Funding Opportunities

The Commission for Women is committed to promoting the advancement of women and girls through the upliftment of all faculty and staff. We invest in individuals, organizations and programs that achieve this mission. We encourage you to review the two funding opportunities below. You can contact one of the CFW Co-Chair's, Judy Walker or Christine Homan with any questions.

The Commission for Women’s Supplemental Professional Development Fund supports professional development activities of UM-Dearborn staff and faculty that promote the advancement of women and girls as well as all campus community by awarding stipends up to $500. 

Eligible usage includes: to attend conferences related to women’s issues, for travel expenses related to research, for staff and faculty’s educational or professional advancement, textbook purchases, etc.). Eligible conferences, workshops, seminars, or educational programs: may be in-person or virtual. Conferences, seminars, or workshops where the applicant is an attendee (but not presenting) are eligible for funding if the applicant provides clear reasoning for the importance of their attendance to their career advancement or research.

Ineligible usage includes: tuition assistance and/or conference meals. 

We will begin accepting applications in Fall 2026, and we'll keep a rolling deadline for our Supplemental Professional Development Fund until available funds have been awarded.  Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.

Please read the instructions and application form carefully and fill it out completely.  Since this is a competitive award, we're unable to accept incomplete or late applications.  Applicants are required to upload copies of any supporting documentation to support their professional development funding request (e.g. conference proposal, course registration, receipts) via the online application by the deadline.

Learn more about this funding opportunity

If you have any questions concerning eligibility or regarding the application form, please contact us: Judy Walker ([email protected]) or Christine Homan ([email protected]) Co-Chairs, CFW Professional Development Fund Committee.

Awardees for AY2025-26:

1.) Lisa Perry (Accounting Clerk, Behavioral Sciences) for the fees for review sessions for the Certification Examination for Research Administrators - CRA.

2.) Diana Smrt (Lecturer IV of Organizational Behavior) to present at the international MOBTS 2026 (“Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society”) Conference 2026.

3.) Francia Martinez Valencia (Associate Professor of Spanish) to attend international conferences.

4.) Lisa Perry (Accounting Clerk, Behavioral Sciences)  for the application and fees for the Certification Examination for Research Administrators - CRA.

5.) Jennifer Proctor ( Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Production) $500 towards airfare for the international portion of your research trip abroad.

6.) Georgina Hickey (Professor History) $500 towards airfare for the international portion of your research trip abroad.

7.) Lindsay Essig Croghan (Clinical Assistant Prof. of Applied Behavior Analysis) towards lodging accommodations to present at ABAI ("Association for Behavioral Analysis" 52nd Annual Convention.

8.) Dominique Bouavichith (Communications Coordinator/Workshop Education Coordinator) towards the course registration and travel expenses to attend a course at Cornell ILR.

9.) Elizabeth Clark (Internship Coordinator, CASL Internship Center) towards the registration fee for the virtual training cohort via Employer Relations Academy (ERA) 2026.

Awardees for AY2024-25:

1.) Raji Janakiraman (Lecturer III in Biology) for an eight week research immersion working with PhD Advisor Dr. Yves Brun's Lab at University De Montreal learning the latest Molecular Biology techniques.

2.) Anna Muller (Professor of History) for book translation fees of "An Ordinary Life? Journey of Tonia Lechtman" into Polish language.

3.)  Francine Banner (Professor of Sociology) promote book "Beyond Complicity" and present paper on gender and true crime at the Law & Society Conference 2025.

4.) Francia Martinez Valencia (Associate Professor of Spanish) for international research travel to the 59th International Congress of the AEPE in Valladolid, Spain 2025.

5.) Diana Smrt (Lecturer IV of Organizational Behavior) to present at the international MOBTS (“Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society”) Conference 2025.

We have supported many programs, including:

• Composing a Life, a celebration of retiring professors in CASL
• Group trip for students to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL)
• SOAR Program in CASL
• Women and Gender Studies events

Do you have an upcoming event or program idea that you would like for the CFW to support?

For further information and to apply, click on the following link: funding request form.