Dale Center Research Awards

2020 Winners:

Dr. Sherita Johnson, Associate Professor of English, School of Humanities, used her award to fund a presentation at the Southern Studies Conference. Her paper was on the topic of African-American literature during the post-Civil War and Reconstruction period.

Dr. Leah Fonder-Solano, Professor of Spanish, School of Social Science and Global Studies, planned to use her award to fund additional excursions to war and society sites during a study abroad trip to Peru. (Cancelled due to Covid)

Melissa Johnson, PhD student, History, planned to use her award to  travel to the Space Between Society conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan to deliver a war and society paper. (Cancelled due to Covid)

2019 Winners:

Ms. Keltoum Rowland, an Instructor of French at Southern Miss, used her award to travel to the French village of Le Mesnil-Fuguet for the ceremony honoring the contributions of Hattiesburg-born World War II airman, Sam B. Dale, who was shot down near the village in 1944. Rowland accompanied two of Dale’s nieces to the event in order to serve as interpreter and guide, and recently spoke about this experience and the contributions made by Dale and other World War II servicemen at the Hattiesburg Memorial Day service.

Dr. Nicolle Jordan, Associate Professor of English, School of Humanities, used her award to fund a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland for the Congress of the International Society for 18th-Century Studies (ISECS) in July. At the conference, Dr. Jordan presented a paper entitled “Maria Graham’s Chilean Landscape of Independence,” which explores literary texts associated with the Chilean War of Independence.

Lauren Lassabe, Ph.D. candidate, School of Education, used her award to fund a research trip to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, where she conducted archival research for her dissertation project on anticommunist student activism during the Cold War.

Award Information:

Three grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded during the 2019-2020 academic year; students (graduate or undergraduate) will receive priority for at least one of the awards. Faculty and graduate students with an existing affiliation to the Dale Center are not eligible.

Possible uses of a Dale Center Research Award include:

• Expenses related to scholarly research or creative activity, including travel. 
• Travel expenses to a conference, performance, or other event where original scholarship or creative activity is being presented.
• Relevant professional development activities.

Note: Funds cannot be used for salary, course release payments, or to purchase equipment.

Award recipients must acknowledge the support of the Dale Center in publications or at any event that results from a grant. Those conducting research or creative activity may also be asked to share their work at a future Dale Center event. 

Application Procedure:   

Applicants should submit an application that includes the following:

1)     Cover page with name, school/program/unit, status (faculty, staff, graduate or undergraduate student), address, phone, USM email, and the specific amount of funding requested. Please do not put identifying information on any other page.

2)    Proposal of 1,000 words or fewer describing the purpose, methods and impact of the research project or creative activity; the name and location of the conference/event, and the work being presented; or the goals of the professional development initiative. Proposals should also indicate how your research or activities will advance the study of war and society, or connects with the mission of the Dale Center.

3)    Budget (include any other current or pending support if applicable.

Send award applications and any questions about the Dale Center Research Awards to Dr.%20Allison%20Abra.