Intersectionality Summer Intensive™
Early registration closes April 27, 2026!
Accelerate your learning about intersectionality to do more transformative and impactful work!
ISI is the best place to learn about intersectionality and build the capacity to apply it to your health equity and social work well.
ISI, an engaging, 5-day in-person experience in Philadelphia, PA, brings together expert intersectionality researchers and scholars such as Lisa Bowleg, PhD, MA, Stephanie Cook, PhD, MPH, and Chioma Nnaji, MPH to deliver interactive and first-rate training.
Intentionally small, ISI provides lots of opportunities for hands-on learning and meaningful interactions between participants and facilitators.
ISI 2026 Keynote Speaker:
Professor Dorothy Roberts
Oh yes, yes! The Intersectionality Training Institute has done it again! It is with great joy and excitement that we announce that our distinguished guest and keynote speaker for Intersectionality Summer Intensive 2026 (ISI 2026) will be the legendary, inestimable, brilliant, critical legal scholar, civil rights and intersectionality thought leader, Professor Dorothy E. Roberts. Goosebumps! We’ve got goosebumps!
Her key books include: Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction and the Meaning of Liberty (Pantheon, 1997), Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare (Basic Books, 2001); Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century (The New Press, 2011); and Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World (Basic Books, 2022). Her latest book, The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family (Simon & Schuster, 2026) is another captivating read that combines her deep critical insights on race, gender and class using her most personal subject yet: her family of origin
Apply for the transformative experience that is ISI 2026 today to be among the select few who will be in the room when Professor Roberts delivers what will surely be her thought-provoking keynote. Got questions for her? Bring them!
We keep ISI intentionally small to facilitate opportunities for attendees to interact with each other, our excellent facilitators, and yes, our distinguished guest. That’s right, another benefit of attending ISI 2026 is that you’ll get the opportunity to meet and chat one-on-one with the legendary Professor Dorothy E. Roberts.
Already coming to ISI 2026? Professor Robert’s keynote is just another of the many wonderful things we have lined up for you. Excited? We are too! We can’t wait to see you!
Dorothy E. Roberts is the George A. Weiss University Professor of Law and Sociology and the Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Professor of Civil Rights at the University of Pennsylvania. She is nationally and internationally renowned for her many groundbreaking books and articles.
Oh there are so many! As a result of attending ISI, you'll:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of intersectionality as theoretical framework and methodological tool for health equity research and critical praxis.
- Increase your proficiency to develop and conduct rigorous qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods intersectionality research with fidelity to core themes of intersectionality.
- Learn LOTS of important information to help you write stronger intersectionality grant proposals and articles.
- Have opportunities for mentorship from ISI facilitators, past ISI cohort members and your peers.
- Make new friends, meet new colleagues, and find collaborators for grant proposals and publications.
- Join an engaging and thriving community of people passionate and committed to intersectionality, social justice, and health equity.
- Have countless opportunities to interact with, learn from, and be mentored by an engaging team of leading intersectionality researchers and community activists using intersectionality as a tool for critical praxis.
It runs from Monday through Friday, roughly 9 to 5 pm each day. It includes a blend didactic and interactive activities to engage and enhance your learning. These have included:
- Large group sessions with presentations of core material and opportunities for Q&A
- Small group “clinics” focused on specific topics (e.g., “pain points,” dissertations)
- Small group qualitative and quantitative research sessions
- Small group academic-community partner conversations
- Opportunities for individuals with facilitators and peer-mentoring
- Keynotes with leading internationally known scholars
- Book signings with personal, one-on-one time with internationally known scholars.
We issue Certificates of Completion on the closing day of ISI.
Fees for ISI 2026 differ based on the time of application, and can vary based on when the full balance is received.
Registration fees are either:
- standard for the five day event or
- premium for the five day event plus a one year Scholar-Tier subscription to the intersectionality Collective, which includes monthly office hours with leading academics and access to recorded ITI trainings (a $1,499 value).
First Registration
Available to candidates who apply by December 1, 2025.
Standard: $4,500
Premium: $5,250
Early Registration
Available to candidates who apply by April 27, 2026.
Standard: $5,500
Premium: $6,250
Registration (includes hotel stay at The Study, the ISI 2026 Venue)
Available to candidates who apply after April 27, 2026 or upon request.
Standard: $6,000
Premium: $7,250
Your registration includes the following:
- All sessions
- Resources and materials for each training session
- Lunch and a welcome networking reception
The registration does NOT cover:
- Travel and lodging expenses
- Local transportation
- Breakfast and Dinner
Most ISI participants are supported by funds from their institutions. Here’s a template that you can use to request support from your institution (e.g., Department Chair, Dean of Research, Supervisor). Although we can’t guarantee that your request will be successful, we believe that our template will increase your chances for success.
ISI 2026 discounted fee programs are available for eligible candidates. Discounts are contingent upon full payment of fees by a particular date. In order to “freeze” the cost of your registration, full payment or a non-refundable deposit must be received by the date on the application acceptance letter.
All fee and registration related packages are subject to availability. ITI decisions regarding application, fees, registrations, and payment are final, with discussions and appeals not entered into.
Discount programs are listed below.
During the application process, you will be asked to indicate if you wish to participate in a program, and if so, which one.
