Emory University Program in Democracy and Citizenship Fellowships

A dean’s list student at Emory University, Elias Neibart plans to apply to law school in the near future. In addition to receiving academic honors such as the Sigma Alpha Mu Young Scholars Award, Elias Neibart is a Junto Fellow in the Program in Democracy and Citizenship.

An initiative of the political science department at Emory University, the Program in Democracy and Citizenship sponsors programming and courses that encourage students to become knowledgeable, conscientious, and responsible citizens. As part of this mission, it operates two fellowship initiatives, the Franklin Junior Fellows and the Junto Fellows. Though admission to both is competitive, the two fellowships are marked by notable differences.

The Franklin Junior Fellows is the larger of the two programs and has fewer requirements. Emory students who are accepted as Franklin Junior Fellows gain access to curated courses based on the Great Books curriculum and designed to deepen understanding of the liberal arts tradition. Franklin Junior Fellows are expected to attend two or three special events per semester, which may include lectures, film discussions, or concerts. 

The Junto Fellows program is more competitive than the Franklin Junior Fellows program, with only a small number of students admitted each year. Named after Benjamin Franklin’s famous mutual improvement group, the Junto Club, the program offers participants the same benefits as the Franklin Junior Fellows, with additional requirements. In addition to participating in lectures and film discussions, Junto Fellows are expected to attend events such as small reading groups and special trips to the symphony.