Julia Dessauer, an assistant professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been selected as a 2026 recipient of the Jesse Fine Fellowship by the IU Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions.
The Jesse Fine Fellowship is a prestigious honor designed to support rigorous academic inquiry into moral concepts and the complex ethical challenges found in citizenship and professional life. Dessauer was honored for her exceptional alignment with the fellowship’s mission to bridge theoretical ethics with practical, real-world application.
“I’m thrilled and honored to receive the Jesse Fine Fellowship,” Dessauer said. “I’m grateful for the support of the Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions, and I’m excited to contribute to urgent research on professional ethics in the digital age.”
Dessauer’s research broadly focuses on power, labor, and inequality in culture industries.
In recognition of her selection, Dessauer will receive a $10,000 award to support her ongoing research. As a faculty fellowship, the award is designed to provide dedicated resources for scholarly pursuits that do not conflict with other professional commitments or summer appointments.
The fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Dorothy Fine, established to honor the memory of her husband, Jesse Fine, a proud Indiana University graduate. Through this legacy, the fellowship continues to foster a deeper understanding of the ethical responsibilities that define modern society.