UW–Madison’s Joy Emmanuel, a first-year PhD student in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), has been selected as a 2025 Jim Rhatigan Fellow by the NASPA Foundation. This competitive fellowship supports emerging leaders in higher education and student affairs by providing scholarships to attend the NASPA Annual Conference.

Emmanuel’s research focuses on enhancing institutional policies and practices to improve access and success for underrepresented students — particularly first-generation, low-income students of color. She notes that the fellowship “is a reflection and testament to my passion and commitment to advancing the values of excellence, equity, and innovation that Dr. Jim Rhatigan embodied in the higher education and student affairs field.”
The fellowship covers registration for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference and one additional pre-conference or affiliated event of the recipient’s choice. Fellows will be recognized during the NASPA and NASPA Foundation Award Ceremony on March 1.
“This prestigious recognition further validates my ability to continue making a meaningful impact in students’ lives, as well as in the higher education field, through my academic and professional endeavors,” says Emmanuel. “It not only acknowledges my past achievements but also empowers me to pursue my research interests and career goals with renewed confidence.”
To learn more about the Jim Rhatigan Fellowship and other NASPA Foundation scholarships, visit the NASPA Foundation website.