Apply to be a 2025-2026 BPP Conoley Fellow

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Conoley Fellows of the Beach Pluralism Project. 

The Beach Pluralism Project Invites You to Apply for a $5K Conoley Fellowship -- jump to "how to apply"

We are excited to invite undergraduate students to apply to be part of the second cohort of the Conoley Fellows, an initiative of the Beach Pluralism Project. This 2 semester-long program will train a select group of students in the theory and practice of pluralism, with a stipend of $2,500 for each semester, for a total of $5,000. Students must receive a B or above in the pluralism course to receive the stipend and to continue for the spring semester. We welcome all undergraduate applicants. Our fall 2025 pluralism course runs M/W from 2:00 to 3:15, so only apply if your schedule is open at that time. 

info on applying, graphic of different colored hands and globe

Do you want to help create a more inclusive, compassionate, and socially equitable society–a society that values a diversity of voices? Do you want to learn how to proactively and positively engage with people who have different identities and opposing views? Do you want to gain skills in conflict resolution, fostering belonging, interfaith competency, and peacemaking? 

Pluralism offers “an ethic for living together in a diverse society” (https://pluralism.org). Pluralism creates pathways to value religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity, and to navigate interfaith and cross-community relationships.  

As a Conoley Fellow, you will gain:

  • A deeper understanding of pluralism and the skills to promote it effectively.
  • Invaluable leadership, conflict resolution, communication and negotiating skills that are urgently needed in professional contexts.
  • Skills to counteract social divisiveness and polarization.
  • The tools to generate a lasting positive impact on communities and on our greater social landscape.

This program will consist of a two-course sequence. The first will be a course in fall 2025 which exposes students to various approaches to pluralism, theories and practices, and equips students to apply those principles. The second course in spring 2026 requires students to implement the concepts gained the previous semester, to gain hands-on experience in pluralism through engagement with community leaders, and to create a final project to be highlighted in an end-of-the-year event. 

Students MUST also attend extracurricular activities to earn their full stipend. These include one fieldtrip per semester, and two fellowship dinners. 

Diana Eck has referred to pluralism as “the energetic engagement with diversity” (Eck 2023). We are envisioning a broad definition of pluralism which supports constructive interaction among diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural identities. Fall 2025’s cohort will be composed of 20 to 25 students, to foster conversation, connection, and belonging. 

How to Apply: In order to be a part of this program, you can apply by submitting the application form, an unofficial copy of your transcripts, optional resume, and a short statement (300-500 words) describing your own experience with pluralism or where you envision pluralism could be cultivated in any community or group to which you belong. Applications are due on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Email all documents to Sophia.Pandya@csulb.edu and Kathryn.Chew@csulb.edu. Successful applicants will be notified by Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

We will hold an informational session on Tuesday April 15th at 1:00 PM in ED2-158. Please apply to the program! You can address any questions to Dr. Pandya or Dr. Chew, emails above. We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of the Beach Pluralism Program Conoley Fellows!