Terner Student Fellowship

The Terner Student Fellowship will launch with an inaugural cohort in fall 2026. Recipients will have the unique opportunity to apply the rigors of UC Berkeley graduate studies to work with foremost housing researchers and policy experts on projects that inform and shape policy at the local, state, and federal levels.

I. Donald Terner was an indomitable force in the housing world who worked fearlessly to drive innovation in housing in pursuit of scalable and systemic solutions. Don taught at UC Berkeley and took great pride in educating and mentoring students. Don’s spirit—which guided his teaching, policy work at the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and social entrepreneurship as a nonprofit housing developer—is what inspired the creation of the Center in his name and, 10 years later, the Terner Student Fellowship in his honor.

The Fellowship Experience for Students

Recipients will serve as Terner Student Fellows for two years and receive a number of benefits:

• Guaranteed tuition coverage for two semesters of the Master of City Planning degree program
• Guaranteed placement for at least one semester as a Graduate Student Researcher at the Terner Center, with the possibility to extend to two semesters or an internship placement
• Participation in skill-building and leadership development activities with a peer learning cohort
• A networking event with fellowship donors
• Personalized mentorship and ongoing professional coaching from Terner Center faculty and staff

Educating Next-Generation Leaders to Advance Housing Solutions

The fellowship will:

• support and cultivate the next generation of leaders in housing
• help to recruit and retain top talent to the University of California, Berkeley
• assist with the financial burdens of graduate study
• create a pathway from recruitment to post-graduate studies placement

Students with lived experience of housing insecurity are particularly encouraged to apply.

Get Involved

Benefactor Benefits: $50,000

• Inclusion in the Terner Center Funders’ Council, a unique opportunity to offer insights on Center work and connect with other leaders in the housing industry
• Greater engagement with students through an annual networking event
• Recognition as a Benefactor through the website and newsletter
• Annual fellowship report, including information about each Fellow
• Early access to select publications

Leader Benefits: $25,000

• Inclusion in the Terner Center Funders’ Council, a unique opportunity to offer insights on Center work and connect with other leaders in the housing industry
• Greater engagement with students through an annual networking event
• Greater engagement with students through an annual networking event
• Recognition as a Leader through the website and newsletter
• Annual fellowship report, including information about each Fellow

Champion Benefits: $10,000

• Deeper engagement with students through an annual networking event
• Recognition as a Champion through the website and newsletter
• Annual fellowship report, including information about each Fellow

Friend Benefits: $5,000

• Recognition as a Friend through the website and newsletter
• Annual fellowship report, including information about each Fellow

For more information, please contact Jessie Modlin at jmodlin@berkeley.edu. 

Thank you to Burbank Housing, Century Housing, EAH Housing, and Mary and Ron Nahas for their founding support of the Terner Student Fellowship.