graduate student in good academic standing at the University of New Hampshire. The fellowship is awarded and administered by the Carsey School of Public Policy, and applicants are chosen by an independent review panel.


Completed applications are due by April 15, 2022.

Submit all materials electronically to jessica.carson@unh.edu or send hard copies to Jessica Carson at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the address below. Please remember to include your full contact information and student ID number in the proposal.

Carsey School of Public Policy
Huddleston Hall
73 Main Street
Durham, NH 03824

How Do I Apply?

Write a one- to two-page proposal with the following materials:

  • A description in two to three paragraphs of what you hope to accomplish in your summer work.
  • Any relevant information regarding your commitment to public service, relevant academic or extracurricular experience, and career goals.
  • List the names and contact information of two (2) UNH faculty members who can provide an evaluation of your activities at UNH.
  • Enclose an informal copy of your most recent transcript.

Past recipients of the fellowship are discouraged from re-applying.

Past Nordblom Fellows

"The Nordblom fellowship allowed me to design and execute my own research project and gave me the opportunity to explore an area I am passionate about outside of academic work. Being paired with an experienced faculty advisor throughout the project helped me develop skills and methods I would never have learned in the classroom. Overall, it was an incredible experience to see a project I had thought about for years finally come to fruition. Thank you to the Nordbloms for their generosity and to everyone on the fellowship team."

~ Libby Schwaner, 2020 Carsey School Nordblom Fellow

  • Photograph of Kristine Bundschuh, a Nordblom fellow at the Carsey School of Public Policy

    "Because of the Nordblom Fellowship, I was able to cultivate my academic area of interest during my first summer of graduate school at UNH. This opportunity laid the foundation for my subsequent M.A. thesis and Ph.D. dissertation research on New Hampshire migration issues. My fellowship project also resulted in a publication through a Carsey School of Public Policy Report. I am thankful for the guidance and feedback from my M.A. academic advisor and Carsey staff members, as well as for the generous financial support from Peter C. and Kristin Van Curan Nordblom."

    ~ Kristine Bundschuh, 2018 Carsey School Nordblom Fellow