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Call for Applications: Teaching on Purpose

Teaching on PurposeThe Kenan Institute for Ethics invites applications for Teaching on Purpose, a fellowship program for Ph.D. students. Teaching on Purpose brings doctoral students and faculty together to explore what it means to be a good teacher of undergraduates and to cultivate educational practices that will help their students flourish.

Please note that the deadline to apply is November 19, 11:59 p.m.

Teaching on Purpose is a program of The Purpose Project at Duke, a collaboration between the Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke Divinity School, and the Office of the Provost.

PROGRAM

Teaching on Purpose is a one-semester fellowship program for doctoral students, from any discipline, who have a heart for teaching undergraduates. Through readings, weekly conversations, and practical and reflective assignments, Teaching on Purpose Fellows cultivate a clearer and deeper purpose as aspiring teachers who soon will be (and maybe already are) playing a vital role in the flourishing of undergraduates. They also develop confidence in the value of their teaching and research, ideas for courses, and teaching skills that make them more competitive on the job market.

This fellowship program is a unique opportunity to

  • be part of a dynamic, cross-disciplinary learning community of graduate students who care about teaching
  • explore questions and ideas rarely discussed but fundamental to teaching in higher education
  • practice pedagogical approaches that cultivate curiosity and make learning meaningful
  • learn how to create compelling disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses that engage a broad range of students; and
  • gain insight from faculty across disciplines on teaching and other professional matters.

NOTE: Fellows can also earn course credit for ETHICS 890S, which counts for the Certificate in College Teaching.

COMMITMENT

  • Weekly 2.5-hour sessions (Thursdays, 12–2:30PM, lunch provided), January 8–April 9 (no session March 12)
  • Weekly readings, written reflections, and practical assignments (3–5 hours/week)
  • Final dinner on Thursday, April 16, ~5:30–8:30PM (exact time TBD)
  • Must be able to attend most sessions, with no more than 2 absences due to prior engagements (prior notification required).

ELIGIBILITY

  • Discipline: Ph.D. student in any discipline taught at the undergraduate level (at Duke or other institutions)
  • Status: Must have passed preliminary exams
  • No conflicts with other funding: Participation in this program must not conflict with policies of departmental or external funding sources.
  • Approval of DGS: Applicants must confirm at the time of application that their DGS is aware that they are applying. The Purpose Project team will reach out to the DGSs of selected applicants to confirm approval of participation

AWARD

  • Fellows will receive a $1000 fellowship award upon completion of the program and its requirements.

APPLY

Applications for spring 2026 are due Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Please review eligibility requirements and commitment before applying.

Faculty are also invited to nominate graduate students from their departments whom they believe are excellent candidates for this fellowship. To do so, please email Katherine Jo at katherine.jo@duke.edu.

Applications requirements include:

  • Responses to four short-answer questions, two recorded on video, two written.
  • Brief written reference from faculty member or other professional familiar with your commitment to and experience with (if applicable) teaching.

Please complete the application at the link below and have your reference submit their recommendation according to the prompt within the form by Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Apply Now

Contact

If you have questions about the program, contact Katherine Jo at katherine.jo@duke.edu.

Katherine Jo is the Director of Program Development and Design for The Purpose Project. In this role, she develops courses, programs, and pedagogy that engage students in questions of meaning, purpose, and character. Her undergraduate courses include “Education and (Un)happiness: The Promises and Risks of Elite Higher Education” and “What should I do with my life? The Art of Choosing Well.” In addition to teaching undergraduate courses, she leads programming for graduate and professional school students, including Teaching on Purpose, which prepares doctoral students for their future roles as educators, and is an instructor in the Program in Education. She also leads workshops for faculty at and outside of Duke on teaching in ethically formative ways.

Katherine serves on the Advisory Board of The Project on the Good Surgeon at Duke Medical School and has served on the Project Leadership Team of Yale University’s Life Worth Living Network. Her scholarly interests include philosophies of liberal learning, the place of leisure in education, and faculty vocational identity. She has previously worked in career development, undergraduate advising, and faculty development. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University, an M.A. in Philosophy of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.