About the Fellowship
The Treat Fellowship program was established at the University of New Hampshire in 2018 in memory of the late New Hampshire Judge William W. Treat to provide students platform for engaging in civil discourse around difference.
Treat Fellows draw on an in depth understanding of their identity (gender, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, ability/disability, etc.) to promote mutual understanding, compassion, and awareness. Treat Fellows conduct meaningful conversations promoting equity, diversity and shared understanding with individuals from different social identities.
Fellowship recipients receive a stipend of $1,000 for a semester for the active engagement in the program (100 hours to be completed by the end of the semester) with NH Listens. Treat Fellows assist in the design and facilitation of Campus Conversations, Policy Deliberations and Dialogue programs.
The deadline to apply for the 2020 Treat Fellowship is April 1, 2020.
If you have any questions, contact Andres Mejia.
About William W. Treat
Judge William Treat was born in Winterport, Maine and spent the final years of his life in Stratham, New Hampshire. He was appointed as a probate judge in New Hampshire in 1958 and served until his retirement in 1983. During his career, Judge Treat served as a leader in the New Hampshire Republican Party as well as the Republican National Committee. Reflecting his commitment to global human rights, Judge Treat was a member of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at the United Nations Human Rights Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.
Judge Treat received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Maine in 1990 and the University New Hampshire in 2001. In 1988, Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University) awarded him the "Granite State Citizen Award" for outstanding citizenship.
Throughout his life, Judge Treat was famous for hosting dinner parties at his home that brought together guests who represented a wide range of political views. He believed deeply in the value of “cross-party” conversations where guests would listen to each other respectfully and exchange their ideas in order to better understand each other. It is this practice that is reflected in the William W. Treat Student Fellows Program that is now being initiated at UNH. The Courageous Conversation Series will carry on Judge Treat’s legacy and encourage the practice of bridging political and other divides in order to strengthen our abilities to discuss topics critical to our democratic society.
Learn more about Judge William W. Treat’s accomplishments and his memorial at the Hampton Library.
Who Can Apply?
To be considered for a Treat Fellowship, the applicant must be:
- An undergraduate student in good standing at the University of New Hampshire.
- If selected, the candidate needs to attend weekly meetings and participate in hosting and facilitating Courageous Conversations on campus.
- Enrolled as a UNH student for Fall 2020 semester.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 is required (verified through the Registrar's office)
Additional Desirable Qualifications
- Willingness to prioritize this role and effectively manage time commitment to program
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to guide open conversations on a range of diversity topics
- Ability to reflect on social identifies (e.g., by race, class, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexuality, culture, and language) and how they influence life experiences
- Dependable, organized, professional, attentive to detail, good follow-through on commitments
- Interest in deepening your understanding of yourself, others, and campus life for all.
UNH Advisors and Affiliated Offices
- NH Listens, Carsey School of Public Policy
- Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA)
- Office of Community, Equity and Diversity
- Civil Discourse Lab, Department of Communication
- The Discovery Program
- Housing and Residential Life