Mona Davenport said she is thankful she was able to be a part of a program that helped her pay for school and helped her grow professionally.

Davenport, director of minority affairs, was a Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois fellow during her last year as a doctoral student.

DFI is a program that was passed by the Illinois legislature in 2004.

Director of Graduate Admissions Rodney Ranes said DFI was developed to help increase the number of minority candidates and faculty members in higher education and higher education boards.

“I think it’s important to have a diverse faculty,” Ranes said. “And it’s important to provide those with not only the academic ability but also the financial need with some opportunities that will help them develop their futures.”

The program provides financial assistance to its fellows, in the form of stipends, in order to help increase the number of underrepresented faculty members in the state.

If a DFI fellow teaches or works as an administrator at any institution of higher education in Illinois, Davenport said the student does not have to pay back the annual stipend he or she received.

For every year she was a fellow in the program, Davenport had to teach one year in the state of Illinois to avoid repayment.

Davenport said the program helped her discover and explore different research areas, which she said helped her develop as an educator.

“I was able to network with other Master and Doctoral level students in the program,” Davenport said. “After receiving loans and other debt from undergraduate education, it is nice to be able to find programs that graduate students can utilize without having large debt,” Davenport said.

Ranes said both state and private universities are involved with DFI.

Students who apply for a DFI Fellowship must have the goal of working or teaching in a higher education institution, maintain a GPA of at least 2.75 and be a member of an underrepresented group.

Students applying must be pursuing either a master’s degree or a doctorate.

Ranes said students must also be Illinois residents in order to qualify for the fellowship.

DFI Administrator Jane Meuth said this year the program is looking for students with a concentration in the stem fields – math, science, engineering – because the stem fields are very underrepresented by minorities.

However, Meuth said students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply for the fellowship.

Fellows get the opportunity to participate in professional development activities and are required to attend an annual conference.

At the conference, students present research they have been conducting to each other and exchange ideas.

Those who are accepted into the DFI program can renew their fellowship each year, but they must uphold the initial requirements of the program to remain a fellow.

Ranes said DFI is an important program because it helps provide Illinois students and teachers with better academic environments.

“Diversity gives students a broader range of experiences,” Ranes said. “It exposes them to more things, which helps them grow.”

Meuth said DFI fellows sometimes serve as role models to their peers.

“It helps to encourage other minority students to pursue their dreams of a higher education,” Meuth said.

Eastern’s deadline for Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Fellowship applications is February 15.

Barbara Harrington can be reached at 581-7942 or at bjharrington@eiu.edu.