SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences was chosen as the home for the new Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) Program.

The program is designed to improve the health of vulnerable people now and in the future by developing emerging leaders in health fields through year-long service projects inspired by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Albert Schweitzer.

It will be the 12th location in the U.S. and the second Texas-based chapter.

“The values of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship align closely with those of Southern Methodist University, which is to prepare students for leadership in their professions and their communities,” said Renee McDonald, SMU associate dean for research and professor of psychology in a press release. “We look forward this collaboration.”

The chapter will be supported by several universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area including Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Texas Christian University, Texas Woman’s University, University of Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas and University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center.

Fellows are graduate students studying healthcare, social work, law and education who apply their studies to yearlong projects. The projects work to discover the sources for health disparities in vulnerable communities.

“Our individual chapters supplement traditional education with programs focused on supporting emerging professionals’ desire to serve populations in need,” said Sylvia Stevens-Edouard, executive director of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship in a press release.

Recruiting is already beginning for the first class of Fellows who will start their Fellowship year in April 2015.

“The Dallas-Fort Worth Schweitzer Fellowship Program will embrace Albert Schweitzer’s commitment to service and compassion for people in need,” said Courtney Roy, program director for the Dallas-Fort Worth Schweitzer Fellowship Program in a press release.

The Schweitzer Fellowship Program aims to develop students professionally and teach them about the impact their career can have.

Fellows who have completed their projects are called Fellows for Life.

Currently, three Fellows for Life are working in West Africa to fight the Ebola outbreak.