Social Work Graduate Fellowships

Earn your Master of Social Work and reduce your tuition with a graduate fellowship.

Fellowship Types

The Master of Social Work fellowship program offers graduate students the opportunity to receive a Presidential Fellowship, which covers 100% of tuition for the first year of the program (up to 36 credits). This fellowship includes a 9-month, unpaid placement, requiring a commitment of 25 hours of work per week.

Note that, because of the 900 hours of field work integrated into the MSW curriculum, fellowships are not available for the second year of the program.

2026-2027 MSW Fellowship Opportunities

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The Accessibility Services Graduate Fellow will work closely with Accessibility Services staff, the Academic Success Center staff, and the college community. Over the course of a year-long experience, the Accessibility Services Graduate Fellow will gain an understanding of college disability services and be involved in the process of accommodations from the initial stage of “Requesting for Services" through ongoing student support. The Accessibility Services Graduate Fellow will collaborate on projects that are of interest to the Graduate Fellow and that benefit the Office.

Over the year, the Accessibility Services Graduate Fellowrwill be responsible for learning the process for outreach to students, faculty and staff on behalf of the general office workflow and our Testing Center as well as maintaining a caseload of students as an Academic Success Coach. Throughout the year, the Fellow will gain a basic understanding of the FERPA and ADA laws that govern college-level accommodations and communication with students and families. The Fellow will begin to have a deeper understanding and working knowledge of the ADA and other legislation to interpret how accommodations are translated into the college environment. Should there be any special career interests for the Fellow, there will be opportunities to work with the supervisor on exploring these goals, such as gaining supervisory experience, specialized groups/programs, and/or participation in other accommodation areas/trainings/presentations.

Position Responsibilities

Front desk coverage to support with drop-in questions from students and faculty and to assist with the Testing Center.
Advise/coach students who are registered with the Accessibility Services Office.
Maintain the Testing Center process including: working with students and faculty, and maintaining tracking.
Responsible for the office email triage process and email responses.
Administrative tasks that include updating and maintaining the Accessibility Services student roster and student follow-up/outreach (including student newsletter).
Collaborate with the staff on projects that are of interest to the Graduate Fellow, including co-facilitating workshops, developing student groups, or other retention initiatives.
Collaborate with the staff with formatting alternate texts, training students on the use of assistive technology, and hiring peer notetakers.
Attend meetings with the team of Accessibility Services staff.
Participate in Open Houses, Accepted Student Days, and Orientation events.

Position Requirements

Interest in the field of services for college students with disabilities.
Genuine interest in the field of college access, specifically with disability services.
Excellent computer, organizational, and communication skills.
Willingness to learn and adjust to a fast-paced work environment with the ability to flexibly shift priorities.
Ability to follow established rules of confidentiality.
Ability to work independently and also collaborate with other members of the office.

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The graduate fellow(s) will work in the Dean of Students Office and assist with the facilitation of Merrimack College’s Crisis Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) system, which includes individual student outreach/support, case management, promotion/awareness of the CARE team, and training others to use the CARE system.

Position Responsibilities

Conduct outreach and triage of student cases.
Plan, execute, and assess student programming on mental health and wellbeing, including occasionally offering programs in residential campus areas.
Assist in hosting trainings and workshops for faculty, staff, and students across campus on topics such as mindfulness, stress reduction, mental health, and wellness.
Promote the use of CARE with key campus partners through education and training.
Participate in the review of weekly CARE reports through the Advocate database.
Assist in the overall case management of CARE reports and reporting tools.
Strategic Planning & Assessment:
Assist in the facilitation of needs assessments, including a large-scale survey and targeted focus groups to identify care needs on campus.
Research best practices in health promotion including care, student success, and mental health awareness.
Identify and collaborate with student groups, departments, and/or faculty interested in cosponsoring various CARE-related initiatives.

Position Requirements

Enthusiasm for educating college students about their own well-being (healthy habits, bystander intervention, substance use and abuse, mental health, etc.).
Demonstrated ability to plan events with educational outcomes.
Outstanding communication and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, follow up, and take initiative on new projects.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and remain non-judgmental when addressing student problems and concerns.

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The office of Intercultural Initiatives (II) is seeking a Graduate Fellow to provide support, leadership and guidance regarding the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus. Working in the Office of Intercultural Initiatives and reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Unity House, the Intercultural Fellow will provide both administrative and programmatic support for multiple DEI student-focused initiatives using a variety of program management, project management, communication, data management, and organizational skills. The Unity house provides programming and peer support services to traditionally under-represented populations at Merrimack College which is focused on the further advancement of a school-wide culture that welcomes and celebrates all students. We are looking for a vibrant advocate for social justice who also wants to participate in the continued development of this division at Merrimack College. This position requires a state date one week prior to the official start date of the program.

