AATH awards funding to the Humor Academy educational program and Annual Conference to students, faculty, and professionals in peace studies, peace education, and peacebuilding, with the mission to promote peace through humor.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2025
Jill Poole Knox, a teacher and advocate for humor and peace, passed away in 2021. This fellowship has been established to honor her legacy by enhancing collaboration and synergy between the fields of peace studies and therapeutic humor.
OVERVIEW:
The Jill Knox Peace Through Humor Fellowship aims to promote peace through humor by offering peace studies students, faculty, and professionals the opportunity for professional development through AATH's Humor Academy Program.
AWARDS:
The fellowship is for three years and includes tuition for the Humor Academy, Annual Conference registration, a conference travel stipend, AATH membership, and mentorship from AATH.
EXPECTATIONS:
Each honoree is expected to commit to completing the three-year Humor Academy program. Should an individual be unable to continue to a second or third year of studies or fail to meet the program's requirements, the balance of their award will be forfeited and awarded to another individual.
HUMOR ACADEMY:
The Humor Academy is an online curriculum that begins each year onsite on the Thursday preceding AATH's Annual Conference. Participants continue to meet monthly throughout the year via Zoom. Each participant is expected to spend three years participating in the Humor Academy. At the end of the second year, the participant is expected to produce a written project on a topic chosen by the participant and approved by the advisors. Recipients of this grant are expected to focus their written projects on the use of humor to enhance their effectiveness in the peace studies/conflict resolution field, either in an applied/practical way or through research on the topic of humor for peace. More information on Humor Academy may be found at:
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
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At this time, applicants must either already hold a valid U.S. visa or not require a visa to enter the United States (for example, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or citizens of countries eligible for visa-free entry). This is a temporary restriction, and we hope to broaden eligibility in the future as circumstances allow.
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Must be a student currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies, or a faculty member engaged in peace studies-related programs, or a professional in the field of peacebuilding
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Interested in learning how to incorporate the use of humor into their respective professional/academic environments
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Must be willing to commit to the Humor Academy educational program for three years, which includes monthly virtual meetings and an annual onsite multi-day conference event.
Application Deadline: November 15, 2025
Recipients will be informed no later than December 15th.