The Urban Affairs Association gives an annual award for emerging scholars whose work exemplifies outstanding scholarship in urban affairs. It was renamed in 2004 in honor of Alma H. Young to commemorate her longstanding service to UAA, and her particular commitment to mentoring graduate students and junior faculty. Each year the award is presented at the UAA conference of the Urban Affairs Association. The recipient receives a $1,000 honorarium, a plaque, and a complimentary registration to the conference.

Eligibility

Students pursuing doctoral research in urban affairs, regardless of academic discipline, are eligible to apply. Applicants must have finished their coursework, passed their comprehensive examinations, and have an approved dissertation proposal. The student is not required to hold a UAA membership.

Nomination/Application

Application for the award consists of the following items:

• A nomination letter from a current UAA member. This letter must attest that the student has an approved dissertation topic, has completed coursework, and has passed comprehensive examinations. If the nominating UAA member is not familiar with the student's dissertation research, the application should include an additional letter of support from a faculty member who can speak to the nature and quality of the dissertation scholarship. Nomination/support letters should be confidential (that is, provided in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap).

• A two- to three-page, double-spaced, personal statement by the applicant describing the applicant's urban interests, engagement, and career plans.

• The student’s curriculum vitae or resume.

• A prospectus for the dissertation of 1,500-2,000* words that indicates the research questions, argument or hypotheses, literature and data sources, methodology, and nature of expected findings. (*Please note: References and/or appendices do not count towards the 1,500-2,000 words.)
  

Deadline

Complete applications (in hardcopy; no e-mail applications accepted) for the 2010 award must be received at the UAA office by Monday, January 11, 2010. E-mail Shelly Tillinghast at shelviat@udel.edu or phone her at 302-831-1681 if you have further questions.

Selection Procedures

The applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Chairperson of the Governing Board. The winner will be selected based on scholarship and commitment to urban issues. The awards committee will report its decision to the UAA Executive Director and the Chair of the UAA Governing Board no later than February 1, 2010. The UAA Executive Office shall inform all applicants and nominators of the committee’s decision prior to the 2010 UAA conference. The award winner will be presented with the plaque and honorarium check at the Honolulu conference on March 12, 2010 during the annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon. Note: Complimentary conference registration is part of the award.  Modest travel support may also be available.

Interested students should mail their applications to:

Alma H. Young Emerging Scholar Award Committee
Urban Affairs Association
School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy
298 Graham Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716