Position Responsibilities

Plan, execute, and assess Intercultural Initiatives programs and events while supporting daily operations within the Unity House.
Oversee and assist 12 Unity House Coordinators through supervision, scheduling, and regular check-ins.
Provide direct support to underrepresented student populations to promote access, belonging, and opportunity on the Merrimack campus.
Create and build upon campus partnerships to increase Intercultural Initiatives visibility.
Participate in and facilitate trainings that educate the Merrimack community on Intercultural Initiatives goals.

Position Requirements

Maintains a collegial and professional manner when interacting with students, administration, and faculty.
Works well with other fellows and student workers, working with and supervising student workers.
Experience with event planning, preferably in a higher education setting.
Displays utmost discretion and remains nonjudgmental when addressing student problems and concerns.

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The Office of Wellness Education fosters the overall well-being of the Merrimack College community. We assist students in locating the proper resources to address any health & wellness concerns including substance abuse, mental health & healthy habits. The Fellow for Wellness Education works with the Wellness Education team: the Wellness Educator, other Graduate Fellow, and the Counseling Office to develop, implement & evaluate health promotion programs & activities on these & other health/wellness topics.

Training in health promotion & related topics provided as needed. Occasional evening/weekend hours are required to accommodate programming needs & will be counted toward regular weekly hours.

Position Responsibilities

Coordinate & evaluate Late Night Programs: Regular (1-2 per month) weekend late-night (7pm – 12am) substance-free programming both on & off campus. Facilitation of Late Night Programs is shared with all fellows.
Independently develop and facilitate one wellness and health promotion campaign/program on a topic chosen in advance with the Wellness Educator.
Work collaboratively with Wellness Education Team to implement signature initiatives:
- Wellness Week: The Fall signature initiative of Wellness Education which aims to educate students to prioritize their health and wellbeing in a holistic manner.
- Love Your Body Week: The Spring signature initiative which aims to promote positive body image and raise awareness for eating disorders.
- Mindful Merrimack: An uplifting mental health promotion and suicide prevention event of interactive expo booths led by multiple campus departments and groups.
Collaboratively share educational information and promote programming and office initiatives on social media with the Wellness Education Fellow and work study students.
Assist in Wellness Education’s presence at Admission events: Open House, Admitted Student Day.
Maintain a positive, team attitude and complete all duties and tasks as assigned in a timely manner.
Other tasks related to Wellness Education as assigned by the Wellness Educator.

Position Requirements

CMHC/SW:
- Assist the Wellness Educator in advising the Wellness Peer Educators including training, attending weekly meetings, recruitment, selection & development of program.
- Assist the Wellness Educator in managing mental health related CARE cases including running 1-on-1 wellness coaching meetings, when needed.
- Develop and/or run two mental health screening days per semester to promote the use of online screenings.
Health Sciences:
- Assist the Wellness Educator in, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD), Bystander, and Relationship programming including administering training and workshops, and creating educational content to support division wide initiatives surrounding these topics.
- Assist the Wellness Educator with coordination of cross-campus collaboration efforts and messaging around physical and nutritional health programming, and creating and providing educational materials.

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The MSW fellow will serve as part of our clinical treatment team, providing clinical and case management care to students, along with campus wide programming and education.

Position Responsibilities

The Case Manager’s main role is to provide bridge support in connecting students to community resources. There will be times where a student needs additional support, outside of what the center can offer. The Case Manager will assist students in finding resources, contacting and connecting to resources and navigating any obstacles or difficult feelings. Some examples of resources might be:

Outpatient therapy either locally or in their home area
Psychopharmacology
Neurological testing
Community support groups such as AA, DBSA etc.
Community group therapy
Specialized treatment (ex. Disordered eating, trauma, substance use etc.)
Food and housing support
Legal support

These resources could be in lieu of working with a clinician at the center or as a supplemental support. During these student interactions, the Case Manager will also be tasked with providing empathy, validation, stress management etc. to support the student in the moment. There will also be a need to utilize motivational interviewing skills if the student is presenting as ambivalent or “stuck.”

The Case Manager will also be responsible for helping update and create resource lists for local supports which will live in the Counseling Center Share Drive for all to access. They will also outreach to local providers to create connections and relationships for more streamlined referrals.

The Case Manager will also hold daily Brief Assessment blocks where they will provide initial assessments for first time students and refer them to appropriate resources. Typical resources include:

Scheduling an intake with a clinician in the Counseling Center
Scheduling a follow up case management appointment with yourself
Providing information for registering with UWill
Referral to The Academic Success Center or other campus offices that better meet their needs

Finally, the Case Manager will work with graduate fellows in CARE and OWE to develop programming, outreach, workshops and groups to address mental health trends of the student population.

