2026-2028 Autry Fellowship

MDC seeks an early career professional to serve as the George B. Autry Fellow for Southern Policy and Research. Individuals who have recently completed a college or graduate degree and are skilled in writing, participatory research, and southern policy are encouraged to apply.

About MDC

MDC envisions a South where all people thrive. Founded in 1967, MDC strengthens capacity, fosters collaboration, and builds influence to challenge systemic inequities for an equitable and inclusive South.

We support individual, organizational, and coalition changemakers across four focus areas: Economic Security & Mobility; Educational Equity; Equity-Centered Leadership & Philanthropy; and Rural Prosperity & Investment.

Grounded in the values of PEOPLE, POWER, PROGRESS, and PARTNERSHIP, we provide an array of services to organizations and institutions throughout 13 states in the U.S. South and other areas of the country. Services include training and capacity building, convening and facilitation, leadership and organizational coaching, network and coalition support, research, policy engagement, strategic communications, and more. Learn more at MDCinc.org.

About the Fellowship

The George B. Autry Fellowship for Southern Research and Policy is a two-year fellowship for early career professionals interested in equity-centered research and policy in the South. The fellowship provides a structured learning and professional development experience designed to build essential competencies in research, policy analysis, systems change, and strategic communications. Through hands-on project-based work, a co-designed capstone project, and intentional professional development, the fellow will develop transferable skills for their careers in 5 core competency areas:

1. Equitable policy and systems change

2. Applied research and policy analysis

3. Strategic communication and narrative framing

4. Nonprofit organizational development and nonprofit advocacy

5. Equity-centered leadership

Established in 2000, the Autry Fellowship celebrates the life and legacy of the late George B. Autry, MDC’s founding president and leader for 32 years. Echoing Autry’s passion for improving opportunities for people and places, the fellowship provides a unique opportunity for emerging professionals to build a body of work in service to MDC’s vision of a South where all people thrive. MDC has recruited a talented and passionate Autry Fellow every year for nearly 25 years.

Fellows have worked alongside MDC staff on a diverse portfolio of initiatives advancing equity and economic mobility across the South. Through hands-on collaboration, they have contributed to research, policy development, community engagement, and systems-change strategies addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges.

Alumni of the program have gone on to serve as state policy specialists, foundation program officers, business owners, nonprofit founders, and influential leaders across the public and private sectors—carrying forward George Autry’s commitment to advancing opportunity and strengthening communities.

Fellowship Arc

The fellow will have the opportunity to work with two to four of MDC’s four focus areas over the course of their fellowship. The specific fellowship arc is highly dependent on focus area needs and the fellow’s interests, but the following provides an example of what a fellow’s time might look like during the program:

1. May-June 2026 (~6 weeks): Onboarding

2. July 2026-April 2027 (10 months): Support and deliverables for Focus Areas 1 & 2

3. May 2027-February 2028 (10 months): Support and deliverables for Focus Areas 3 & 4

4. March-April 2028 (2 months): Capstone project (final product or suite of products co-designed with staff from one or more focus areas)

5. May 2028 (~2 weeks): Offboarding

MDC’s Director of Learning and Impact will serve as the fellow’s primary supervisor throughout the program, providing overall guidance, support, and performance feedback. In addition, the fellow will be paired with one or more Focus Area Advisors who will offer day-to-day guidance on project deliverables and support the fellow’s professional growth through coaching, mentorship, and issue-area expertise.

Primary Fellowship tasks include:

1. Support policy and systems change efforts by researching, analyzing, and developing materials such as fact sheets, briefs, case studies, explainers, toolkits, op-eds, public comments, and webinars

2. Translate insights from data, research, programming, and policy into clear messages that resonate with a variety of audiences and that can be shared via MDC’s website, news publications, and other public-facing platforms

3. Support evaluation activities, such as survey/interview/focus group design, data analysis, and reporting

4. Attend meetings convened by MDC, our partners, and/or key stakeholders to document insights and opportunities for research and advocacy

Additional duties may include:

5. Assist with meeting planning, coordination, facilitation, and notetaking

6. Contribute to the development of MDC’s policy agenda

7. Assist with onboarding and mentoring the 2027-2029 Autry Fellow during overlap year

8. Other tasks as directed by the Director of Learning & Impact (no more than 10%).

Key Qualities and Skills

1. Experience in policy analysis, participatory research methodologies and practice, strategic communications, community engagement, and/or program evaluation, ideally grounded in experience working in or with communities in the U.S. South.

