Avery Sellers ’26, a philosophy, politics, and economics major and educational studies minor, has been selected as the inaugural Kirtley Mather Fellow for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The fellowship will support Sellers in expanding her senior research, which examines the impact of school funding cuts on economic, political, and community well-being. As part of this work, Sellers will collaborate with a community partner in the Licking County area to explore a specific dimension of her study in practice, connecting local insights to broader questions about educational equity and funding.

Like Kirtley Mather, whose life exemplified the value of integrating theory and practice, Sellers’ work reflects a commitment to inquiry that extends beyond the classroom. The fellowship provides an opportunity for Sellers to connect her own research to Mather’s commitments to interdisciplinary exploration and public scholarship.

The Kirtley Mather Fellowship was made possible through the generous support of Charlie Eddy ’69 and the collaborative efforts of an inquiry group composed of Denison staff, faculty emeriti, and friends of the college, as well as faculty from various departments, including English, journalism, Earth and environmental sciences, religion, and philosophy.

The Department of Education houses the fellowship program, a fitting connection given that Mather’s granddaughter, Professor Emerita Lyn Robertson, dedicated her career to the department.

“Mather was a steadfast advocate for academic freedom, adult education, and interdisciplinary research,” Associate Professor Emily Nemeth said. “His career as a public scholar — spanning his participation in the Scopes

‘Monkey’ trial, his writings on science and religion, and his defense of intellectual freedom — informs the structure of the fellowship and the kinds of learning opportunities we envision for Avery and future fellows.”

November 14, 2025