Position Requirements

This is an in person position, fellow will be required to be in office during fellowship hours. Fellows must attend weekly Wednesday afternoon clinical consultation meetings and weekly individual supervision.

Location: Lawrence, MA

Job Description

The Merrimack College Fellow is a soup-to-nuts position, allowing the Fellow a variety of experiences in a non-profit setting. And will be tailored to the individual student, the student’s major and the organizational need. It could include: supporting the Diaper Pantry/Diaper Bank programs, providing staff support for the Soup’s On! Fundraising Dinner and Auction, Social Media/Marketing communications, and coordinating volunteers throughout our agency.

Position Responsibilities

Social Media, Marketing and Outreach
- Initiate email-based marketing communications using Bloomerang donor/volunteer database, to assist various Neighbors In Need fundraising and volunteer campaigns.
- Support and/or create a presence for NIN on various social networking platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.
- Assist with Annual Meeting and Annual Fundraiser collateral material including possible video, slide shows, etc.
Volunteer Coordination & Recognition
- Recruit & schedule individual volunteers for warehouse, diaper pantry, food pantries and deliveries – up to 50 volunteers each week.
- Regular volunteer communication to new volunteers making sure applications are complete, and instructions are provided prior to volunteer experience.
- Manage Bloomerang volunteer platform for scheduling.
- Coordinate with volunteer groups (i.e. churches, scouts, schools) to assist in the Warehouse and food pantries.
- Possible onsite presence for volunteer-related activities.
- Coordinate annual volunteer recognition event(s).
Soup’s On Staffing
- Provide staff support to committee planning event.
- Solicit silent auction item donations.
- Recruit and engage volunteers in mailings and day of the event.
- Track and record auction items in Google Doc spreadsheet and auction software.
- Assist with basketing, signage and other collateral support.
Diaper Pantry/Bank
- Support the Infant Program by actively engaging client families, client service and referrals.
- Assist with client and donor tracking procedures, including distribution of formula, diapers and infant clothing.
Food/Diaper Deliveries
- Route deliveries of food or diapers using a variety of Google spreadsheets and mapping tools.
- Communicate to delivery clients and delivery volunteers to ensure smooth delivery coordination.

Position Requirements

Proficiency at using Microsoft Word, and Excel, as well as Google Documents and Sheets.
Knowledge of various social networking platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Some evening and late afternoon hours.
Must have own transportation - some local travel required (Greater Lawrence – mostly Lawrence and Andover).
Must demonstrate an interest in food distribution, hunger issues, health, and nutrition, hospitality and/or community service.

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The Community Standards Prevention Graduate Fellow supports Merrimack’s efforts to reduce student harm through proactive education, bystander intervention training, and early-intervention practices. The fellow helps develop and facilitate prevention programs, collaborates with campus partners on wellness initiatives, and provides administrative and student-support assistance for meetings, follow-up conversations, and general office operations. This role offers hands-on experience in prevention education, conflict resolution, student conduct, and student support work, preparing graduate students for careers across Student Affairs, Health Promotion, Title IX, and other community-focused roles.

Position Responsibilities

Create monthly prevention programming focused on interpersonal and power-based violence, alcohol/marijuana misuse, and other recurring harm trends.
Build prevention campaigns aligned with Massachusetts/statewide expectations (e.g., Hazing, Sexual Assault Awareness, Alcohol/Drug Education).
Assist with non-hearing student meetings focused on education, support, and early intervention.
Collaborate with The Office of Wellness on prevention initiatives related to substance use, mental health, relationships, and general student safety.
Support the development of the Community Standards Peer Educator program.
Facilitate ongoing bystander intervention workshops (Property, Bias, Alcohol/Drugs, Hazing Prevention, etc.).
Facilitate CHOICES and BASICS sessions.
Support delivery of other prevention and wellness programming across campus.
Conduct CARE outreach and help manage student CARE files.
Coordinate scheduling for mediations, workshops, and student appointments.
Maintain organized digital files, workshop materials, and resource libraries.
Draft and send routine communications with students (confirmations, reminders, follow-ups).
Provide general departmental support during high-volume periods.

Position Requirements

Quality organizational skills
Superior communication skills
Comfortable facilitating conversations and workshops to student groups (as many as 20–30 a session)
Comfortable facilitating small group and one-on-one discussions
Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively
Strong confidentiality skills
Proficiency in Microsoft products
Proficiency in Google products
Willingness to learn the Advocate, Qualtrics, and 3rd Millennium data systems

Location: North Andover, MA

Job Description

The Student-Athlete Academic Support and Compliance Fellow will be involved in the day-to-day responsibilities surrounding the academic and compliance regulations set forth by the NCAA and Merrimack College. The Fellow will be responsible for assisting the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs in monitoring and supporting the Varsity student athletes’ academic progress and tracking all compliance for the 25 Division I teams. In this role, the Fellow will develop and maintain programs to foster a positive experience for student-athletes as students, athletes and citizens at Merrimack. The candidate will gain valuable experience working cross-functionally with several departments at Merrimack to ensure the success of the student athletes.

