“A fellowship of this caliber recognizes the contributions L&S students undertake to not only be excellent scholars but also honors the deep commitment to the service of others and advancing humanity.”
Eric Wilcots, Dean of the College of Letters & Science
The Wolff Fellowship
The Wolff Fellows program grants up to $45,000 to a graduating senior in the College of Letters & Science to support a year of travel, service or study abroad experience, post-graduation.
Candidates for this tremendous opportunity of a lifetime must be Letters & Science seniors intending to graduate in Spring 2026. A committee appointed by Dean Eric Wilcots reviews completed submissions and selects finalists for interviews.
This award considers not only excellent academic performance and related endeavors, but also weighs the student’s commitments and actions to those outside oneself and to the greater community. During the undergraduate career, this can look like volunteerism, community or public service, leadership, and other endeavors.
Criteria:
Eligible Letters & Science seniors must have a minimum grade point average of a 3.75 and must be Spring 2026 graduates.
Enrolled at UW-Madison as a first-year student and the duration of the undergraduate career (transfer students are ineligible).
The deadline to apply through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub known as WiSH will be in January 25, 2026 for the 2026-2027 fellowship year.
Wolff Fellowship Panel
The Year We Roamed the World – Stories from Wolff Fellows
You are invited to attend the Wolff Fellowship Panel at the DeLuca Forum in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Building on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Hear from current and previous Wolff Fellows , who will share reflections on their adventures around the globe post-graduation:
Claire James, ’22 (Japan, South Korea, Malawi, India)
Juliet Chang, ’23 (France, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia)
Max Koenig, ’24 (The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Grenada, Colombia, Brazil)
Cat Carroll, ’25 (Costa Rica, Spain, U.S.-Mexico border; future travel includes Morocco, Jordan, Turkey and Germany)
This panel is moderated by Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen, Merle Curti and Vilas-Borghesi Distinguished Achievement Professor of History. Light refreshments will be served.
Please submit a RSVP by Monday, November 3rd in order to receive reminders leading up to this event.
How to Apply
Login in above and review the application questions in order to build a plan to complete the materials required for submission:
- Summary Abstract
- Personal Statement
- Essay
- Current Résumé or CV
- Activity/Travel Budget
- Student Academic Record
- Letters of Recommendation (2)
Meet the Benefactors
The Wolff Fellowship program in the College of Letters & Science is the vision of its creators, Paul M. Wolff and Rhea S. Schwartz.
Paul M. Wolff was a distinguished alumnus of UW-Madison. He earned a Letters & Science degree majoring in history and went on to study law at Harvard University. He began practicing law in the Washington, D.C. area and curated a distinguished career. Mr. Wolff served as an advisor for many organizations including the Washington Performing Arts Society, the Corcoran Art Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. He had a passion for sports and served on the Washington D.C. Sports Commission, and was also a distinguished and talented sculptor. Mr. Wolff passed away in June of 2024.
Rhea S. Schwartz is a graduate of Penn State and Georgetown University Law School. A leader in her community, Ms. Schwartz has worked for the United States Department of Education, the Center for Israeli Studies at American University, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Ms. Schwartz has endowed a similarly groundbreaking fellowship opportunity at Penn State.
Wolff explained, “We believe these students should be rewarded for their achievements and service with the ability to travel, volunteer or complete service work without financial burdens. This will allow them to pursue their passions without limits.”
Meet the 2025 Awardee
Cat Carroll is the fourth awardee of the Wolff Fellowship. She is set to graduate this May with majors in journalism and mass communication, international studies and German with certificates in public policy, European studies, Middle East studies and Arabic language and culture.
Carroll pursued this fellowship to study the intersection of global migration patterns and journalism. From there, she carefully crafted an itinerary based on places of historical and modern significance to these global migration patterns. She will travel to seven different counties during her fellowship to examine these patterns and understand how communities are affected by migration.
To find out more about Cat’s Fellowship, read here.
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Meet the 2024 Awardee
Max Koenig was the third awardee of the Wolff Fellowship. He earned his UW–Madison degree in the spring of 2024, with a major in psychology and a certificate in African studies. During his time as an undergraduate, Max was a Mercile J. Lee Powers-Knapp scholar, held several volunteer and leadership roles, and conducted research in the Harackiewicz lab.
Following his May 2024 graduation, Max began a year-long exploration of the influence of African culture, history and music in communities that were impacted by slavery. He will travel to several Caribbean nations, Colombia, and Brazil.
Education has also always been important to Max. Because of this, he has chosen to volunteer at a Montessori elementary school in Cabarete, Dominican Republic for two-and-a-half-months. He will also volunteer for two months at a school in Barranquilla, Colombia, that focuses on ethno-education (incorporating the traditions, knowledge and beliefs of local ethnic minorities).
To find out more about Max’s Fellowship, read here.
Meet the 2023 Awardee
Juliet Chang graduated in the spring of 2023 and is the second awardee of the Wolff Fellowship. Juliet excelled, graduating with majors in social welfare, educational studies with certificates in Asian American studies (HMoob emphasis), and global health.
Starting in July 2023, Juliet began her adventure in Paris, France, is now living in French Guiana, and has plans to live in Kitchener, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, and in Australia. While traveling, Juliet is learning about the Hmong diaspora across the world, visiting different Hmong communities.
“Traveling through the Wolff Fellowship has been an incredible experience because of the freedom that it gives me to focus on what I’m passionate about. That level of independence isn’t something you really get in traditional schooling and while it is difficult at times, I feel like I’ve learned to be flexible and accept the changes that come with independence. I can’t imagine ever being able to do something like this ever again so I’m trying to take advantage of my time abroad.”
– Juliet Chang, 2023 recipient of the Wolff Fellowship
Meet the 2022 Awardee
Claire James graduated in the spring of 2022 and is the first awardee of the Wolff Fellowship. Claire proved her academic acumen graduating with completed majors international studies and economics, earning honors in the liberal arts, with certificates in European studies and French.
Her adventure began in June of 2022 working for a non-profit in Nagasaki, Japan with future plans to volunteer with organizations in three more countries, ending with travel to South America by way of India and Africa.
“Seeing just a tiny bit of this wonderful world as the 2022-2023 Wolff Fellow was truly the best start to my post-graduate career. I so wish I could thank each and every person who helped me along the way, be it welcoming me into their offices or field spaces and teaching me about the important work they’re doing, inviting me to share a meal in their homes, or even just helping me get off the bus (or train/metro/rickshaw!) at the right stop. I’m so grateful to Paul Wolff and Rhea Schwartz for their generosity and belief in young people’s potential as change makers. I encourage all interested Badgers to apply for what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
– Claire James, Inaugural recipient of the Wolff Fellowship