Dr. Anita Silvers Scholarship Fund in Philosophy for Continuing M.A. Students

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND CREATIVE ARTS
This scholarship will be awarded for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Students must enroll HALF-TIME (6 units graduate) during the 2024-2025 Academic Year to receive the scholarship

Dr. Anita Silvers was an internationally recognized philosopher and advocate for disability rights and a professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University for over 50 years. She also served as department chair from 1981 to 1986 and from 2006 until her death in 2019. Dr. Anita Silvers was an ardent supporter of providing access to higher public education for students who would not be able to access such an education on their own.

Of her many accomplishments, one of which she was especially proud was being able to bring the Department of Philosophy to national recognition. Over the past decade, SF State’s master’s degree program in Philosophy has consistently ranked among the top 10 in the United States.

The brother of Anita Silvers, Dr. David Silvers, and his family wish to honor the memory of Dr. Anita Silvers by providing scholarships to students who are currently enrolled or who have been accepted into the M.A. program. This gift will serve to strengthen and advance the M.A. program in Philosophy that is one of the cornerstones of Dr. Anita Silvers’ long and storied career at San Francisco State University.

  • Awarding Department: Department of Philosophy
  • Scholarship Intent: The purpose of the Dr. Anita Silvers Scholarship in Philosophy for Continuing Students is to provide
    substantial scholarship assistance to students continuing the M.A. program in Philosophy. The number
    and size of scholarship awards may vary from year to year based on the applicant pool. It is the Donor’s
    wish that the scholarship award be significant enough to retain students of a caliber who will strengthen
    the reputation, mission and standing of the program both as a leader in the field of Philosophy
    education in higher public education and as a leader in diversifying the field of Philosophy.
  • Criteria:
    1) Currently enrolled as a graduate student in the Philosophy M.A. program or have been admitted to the M.A. program.
  • Additional Criteria:
    1) Names of two SFSU graduate faculty who can serve as references for academic achievement
    2) Unofficial transcripts from student’s prior degree programs; unofficial transcript from SFSU; list of
    courses currently in progress
    3) Explanation of why the scholarship would be useful and additional information applicant thinks
    would be useful in evaluating the application.
  • NOTE: The scholarship award may be disbursed over multiple semesters. These students
    receiving the award over multiple semesters must be registered in a minimum of four (4) units each
    semester to receive disbursement.
  • Major: Philosophy
  • Class Level: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: Masters
  • Enrollment Status: Continuing SF State student
  • Enrollment Requirement: Undergrad: N/A; Grad: 4 UNITS
  • Financial Need: as determined by the FAFSA and/or CA Dream App: No
  • Citizenship: Any
  • Minimum GPA: HS GPA: N/A; SF State Undergrad GPA: 3.3; SF State Grad GPA: 3.3
  • Contact Person: Olivia Walters
  • Campus Address: Humanities 388
  • Street Address: 1600 Holloway, San Francisco, California 94132-4011
  • Phone Number: (415) 338-1596
  • Email: grdphl@sfsu.edu
  • Web page: Department of Philosophy
  • Amount of Award: Varies up $15,000
  • Number of Awards: Varies

Award
Varies up to $15,000
Scopes
Philosophy
Deadline
04/15/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Submit a statement of purpose (up to 1000 words) explaining your motivation for studying philosophy and your plans for further study. The statement should also include an explanation of why the scholarship would be useful and additional information that you think would be useful in evaluating your application.
  2. Submit a short statement (up to 500 words) describing your financial need and detailing evidence which may include but is not limited to FAFSA information (FAFSA not currently required).
  3. I give permission the scholarship selection committee to examine additional materials in my application to graduate school (submitted to Cal State Apply) for the purposes of evaluating this scholarship application.
  4. Enter the name and email address of the first of two references.
  5. Enter the name and email address of the second of two references.