Position Responsibilities

Assisting in academic monitoring and support of current student-athletes and prospective student-athletes including collaboration with athletic administration, coaches, Faculty Athletic Representative and the Academic Success Center.
Serving as a one-to-one academic counselor for a caseload of student-athletes, especially those who are academically ineligible and first-year student-athletes.
Monitoring Student-Athlete Study Hours.
Developing and promoting student-athlete education, leadership initiatives, and programming for varsity programs.
Helping to monitor and increase athletics’ retention rates and conducting exit interviews for student-athletes who decide to leave an athletics program.
Supporting the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Assisting with the development of programming and initiatives in support of at-risk student-athletes.
Coordinating NCAA-mandated yearly sexual assault prevention training for student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
Working collaboratively with a variety of offices outside the Athletics Department to ensure the success of student-athletes, including Residence Life, Academic Success Center, Academic Advisors, and the Student Affairs Office.
Advising prospective and committed student-athletes during the admission and matriculation process.
Assisting with required reporting including but not limited to the NCAA financial report, Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Rates, and EADA reports.
Assists with the evaluation and certification of initial eligibility of student-athletes and monitors the continuing eligibility of student-athletes to ensure academic progress towards degree.
Assists in the monitoring of playing and practice seasons and countable athletic related activity (CARA).
Serves as a resource for coaches and student-athletes regarding NCAA rules compliance questions.
Assists with monitoring official and unofficial visit requests to ensure compliance through NCAA legislation.
Operates NCAA and ARMS software to help track overall department-wide compliance.
Assists in developing and updating the student-athlete handbook annually.
Monitors compliance with NCAA legislation, including all policies, procedures, and forms.
Assists in managing playing and practice season declarations.
Collaborates with the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs to provide rules education sessions for student-athletes, athletic department staff and coaches, and key campus personnel.
Assists with various reports, including but not limited to Academic Progress Rate (APR), Sports Sponsorship and Demographics, EADA, and other conference and NCAA required reports.

Position Requirements

Interest in college readiness and developmental education, student services and support, and retention
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; excellent organizational and time management skills
Demonstrated ability to take initiative, manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
Proficiency with computer software including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Google
An interest in pursuing a career in college athletics, higher education or similar field
Ability to maintain confidentiality and remain non-judgmental when addressing student problems and concerns

Social Work Fellowship Process

How To Apply

Click the “Apply Now” button below or go to gps.merrimack.edu/apply to begin or resume your graduate application.
Within your app, select “Yes” for “Are you applying to a fellowship?”
Submit your application. Be sure to complete the required Fellowship essay.
Receive your admission decision. If admitted to the master’s program, you’ll receive further instructions about the fellowship process.

Important Information for the Social Work Fellowship Program

We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible for your best chance at a preferred placement. Applications will be accepted until all fellowship positions have been filled.

Priority Fellowship Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
Initial Rankings Form Available: February 5, 2026
Initial Rankings Deadline: February 13, 2026
Fellowship Interviews: March 2-5, 2026
Post-Interview Rankings Deadline: March 6, 2026
Match Decisions: Late March 2026
First Day of Fellowship Training: August 2026
Duration of Fellowship Placement: August 2026 to late May 2027

The process is as follows:

Submit your online application. Be sure to indicate your fellowship interest within your application.
Submit your initial ranking form. Students who are accepted for admission and invited to interview for a fellowship will be eligible to review and rank their preferred positions. If you are invited, your invitation will include a deadline for submitting your selections. Please note: we do not guarantee that you will be invited to interview for your top selections.
Complete your site interviews. Speak directly with site representatives to learn more about the position and responsibilities.
Submit your post-interview rankings. After the interviews, both students and sites must complete and submit their post-interview ranking forms, ranking their preferences for final placement.
Receive your match notification. Match letters will be sent to all students and supervisors.

Please note:

Participation in the fellowship placement process does not guarantee a fellowship. Sites will independently decide which candidates to invite for interviews. Please note that interviews are not guaranteed with your selected sites.
Deposits are due five business days after matches are sent to students.
As a two year program, the fellowship scholarship is only awarded and applied for the first year of the program. You will not be eligible for any other discounts or scholarships.
If you are admitted into the traditional program but not offered a fellowship, you may be considered for a Dean scholarship.
If you are originally awarded a scholarship and then are given a fellowship placement, you will no longer receive the merit scholarship. The fellowship will replace any other discounts.

Questions? All interested students should email [email protected] for further information.

Dean and Alumni Scholarships

Dean and Alumni Scholarships are available to students who are not receiving a fellowship. No additional application is needed.