The Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature

The Malka Penn Award is given annually to the authors of an outstanding children’s book addressing human rights issues or themes such as discrimination, equity, poverty, justice, war, peace, slavery or freedom. Named in honor of author Michele Palmer, who writes under the pseudonym Malka Penn, the award recognizes works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, […]

Gladstein Visiting Professor of Human Rights

The Gladstein Visiting Professor is a distinguished scholar with international standing in the study of human rights, who participates in a 10-day visit to the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute at UConn. During that time, they deliver a major public lecture, teach a seminar in their specialty, and consult with the faculty and graduate students […]

Tuition Scholarships

The Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute offers five scholarships to academically outstanding undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut. Four $5,000 scholarships are available for students who are majoring or minoring in human rights, and who are enrolled full time at the University of Connecticut. One $1,000 scholarship is available for students who are majoring […]

Summer Internship Fellow Program

Our Summer Internship Fellow Program grew out of a desire to help students find internship placements at premier human rights organizations and respected international initiatives. We have proudly developed dedicated placements for UConn human rights students and facilitate the recruitment and selection process. After a rigorous application process, students selected to participate in each of […]

Summer Capstone Scholarship

The Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute provides financial assistance to human rights majors seeking to complete their human rights capstone each summer. We believe in the importance of experiential learning – and in equity of access to experiential learning opportunities. In an effort to better serve our students, HRI will provide limited financial assistance to […]

Dissertation Research Fellowship

The Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute will fund one $5,000 dissertation research fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year to support primary research activities. Applicants must have successfully completed their qualifying exams and dissertation prospectus by time of application.

Funding for Faculty

The Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute is excited to share three funding opportunities. UConn faculty and staff focused on human rights may apply for research funding through three programs:

Seed Grant for Faculty Research in Human Rights

Our seed grant competition is meant to support and promote faculty research projects on human rights and to facilitate the writing of external grant proposals. We offer one award of $10,000 each academic year. Proposed research projects should make a significant contribution to ongoing scholarly and/or policy debates in the field of human rights. They […]

Small Grants for Faculty & Staff Research in Human Rights

Our research grant competition for the faculty and staff supports and promotes research projects on human rights related questions. Projects should make a significant contribution to ongoing scholarly and/or policy debates in the field of human rights. Awards will prioritize primary research, including library research, fieldwork, interviewing, historical archival research, pilot studies, data collection, and […]

Dissertation Writing Fellowship

In an effort to support UConn graduate students writing doctoral dissertations with a human rights focus, the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute will select one $5,000 dissertation fellowship awardee for the 2025-26 academic year.