NevadaToday
Jenna Altherr Flores, Ph.D., the new director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships (OUF) at the University of Nevada, Reno, brings a wealth of diverse experiences to her role. With a background in linguistics, rhetoric and composition, and international education, she is dedicated to expanding access to prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities for all students, regardless of their major, background or prior experience.
Her journey in education and language, shaped by international experiences, began in Athens, Greece, where she spent five years working as field archaeologist at the excavations of the Athenian Agora. She then taught high school Latin for three years before joining the U.S. Peace Corps in Central America, where she served as an English as a Second Language and literacy instructor as well as a teacher trainer. These global experiences inspired her to earn a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, focusing on second language acquisition and teaching, particularly with adult emergent readers from refugee backgrounds.
“It’s not just about encouraging students to apply – it’s about helping them recognize their potential and crafting applications that reflect their strengths and aspirations.” – Director Altherr Flores
Altherr Flores’s diverse academic and professional background informs her approach to scholarship and fellowships advising. She believes that every student has a unique story and valuable experiences that make them strong candidates for competitive scholarships.
“My vision is to support more students holistically,” Altherr Flores said. “It’s not just about encouraging students to apply – it’s about helping them recognize their potential and crafting applications that reflect their strengths and aspirations.”
Having served as the associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships for two years before stepping into her current leadership role, Altherr Flores gained firsthand insight into the fellowship process.
“There were some fellowships that I had not heard of before. Thankfully, I learned about them while working with Dr. Ludden, the prior director,” she said.
This experience allowed her to connect with more individuals on campus, including students, faculty members and mentors.
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As she takes on her new role as the director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships, Altherr Flores is focused on ensuring that students feel supported throughout the application process.
“It is not just about saying, ‘Here, apply to this fellowship,’” she said. “It’s about asking, ‘How can we showcase you and your experiences, and highlight why you are the best candidate for this opportunity?’”
Deeply invested in shifting students’ mindsets about their capabilities, Altherr Flores recognizes that imposter syndrome often prevents them from applying for prestigious awards. “Anyone can be a candidate,” she emphasizes. “It’s about having confidence, drive, and the right support system.”
She has seen students from various disciplines successfully apply for prestigious awards, including the Truman Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and the Boren Awards, among others. Now, she aims to increase outreach to ensure that more students understand they are eligible for support from her office, which serves the entire University community.
Altherr Flores notes, “This office has to be housed somewhere, and because it is within the Honors College, there’s often a misconception that only honors students can apply. Part of my job is to break down those barriers and ensure everyone knows they have access to these opportunities.”
She aims to extend support to graduate students, helping them learn about available fellowships. Altherr Flores also plans to collaborate with other departments across campus to increase awareness of global opportunities.
To increase accessibility, the office offers weekly information sessions and writing workshops.
“Every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., we host information sessions with writing workshops. On Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., we provide drop-in hours for fellowship writing and advising,” she explains. “This consistent schedule helps students plan ahead and feel comfortable seeking guidance.”
Many students have received incredible awards due to the outstanding individuals at the University, and Altherr Flores believes even more awards will come in the future. However, this will only happen if students actively engage with the office.
In addition to students earning competitive domestic awards, Altherr Flores hopes all students will take advantage of the opportunity to study or complete research abroad with the free money available for them. OUF has helped many students to earn scholarships and research fellowships to study in countries such as Tanzania, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia.
With her leadership and experience, the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships will achieve its goal of expanding scholarship and fellowship opportunities to all University of Nevada, Reno students.
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