Support Underrepresented Students in Advertising
The AAF has developed the HBCUs for Advertising Fellowship to remove the financial, academic, and logistical barriers that may exist at often underfunded HBCUs and support underrepresented students along their advertising career journey. This initiative is pertinent and critical to ensuring that these students are not missing out on opportunities that could be essential to their professional development.
For Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) aren’t just places to learn, they’re places of power. HBCUs were among the first academic institutions to provide Black students access to higher education and have matriculated some of the most influential figures in their respective fields. The encouragement, enlightenment, and growth that powers students on campuses and classrooms across HBCUs have the potential to flourish or falter. Regarding advertising, between 1978-2014, the percentage of Black Americans that made up the advertising workforce went from 5% to merely 5.8%. Today, Black people remain significantly underrepresented in the ad industry. As an incubator for Black success stories, a large number of untapped Black talent can be found at HBCUs.
By supporting the HBCUs For Advertising Fellowship, your organization is making a conscious decision to invest in this underrepresented community that will directly affect change in the representation and opportunities of Black professionals in the advertising industry.
How Your Investment Will Work
HBCUs for Advertising Fellowship
The HBCUs for Advertising Fellowship provides a transformative journey for students, combining experiential learning with professional support to prepare them for impactful careers in advertising.
Hands-On Training with Industry Leaders
Through partnerships with high-performing brands, fellows gain immersive, hands-on experience, seeing firsthand how top companies integrate diverse perspectives within campaigns. This exposure empowers students to learn industry standards and fosters confidence in their own creative abilities as they approach real-world challenges.
Pitch Competition: From Concept to Client
The fellowship’s annual pitch competition gives students an invaluable opportunity to work in teams to develop, present, and defend a campaign concept to actual clients. This real-world scenario teaches critical skills in creative thinking, collaboration, and presentation, preparing students to navigate client relationships and industry expectations.
Networking and Professional Development Beyond the Classroom
The fellowship expands students' networks through exclusive industry events, connecting them with mentors, peers, and thought leaders who provide insights into advertising trends and career opportunities. This professional exposure extends their learning beyond the campus and equips them with industry relationships that support their future career growth.
Funding for Travel and Award Submissions
The fellowship also funds travel for both students and faculty to key industry events and supports their entries in major industry awards. These experiences are crucial, as they offer students an inside look at industry gatherings, providing context for the trends they learn in the classroom. Additionally, submitting their work for awards builds credibility and recognition, helping them enter the workforce with a portfolio that has been reviewed and appreciated by industry peers. This support underscores the fellowship's commitment to elevating HBCU talent by ensuring they are seen, heard, and valued in key industry spaces.
Together, these program elements create a comprehensive journey, enabling HBCU students to enter the advertising field equipped with training, confidence, and connections to thrive.
How You Can Support
This program eliminates the excuse of not being able to find talent and fill positions. HBCUs for Advertising opens a free-flowing pipeline of talent that has a breadth and depth of experience, insights and tenacity to achieve more.
By supporting the HBCUs for Advertising Fellowship, your organization will have an opportunity to support and engage with students from multiple HBCUs. This program offers your organization the opportunity to tap into a pool of talented HBCU students, shaping the curriculum for the next generation of advertising, empowering the students and faculty that will benefit from your mentorship.
To participate in the HBCUs for Advertising, please reach out to:
Erica Blake
Program Manager, Mosaic Center
Email