2. Excellent oral and written skills to communicate with a variety of audiences. Ability to write and edit content of varying lengths, formality, and format. Skills in bilingual (English and Spanish) speaking, writing, etc. are a plus, but not required.

3. A sincere desire to strengthen racial equity and economic mobility in the South and willingness to explore issues of inclusion, power, privilege, and diversity.

4. Knowledge or experience related to one or more of MDC’s focus areas, or a strong interest in deepening knowledge in these areas.

5. Ability to think creatively and collaboratively, while also taking independent initiative; an exceptional commitment to personal integrity, professionalism, and excellence.

6. Skilled in project management, detail-oriented customer service, and responsiveness to staff and community needs.

7. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, virtual meeting applications, and internet research.

This is a hybrid (virtual and in-person) fellowship. Candidates must be available to easily drive to Durham and/or other MDC partner communities in North Carolina 1-2 times per month.

Applicants must be within three years of completing their college degree or within one year of completing a graduate degree. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Fellowship Commitment

This is a two-year, full-time (40 hours/week) fellowship to begin in May 2026 and conclude in May 2028. Working remotely is standard at MDC, however, the fellow has access to work space at the MDC office.

The fellow is expected to attend all MDC staff meetings, which include 3-6 virtual meetings per year (2 hours each), plus quarterly in-person meetings in Durham (1-2 days each). In addition, the fellow will attend monthly Cross Programs meetings (virtual, 90 minutes) with staff who support the programmatic work of MDC’s Focus Areas. The fellow will be expected to travel with MDC staff across North Carolina 1-2 times per month and to other areas of the American South on occasion.

Compensation, Benefits, and Work-Life Balance

Annual salary: $55,000 + benefits, and up to $1,000 in professional development support.

MDC offers an excellent benefits package. This position will be a full-time exempt position and is eligible for a full package of benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance; short-term and long-term disability; life insurance; vacation, sick, and personal leave; employee assistance program, wellness benefit, remote work stipend and paid retirement account contributions with match.

MDC is committed to sustainable work practices and investment in the long-term skills-building of employees. The fellow will participate in intentional professional development throughout their experience, including training in facilitation, conflict mediation, and equity-centered approaches, as well as broader professional coaching on subjects like office culture navigation and job searching. The fellow will also have access to professional development funding to support participation in other activities relevant to their individual career interests.

As part of our commitment to work-life balance, in addition to our generous benefits package, the fellow can participate in an organization-wide summer “Focus Week” with no meetings to allow for concentrated project and self-development work, may optionally join “Summer Self-Care” Fridays (specific dates in July and August) when staff finish at 12pm, and enjoy a full week off in late December for “Winter Break.”

Toward the latter part of the fellow’s second year, MDC will provide limited career and job coaching support to assist the fellow in finding their next opportunity beyond the organization.

To Apply

Please submit one combined PDF with your application materials via JazzHR. A link to the JazzHR application portal can be found here:

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter addressed to MDC describing your interest in this position

2. Resume

3. Strong writing sample that you have completed within the last two years, ideally with a research or policy focus; writing samples should be ~1200 words or less, so please provide an excerpt if the original is longer.

4. Contact information for three references. Note: We will not contact references without first notifying the applicant.

Questions about the application process should be emailed to [email protected].

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through March 11, 2026. Preliminary interviews will be conducted through mid-April 2026, via Zoom and last roughly 75 minutes. Final candidates may be asked to participate in an in-person interview in Durham in mid-late April. The desired start date is May 18, 2026. The selected candidate should plan to participate in onboarding activities at MDC’s office in Durham on that date.

MDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and members of underrepresented groups to effectively achieve our mission. Reasonable accommodations are available on request. For more info about MDC, go to