The MESA Dissertation Awards were established in 1982 to recognize exceptional achievement in research and writing for/of dissertations in Middle East studies. In 1984 the award was named for Malcolm H. Kerr to honor his significant contributions to Middle East studies. Awards are given in two categories: Social Sciences and Humanities.

Nominations invited for the 2008 Competition

All students completing their dissertations between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 are eligible to submit entries for the 2008 Malcolm H. Kerr Dissertation Awards. Dissertations should be nominated by the author’s sponsor or advisor, and accompanied by a letter of acceptance for the degree and a 250-word abstract of the dissertation’s subject matter. Applicants should specify either Social Sciences or Humanities as the category for which they are entering. If the applicant does not specify which category, the MESA Secretariat will place the dissertation as deemed appropriate. Entries will be read by a three-member committee. We ask that the student’s department or institution provide one unbound copy of the dissertation. The copy must not be the original. A release form must be included, stating that the author gives MESA permission to reproduce his or her dissertation, so photocopying companies can legally copy the manuscript. All copies of the dissertation will be destroyed once the committee completes its deliberation. Winners will be announced at the 2008 annual meeting in Washington, DC. There is a $1000 award for the winning dissertation in each category. Dissertations and accompanying materials must be in the hands of the Secretariat by July 7, 2008 to be considered. Materials should be sent to: MESA, The University of Arizona, 1219 N Santa Rita Ave, Tucson AZ 85721.

Please address questions or requests for additional information to:

Sara L. Palmer
Awards Coordinator
Middle East Studies Association
The University of Arizona
1219 N Santa Rita Ave
Tucson AZ 85721
520/626-4753 (direct line)
520/621-5850 (general number)
palmers@email.arizona.edu

2007 Award Recipients

Humanities
Winner: Awad Halabi, University of Toronto
"The Transformation of the Prophet Moses Festival in Jerusalem, 1917-1937: From Local and Islamic to Modern and Nationalist Celebration"

Honorable Mention: Sara Scalenghe, Georgetown University
"Being Different: Intersexuality, Blindness, Deafness, and Madness in Ottoman Syria"

Social Sciences
Winner: Max Weiss, Stanford University
"Institutionalizing Sectarianism: Law, Religious Culture, and the Remaking of Shi'i Lebanon, 1920-1947"

Awardees, 1982-2006