The Maxwell Institute sponsors a graduate fellowship program that gives financial aid to students pursuing advanced degrees in fields of special interest to the Institute. Named in honor of the late eminent Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh W. Nibley, this program fosters the next generation of faithful scholars by providing financial aid to students enrolled in accredited PhD programs in areas of study directly related to the work and mission of the Maxwell Institute. Of particular interest is work done on the Bible, the Book of Mormon and other restoration scriptures, early Christianity, and ancient temples.

Applicants cannot be employed at the Maxwell Institute or be related to an Institute employee. Those interested in applying for the first time or who wish to renew their fellowships for the 2011—2012 academic year should submit a completed application form and all supporting documentation by August 31, 2011. The Nibley Fellowship guidelines and an application form are available at mi.byu.edu/nibleyfellowships or by e-mailing nibleyfellowships@byu.edu.

The Maxwell Institute awarded Nibley Fellowships to the following graduate students for the 2010—2011 academic year:

Continuing Nibley Fellows are Matthew L. Bowen, biblical studies, School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University of America; Jason Combs, New Testament and Early Christianity, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Ian Fowles, history of Christianity and religions of North America, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Seth Kohrman, biblical studies, Divinity School, Vanderbilt University; David Joseph Larsen, temple themes in Bible and intertestamental literature, School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews; Daniel O. McClellan, Dead Sea Scrolls and monotheism, Trinity Western University; Dave Nielsen, biblical studies, Duke University; Jacob Rennaker, Hebrew Bible, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Avram Richard Shannon, Hebrew Bible, The Ohio State University; Daniel B. Sharp, New Testament, School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University; Justin Soderquist, New Testament and Septuagint, Trinity Western University; Joseph Stair, Mesoamerican anthropology, University of Kentucky.

First-time Nibley Fellows are Christopher James Blythe, American religious history, Florida State University; Ryan C. Davis, Hebrew Bible and comparative studies, University of Texas at Austin; Amy Fisher, sacred space and Jewish-Christian relations, Cambridge University; Courtney Jean Innes, Jewish-Christian relations and archaeology, School of Divinity, Cambridge University; and Jeremy Talmage, history of Christianity, Divinity School, Yale University.

With the increased cost of graduate programs nowadays, we would like to be able to increase the amounts we can give to our Nibley Fellows. If you would like to contribute, please contact Ed Snow at 801-422-9047 or ed_snow@byu.edu.