FELLOWSHIPS
Thoreau College fellowships
The Thoreau College Fellowship program offers a unique opportunity to learn about the innovative forms of holistic education practiced at Thoreau College and partner institutions through active participation in teaching, leadership, and shared governance. Thoreau Fellows typically have a BA or equivalent life experience and come to Viroqua for a yearlong immersion in the life and work of the college and the surrounding community here in rural southwestern Wisconsin. Fellows participate in meetings of the Thoreau College Faculty to plan and lead curriculum for Thoreau College programs, mentor and advise students, and support the practical operations of the college. Fellows receive housing, some meals, and a small monthly stipend along with the opportunity to participate in courses offered by Thoreau College and the Driftless Folk School.
My time at Thoreau College was truly transformative. Being in such a close-knit community encouraged me to learn how to relate to and live with every kind of person while the diversity of the activities conducted at the college forced me to grow in ways I otherwise wouldn’t have. My time at Thoreau allowed me to reflect on and ultimately discern what exactly it was that I believed made life meaningful and to then attempt to orient my life around these values after my time in the program. I will forever remain incredibly grateful to Thoreau College.
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Youth Initiative High School Teaching Fellowship – Academic Year (August-June)
YIHS Teaching Fellows take an active role in Thoreau College programs while also learning about Waldorf-inspired, democratic education at the high school level by participating as a faculty member at the Youth Initiative High School. YIHS Fellows work with mentors from the high school faculty to support and co-teach classes and other activities throughout the school year.
Driftless Folk School Fellowship – Academic Year (August-July)
DFS Fellows take an active role in Thoreau College programs while also learning about folk education for adults through close collaboration with the staff and governing circle of the Driftless Folk School. Activities include supporting DFS instructors in classes offered in venues around the area with logistical support, meals, and greeting participants, helping to plan and stage dances, craft gatherings, and other events, and supporting promotional and grant writing activities of the Folk School.
2026 FELLOWS:
Nazmiye Işık Tütüncü
YIHS Teaching Fellow
Işık graduated from St. John’s College, MD with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2026, studying primarily philosophy, history of science and the Classics. Originally from Türkiye and a daughter of two Political Science Professors, she grew up hearing about the Great Books and the philosophic life. She studied at St. John’s College so she could know for herself what these things meant, and during her sophomore summer she participated in a program of the Gull Island Institute. This was her first time being introduced to Nunnian Education, and where she learned how to cook for a big group of people and also oyster farm. Most importantly, it was here that she started thinking about what education is for, and alternative education models that emphasize small community living, division of labor and a relationship to the land. This has led her to Thoreau College, where she is excited to participate as a YIHS intern.
Jing O’Brien
YIHS Teaching Fellow
Jing O’Brien graduated with a BA from Pomona College in 2025, studying both Computer Science and Politics. She was first introduced to the concept of liberal art education during her gap year, when she was part of the founding cohort of Outer Coast, a Nunnian institution in Southeast Alaska. Having grown up in a neighboring Alaskan island with a community of 2,000 people, her experience at Outer Coast transformed her understanding of what education could be and inspired her ongoing interest in alternative models of learning. At Pomona, Jing explored the intersection of her two seemingly distinct fields of study, examining how they could be understood through the lens of education. This work took shape through her research on the politics of teaching and her creation of a computer science curriculum examining the ethical implications of technology and programming. As an incoming teaching fellow at YIHS, she remains deeply committed to educational initiatives grounded in community, shared responsibility, and a sense of place.
Joshua Flippo
Farm & Labor Fellow
Joshua graduated from St. John’s College, Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in 2026. While at St. John’s, he fostered a deep love in the Classics and discussion-based education. He was also a writing assistant, led the jazz coalition, and ran a Transcendentalist reading group. After St. John’s College, he began working at Touchstones Discussion Project, a non-profit organization which sponsors and conducts seminars in schools, community centers, businesses, and prisons. Hailing originally from Santa Cruz, California, he spent his childhood surrounded by the redwoods and the Pacific Ocean. This natural setting inspired him to become an Eagle Scout such that he could deepen his connection with nature and his community. His aim is to conjoin his interest in nature, love of service, and academic pursuits into a lifelong endeavor. This search ultimately led him to Nunnian education, which he believes cultivates the love of learning, labor, and community, necessary to lead a complete life.
Chase Van Horn
Driftless Folk School Fellow
Chase comes to Thoreau College after years of moving with the seasons, learning from the landscapes and people he encounters along the way. He has taught marine science on an island, guided backpacking trips in the wilderness, walked across Spain twice, worked with young people in camps and schools, and made homes in a succession of remarkable places. He is excited to spend the next year in the Driftless exploring the relationship between place, attention, and community, while cultivating a more rooted creative practice.