Only one program is available per applicant. Spaces for programs are limited, with the programs being offered in order their applications are received.
ISI Alumni Program: If you are referred to ISI 2026 by an ISI Alum, you will receive a $1,000 reduction fee on any registration offer.
Conditions: Full payment must be received by January 30, 2026. Subject to availability, limited places available.
Local Resident Program: If you work or study at a Philadelphia-based organization, your standard fee can be $5,000, regardless of the time of application or payment.
Conditions: once the acceptance is made, full payment must be received by the due date. The payment should be accompanied by proof of affiliation with a local institution. Limited places available. Applicable to standard registrations only.
Intersectionality Collective Scholars and Researchers Program: If you currently subscribe to Researcher or Scholar Tier of the Intersectionality Collective, your standard fee can be $5,000, regardless of application time or payment.
Conditions: once the acceptance is made, full payment must be received by the due date. Limited places available. Applicable to standard registrations only.
Intersectionality Collective Members Program: If you are a Community member of the Intersectionality Collective, your standard or premium fee can be reduced by $500, regardless of application time or payment.
Conditions: Once the acceptance is made, full payment must be received by the due date. Limited places available.
Group Program: If three or more members of your institution are attending, and payment is made in one transaction, each member will receive a $1,000 fee reduction off the standard or premium registration.
Conditions: Payment is due within 30 days of all attendees' acceptance, payment must be made in one transaction.
Oh, they say the most wonderful things about their experiences at ISI, things like:
“The Intensive brought together such an inspiring group of people dedicated to the pursuit of scientific inquiry for the advancement of social justice. In doing so, it reminded me that we are not alone, that we are connected to a history of incredible scholars and activists who have fought against these oppressive systems so that we can have the opportunity to deconstruct these systems further and build a better world. It reconnected me with the true reasons I pursued an academic path in the first place and empowered me to continue forward in line with my values. I simply cannot understate how powerful that is.” M Pease, Doctoral Student, ISI 2023
The summer intensive exceeded all of my expectations (and I had heard it was amazing!). The content was exceptional — I now feel like I can apply intersectionality to grant proposals and do research more responsibly that benefits communities. I enjoyed the connections with each other. I appreciated the thoughtful and helpful feedback and learning about everyone’s incredible work. I also loved how much we laughed and had fun amid all the learning and growth. Leah Marcotte, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Washington, ISI 2023
See what they say about ISI after participating:
Doctoral Students: ISI 2023 Cohort
Courtney Gardner, MS
Department of Population Health Sciences
University of Central Florida
Deja Knight, MPH
Social & Behavioral Interventions Program, Department of International Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dielle, Lundberg, MPH
School of Public Health
University of Washington
Research Scientist: ISI 2022 Cohort
Rodrigo Aguayo-Romero, PhD
Research Scientist
Whitman-Walker Institute
Postdoctoral Fellow: ISI 2022 Cohort
Elle Lett, PhD, AM
Clinical Assistant Professor
Heath Systems and Population Health
School of Public Health
University of Washington
You should! We welcome applications from multidisciplinary researchers and practitioners at all career stages, and graduate at all career stages, and graduate students with varying degrees of knowledge and experience with intersectionality research, but who share an interest in building or enhancing their capacity to apply intersectionality to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods health equity research. ISI is ideally suited for:
- Faculty, postdoctoral, and other researchers with grant or other institutional support such as research training grants (e.g., NIH K-series awards, T32) or grants (e.g., NIH R-series awards) or institutional funding for professional or research development.
- Applicants from government (e.g., health departments) and non-profit and/or community-based organizations; and
- Doctoral students with department or other institutional support
Vision: Even if you don’t have lots of knowledge or experience with intersectionality, we want to know your vision about your plans to apply intersectionality to your current or future work. We want you to articulate why you’re applying to ISI and how the ISI will help get you accomplish your professional goals.
Research: Although ISI does address the application of intersectionality to health equity policy and practice, the program is primarily and heavily focused on research. Thus, strong applications are those that detail how ISI will help you with the intersectionality research that you are doing or plan to do.
Be thoughtful. The application is short and straightforward. Because of limited spaces to enter information, we find that applications where people have taken the time to carefully consider and craft their answers fare better than those where people just casually respond to the questions.
We will notify you of your application outcome within two weeks. Your acceptance letter will include terms and conditions of acceptance, any discount program requirements, and payment information.
Acceptances, registrations, deposits and fee paid are no refundable or transferable; however if unforeseen circumstances arise we will do our best to work with the individual and/or the institution for the best outcome for everyone.
Please note that travel, transport and hotel accommodation for the event are not covered in the fee program, and ITI is not responsible for any disruption to travel or circumstances which may lead to missing part or all of the event. As such, we recommend that once you register, you book transport and hotel which will ensure you are at the venue in time for the proceedings.
We encourage you to re-apply the following year. We have such a limited number of spots and receive more applications than we can accommodate. Thus, the reason that your application may not be accepted could be the result of limited available spots, and our desire to ensure that the cohort is diverse by intersectional positions, disciplines, professional roles (e.g., research, practitioners), level of knowledge and experience with intersectionality.
We’d be happy to hear from you. Please email us at info@intersectionalitytraining.com
