In 1991, the Council of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) established the AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship in Education Research to provide support for doctoral dissertation research. The purposes of the program are to advance education research by outstanding minority graduate students and to improve the quality and diversity of university faculties. This program offers doctoral fellowships to enhance the competitiveness of outstanding minority scholars for academic appointments at major research universities. It supports fellows conducting education research and provides mentoring and guidance toward the completion of their doctoral studies. Learn more