You are invited to apply for the 2025-2026 University of Wisconsin Northern Tier Shelter Fellowship Program!
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Shelter Medicine Program’s Northern Tier Shelter Fellowship is a year-long program open to shelters in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Up to two leadership staff per shelter may participate. Recommended staff are shelter directors or managers +/- another key staff member (e.g. Operations Director). Shelters will be selected as “fellows” but individuals participating should be listed on application. Preference will be given to shelters that haven’t recently been fellows. A primary goal of the fellowship is for participants to make at least one substantial positive change in their shelter. Candidates should be willing and empowered to make meaningful change throughout the fellowship. Learn more about the fellowship here.
Fellows will be invited to participate in a 3 1/2 day in-person Fellowship Camp, which consists of a combination of lecture and discussion surrounding foundational principles in sheltering and community care as well as visits to local shelters. Camp will be held March 4-7, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin and all fellows are required to attend. Travel, lodging, and meal expenses will be covered by generous grantors.
Following this camp, regular Zoom calls will commence. We will meet on Zoom every other week for 1.5 hours every other Tuesday at 8 am Alaska/9 am Pacific/10 am Mountain/11 am Central Time.
Fellows will be able to put their new skills to work with their own shelter, directly benefiting shelter animals and communities. Many fellows will continue on with the program as alums and mentors while working in or with shelters for years to come, greatly magnifying the impact of this investment in their training.
Cost: Free! Fellows do not pay registration fees or tuition.
Selection and review committee: A committee will select candidates and review applications to the program. Shelters will be selected for the fellowship with 1-2 leadership staff per organization participating. Consideration will be given to selecting shelters representing a variety of shelter types and geographical locations within the Northern Tier states.
How to apply: Applicants must be leadership staff working in shelters in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. One application per shelter accepted, with up to 2 staff participating. Shelters will be selected but individuals who plan to participate should be listed on the application, with one applicant as the primary fellow.
Application materials requirements are:
- A fully completed online fellowship application (see the link below this list).
- A current resume for each fellow applicant.
- A letter of intent, one per shelter (1 page max), describing why your shelter is interested in the fellowship, how you hope it will benefit animals in your shelter or community in the near and/or long-term future, further details on any of the application answers you feel need clarification, and anything else you think we should know as we consider your application.
- A “change idea”, one per shelter (1 page max), describing a change you might like to make during the fellowship. Articulate some strengths and challenges in your organization or community as well as what resources would be needed to accomplish this change. It is possible, perhaps likely, that you will change your focus after beginning fellowship and discussing with mentors but we want to hear what’s on your mind currently. You will have the resources of our program and the support of the other fellows generally available to you.
- A signed form of support (the form is downloadable on the application) from your shelter management or supervisor (e.g. Shelter Director or Board of Directors if the fellow applicant is Shelter Director). “Support” includes not only supporting your participation but also willingness to consider implementing positive, impactful changes in your organization that may stem from this fellowship.
Click here to view and complete the Northern Tier Shelter Fellowship Application. Have all documents ready to upload since the application cannot be saved or submitted until complete.
Deadline for submission is 9am Central Time on Monday, January 27, 2025. If selected for an interview, please note that interviews will occur January 28-31. Questions regarding the Northern Tier Fellowship Program or application can be sent to uwsheltermedicine@vetmed.wisc.edu.